The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-13
INVESTIGATE AN INVESTIGATOR.

INVESTIGATE AN INVESTIGATORS.
Opposition by Southern senators to Commits
sioner of Statistics Nell is natural 1t is as
serted that in collecting figures and facts of
Southern cotton mills and the employment in
Them OF children MI Nef11 Instructed hts agents
to select the worst cases" This should be very
thoroughly and earnestly investigated.
A few years ago there were evidences of a
determined and concerted effort to injure the
cotton manufacturing industry in the South by
writing it down" Those familiar with condi-
tons in Southern cotton mills were incensed and
astonished by what they and read in official
and other reports. The policy Of selecting the
worst cases seemed to be adopted uniformly The
well-managed mills in which the work people,
including the children. were treated with con
slderation and earnest care for their moral and
physical welfare and mental and social advance
ment were ignored or passed over lightly. Where
there was bad management, neglect or III treat
ment the most was made Of them. A half truth
be made the worst and most injurious kind
Of a lie The camera was enlisted to do Sian
derous work. II is easy in any community to
find for instance, some Unlocking, unhealthy
them to the public as typical, although they
may be rare exceptions; and a few touches to
the pictures rs taken add to the appearance Of
emaclation and restitution.
The general objection of all this seemed to
be to induce congress to adopt a national labor
law, depriving the South and the Southern
mills of the advantages. given them by nature
or secured By wise foresight. The regulation of
labor was to be taken from the States and the
same rules applied to people in crowded Massa-
chusetts cities and South Carolina villages; to
climate with six months severe winter and
one with a four months winter in which snow
and ice are rare; to those who lived in tenements
at the North and those who had their gar
dens at the South. to those compelled to buy
food from grocery stores and those who could
get much of their food from the soil or have
supplies brought to their doors fresh from near
ty farms, Such general law would have been
unfair and ridiculous.
1t would be well if the case of Mr. Neill was
made the occasion of close investigation OF his
investigation. 1t would be interesting to know
whore and how he obtained his figures and
what verbal or written instructions he gave his
agents. The South is not sensitive. This section
has been sickened with indiscriminate and eff
fusive praise and smitten with Unjust accusation
and abuse alternately. We have been fed on
barley sugar and beaten with many stripes.
Therefore we have come to accept philosophically
praise or blame as they come The furies of
indignation to which used to be aroused
come no more and we have learned to analyze
calmly criticisms of us and to consider how
much of 1t is deserved and to try to mend our
ways when they need mendlng. Therefore the
stormy wrath against Mr.. Netll expressed by
Senator Tillman and others is not generally
shared in the South; but many of us would like
TO know definitely the sources of the information
on which he based his reports Of child labor
conditions in this part of the country.