Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-05-12

state to have, such law, and has to
compete with fifty five and sixty hours
| in the south The results are appall-
ing, North and South Carolina together
have now approximately the same
number of spindles as Massachusetts
In September the production of the
Carolinas was 255,OOoOO0 spindle
hours, or 35.7 per cent. more than
Massachusetts; in November 5S.1 pei
cent more; in December 42a per cent
more. These two states and Virginia
alone erected S,5O0,000 new spindles
since 1900 against Massachusetts A.
600, 900. These figures are from the
United States Department Of Com
merce.
MANY well posted manufacturers
have gravely considered and state that
it. is folly to enlarge Massachusetts
cotton mills-it is better to go else
where where industry is wanted and
encouraged. Investors are alarmed
and investment houses have asked that
this sort Of information be suppressed,
but it is time to ask Massachusetts
whether she wants industry or wants
to be a summer resort.
"She must act, and act quickly. The
legislature or its committee on Social
welfare has recently refused to con-
slider q bill to repeal the forty-eight
hour law and substitute fifty-four
hours to give Massachusetts an equal
chance with the most progressive OF
her competitors. This means that the
Legislature has refused to allow Mas
sachusetts mills to run the extra hours
which would bring into the state tt
workers alone, over $12,0O0,00O annu'
nualH for them 70 spend in the ssaee
What would not that mean for loca
prosperity and prevention of unem-
ployment?
rThe forty=eight hour law for wo'
men and minors prevents any woman
however much she desires, from work
ling a minute over forty-eight hours
week in a, factory. To limit the work
ing hours of men is unconstitutional
but the great wisdom of our Legislature
has said that forty eight hours was al
that women should work on account
4 the public health. Woman has TIT
vote, but not yet the right Of freedom
of contract.
Now, of all the jobs available FOR
woman who wishes to earn her owl
living or help out the family purse, tn
cotton mill is one of the best. The al
is better than school rooms and ia
better than moving picture houses
The work is light, most of the JOB
consuming so per cent or less of tn
time of skilled operative. OF all tn
, various studies here and in England o
, fatigue in the industry none ha
shown that fifty-four hours or eve
: fifty-siX hours for women in simila
J work to cotton mills causes undue ia
/ tieue or breaks down the worker.
r cotton mill is one of the few place
l where women earn as much. as mel
On account of paying for work ,actu
Y ally done the women often earn MOI
$ because of their nimble fingers.
r For years past there has come
steady trckle of farm hands and farm
e ers to the mill towns, where the wor
z was evidently more attractive than c
@ the farms. There are abandoned farm
e in Massachusetts and it is difficult
d obtain farm labor when the mills a
n running full time. This balance nu
|, be righted if the correct proportion
: to be obtained between the cost OF III
e ing and wages received. The way
g accomplish it is to permit the length
ening Of the working week to fifty-fo,
n hours.
= "The economic situation Of Mass
e chusetts demands that her mills n
lie as many hours per week as her cor
s petitors, for she is now rapidly losil
% her position of supremacy. 1t renal
Y. to inquire whether the fifty-four no
p week allows her workers to becor
IS good citizens Our New England tr
to ditions and our rocky soil speak mo