The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-28
Hammett Speaks
To Manufacturers
Head of Textile Association
Reviews Years Work
of Mills

fore the South Carolina Cotton
Manufacturers association at their
convention here today. Senator
Diars speech, in which he took for
his subject government relations to
industry, was somewhat lengthy,
and was delivered at the morning
session of the convention. This
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock a busi-
ness session was held at which
officers were elected. various mat
tiers pertaining to the industry were
discussed, and the annual address
of President J. D. Hammett was
heard.
The election of officers for the
coming year resulted in the re-
election of James D. Hammett Of
Anderson and r. w. Sullivan, also
of Anderson. as president and
secretary treasurer. respectively:
the election Of Ernslie Nicholson
of Union, vice president, and the
selection of the following on the
executive committee: ]. E. Nor
gan, Jr., Greenville;; DR.. H. a.
Lyon. .Spartanburg; r. B. Pitts.
Camden; w. c. Hamrick, Gaff-
ney; j. C. Self, Greenwood, and
George NJ. Wright, Laurens.
In his annual address President
Hammett declared that "the -
months covered by the fiscal year
of your association has been one
of uncertainty to all manufacture
ers. and the time has been used
largely in holding organizations to-
gether and with every effort to give
employees the maximum of en-
ployment so as to avoid suffering
among our people as best we could
AS a period of earning dividends
we can. not truthfully point with
pride to results; yet we as one OF
the large industries employing
thousands of men and women do
take pride in the fact that we
have demonstrated our earnest ef-
forts to manage SO that the men
and women 100000 employees and
dependents on employees and rep
resentfng Is per cent. of the total
white population of the entire
state) should have opportunity to
earn sufficient sums to avoid suf-
fering and to enjoy many Of the
luxuries of life
Continuing Mr.. Hammett declar-
ed that labor has been abundant.
and at the moment the indications
are that more labor will be avail
able than can be economically
used. This condition has been
brought about because of the raw
ages of the boil weevll added to an
unfayorable growing season.
Labor has been more active
and effective in producing a mini
mum of production and in many
cases has grasped the idea that
mills were operating with practical
lily no profit, and in cases with no
profit at. all; consequently the
thinking element of employees have
been disposed to add their ener-
gies, wherever possible, to assist
in making possible the unbroken
operation of the plants. The wage
scales have not been changed dur
ing the year, though business was
unproftab
Speaking of the favorable condi-
ton of the southern cotton mill
employee. Mr.. Hammett said 1--WE
trust and believe the thinking ele-
ment would resent any activities
on the part OF agitators.
Discussing the effort to enact
the 49, hour law for mills in this
state. Mr.. Hammett said: GAS an
industry we condemn the DISPOSE
ton to place the textile interests
of South Carolina in position where
competition with our competitors
of other states would be difficult y
He declared that Massachusetts,
alone has a SO hour law for its
textile interests and it is a motor
ious fact that extension Of the
textile industry in New England is
no longer thought Of
He went on to. say that taxes
are burdensome and something
must be done. Or else South Caro-
lima will be compelled to sit idly
by and see other states forge ahead
because industries are given more
considerate treatment