The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-24
PARKER REPLIES TO BlEAsE.
DECLARES STATEMENT IN MES
SAGE UNFOUNDED.
Details Of Alleged Mill Merger Ex-
planned to- Judiciary Committee Of
the General Assembly.

ate ana mousse committees on judiciary
granted hearing to Lewis w. Par
ker OF Greenville. IN regard to the
special message from the governor
about the Parker Cotton Mill COM
pany. charging that the so-called
cotton mill merger" had reduced
the price OF cotton. lodged taxes and
made a futile effort to control the
votes OF Its employees. Mr. Parker
said that IL the general assembly saw
fit his company courted the investiga-
ton recommended by the governor.
IF I am the kind OF man which
the governor says / am i'm his special
message. thea l never knew my own
power" declared Mr.. Parker in his
talk 10 the two judiciary commit
tees.
As to the charge that the merging
OF certain South Carolina mills into
the Parker Cotton Mill company had
reduced the price OF cotton from IL
to cents. Mr.. Parker told the MEM
bers OF the committees that the 16
mills in the company Of which he
was president consumed only one two
hundred and fiftieth of the cotton
produced In the South. total of
about 100000 bales. of which the
Parker Cottoa Mill company used
about $4,000 bales each year.
Parker Cotton Mill company had
been business proposition. said
Mr.. Parker. He then told briefly
how he had become a manufacturer
after practicing law few years. by
being forced TO take over the man
agement OF the Victor cotton mill,
whose paper he had indorsed. to save
himself from bankruptcy Ia years
ESQ. III nsaaxEyI
As to the mills which has subse-
auentiy come under his coatrol, MIR.
Parker stated that he had never
taken charge OF them except at the
request of the stockholders.
In regard to the merging OF the
eight mills. other than the original
eight which ne operated. Mr.. Parker
-aid that at the solicitation Of the
stockholders IN these mills ne mad
exchanged the stock which they held
for xtock IN the larger company.
"f am now WORKING a. make a
change In the class OF soods hitherto
made In these mills and to maaufac-
ture cloth which 1t has been nee ,s-
sary to so out OF South Carolina to
buy" said Mr.. Parker. 'I am trying
TO got away from the cheap standard
g-sses and to diversity the product
OF the mills. And II this Is avoiding
competition. plead guilty Of the
charge"
MIR. Parker said there were 500. 900
spindles I'm the Parker Cotton Mill
Company. 4.500.0OO in South Caro-
lima. 1000. 900 In the United States
sad 100000. 900 in the world.
'In New England" Mr. Parker
said. ARE a number OF mill companies
each OF which represent larger in
vestTents than do the Parker Mills
company" Several OF these he NAM
ed and also named number of mills
In South Carolina that consume
larger number OF bales OF cotton al
nualiy than do the Parker mills.
n
Carolina mills consume more cotton
beca use they manufacture coarser
goods. Mr.. Parker especially stress
ed that his mills were creating
South Carolina market for staple
cotton.
ANY talk Of the Parker sill com
pany controlling the price OF cotton
Is absurd" declared Mr.. Parker.
As To the iatmation In the gov
ernor's special message that the mills
under his control were lodging taxes.
Mr.. Parker said that they were pay
Ing a higher tax per spindle than any
other mill company In South Caro-
lima.
"I have never sought To- control
the votes OF the people whom I en-
ploy. and joia with tho governor In
boing thankful that this Is true that
II H. impossible for any one TO con-
troll them"
Mr.. Parker stated that he had
nothing To do with the Enoree mill,
named In the governors special mes
sage as one Of the mills whose stock
had been "watered." In this connec-
tion. Mr.. Parker said that II II were
"watered stock" tO buy "A mill nj "A