The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-01-05
COTTON MILL MAN
NOT PESsIMISTIC
Aug. w. Smith Talks of Conditions
Obtaining-Next Six Months
To Be Crucial Period

Greenville, Jan. 4.-"If they can
hold their own for the next six
months and lose no money, cotton
mills will be doing we'll. After that
time I expect more rapid improve
ment. My view is by no means pessi-
mistic for l believe the outlook is
brighter than it has been for some
time and there is ample reason for
optimism"
This was the statement today by
Aug. w. Smith, president of Bran
don, Poinsette and Woodruff cotton
mills, three of the largest in this
section, in discussing conditions in
the textile industry. His views seem
to be representative of the senti-
ment among mill executives of the
city and section.
Mr.. Smith made it plain that he
holds nothing but optimism, al
though he is not permitting opti-
mism to blind him to facts. Cotton
manufacturers today, he asserted,
cannot come out quite even in the
making of cotton goods, and i'm
provement can hardly come until
all things come down to a stable
basis. Before this time arrives, and
it will arrive shortly, curtailment
program Broader than that now gen.
eral among Southern mills will
have to be put into effect, he be-
lieves, and this should help the stu
alton to right itself.
May Run Part Time
Virtually all of the cotton mills
of this section are resuming opera
ton this week after Christmas holi-
days of from two or three days to
two weeks, the average holiday per-
iod having been much longer than
the usual rest at the Yuletide, in
view of the market depression. Just
what a major portion Of the plants
plan in the way of curtailment for
the next few weeks is unknown,
but it is believed that numbers will
run on four and five day week pro-
grams. In the same way, it is not
known if further wage reductions in
the immediate future are planned.
To arrive at the average wage re-
duction for the mills of this section
is difficult; some place the average
as high as rs per cent. In the case
of one large company it is known
that wages Of operatives have been
cut 35 per cent. In no case has op-
position to the reduction on the part
of the workers yet come to light,
most of them apparently accepting
the cuts as inevitable and a part of
the new order of things.
Discussing business conditions gen.
orally, Robert L. Woodside, presi-
dent of the Woodside National Bank
the Farmers and Merchants bank,
and prominently connected with the
textile industry, says that things
steadily are growing better, and
that he believes the entire country
especially the South, will emerge
from the readjustment period in
better shape than ever before. After
the readjustment, he says, business
along all lines will be on more con-
ervative and satisfactory basis than
ever before.
Silver Lining To Cloud
"Recent unsettled conditions and
slackening of business will result in
untold good" said Mr.. Woodside,
by reason of the fact that business
will be done on a more conservative
basis and farms will be operated in
more conservative manner"
Meanwhile the farmers of this
section in their division of the Am
erican Cotton Association have
adopted as notices: Fifty per
cent. reduction in cotton acreage in
food and feed corps in 1921. Cut
the cotton crop in half-not over
six million bales" Whether or not
they will abide by this advice is
matter of speculation, but strong