The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-25

Massachusetts,; in November 58.1 per
cent. more; in December 43.4 per cent.
more. These two states and Virginia
alone erected s,5O0,00O new spindles
since 1900 against Massachusetts, A.
100000. 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 where
industry is wanted and encouraged.
Investors are alarmed and investment
houses have asked that this sort Of
information, be suppressed, but is is
time to ask Massachusetts whether
she wants industry or wants to be
summer resort.
"She must act and act quickly.
The legislature or it's committee on
social welfare has recently refused
to consider a bill to repeal the forty
eight hour law and substitute fifty
four hours 20 give Massachusetts, an
equal chance with the most progress
Sive of her competitors. This means
that the legislature has refused to
allow MASSACHUSETTS mills to run the
extra hours which would bring into
the state, to workers alone, over S12,-
100000 annually for them to spend
iii the state. What would not that
mean for local prosperity and pre-
vention Of unemployment.
"The forty-eight hour law for wom-
en- and minors prevents any woman,
however much she desires, from work
ing q minute over forty-cight hours
per week in a factory. To limit the
working hours of men is unconstitu-
tioral, but the great wisdom of our
legislature has said that forty-eight
hours was I'll that women should work
on account of the public health.
Woman has the vote, but not yet the
right of freedom of contract.
"Now, of all the jobs available for
e. woman who wishes to earn her own
living or help out the family purse,
the cotton mill is one Of the best.
The air is better than schoolrooms
and far better than moving picture
houses. The work is light, most of
the jobs only consuming SO per cent.
or less of the time of skilled opera
tive. Of all the various studies here
and in England on fatigue in the in
dustry,' none has shown that fifty
four or even ffty-six hours for wom-
en- in similar work to cotton mills
causes undue fatigue or breaks down
the worker. A cotton mill is one Of
the few places where women earn as
much as men. On account Of paying
for work actually done the women
cften earn more because of their
rimble fingers.
"The economic situation Of Mas
sachusetts demands that her mills run
as many hours per week as her COM
1etitors, for she is now rapidly losing
her position of supremacy. It re-
mains to inquire whether the 54-hour
week allows her workers to become
good citizens. Our New England
traditions and our rocky soil speak
more of hard work and thrift and
less of play. The 54-hour week, with
our present legal holidays, Sundays
and Saturday half-holidays, would
have Us work only 81 per cent. Of
the time, sleep 1915 per cent. of the
time, leaving 35 2-3 of our time for
eating and playing.
"You gentlemen are the managers
of the cotton mills of New England.
A majority of you are Massachusetts,
citizens. You live here and you do
not want to move. Tell your legis-
lators that if Massachusetts, wishes
to keep her largest industry her laws
rust be as liberal as those in COM
peting states. If the situation can
be made clear to the public and the
legislature we can then Have Faith
Il. Macca nhneotts, and her nnsitinn in