The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-10
THE WALSH COTTON INQUIRY


 T It is not surprising that Senator Walsh of Massachusetts should ask an inyestiga tion into the cotton textile industry of this country. Because of the Southward move ment of the mills, there has resulted de precision in New England that has caused keen concern and even distress. NeFerthe less, the migration of the mills was inevit- able. The only surprising thing was that it should \have defied the laws of industrial gravitation for such long period. There twas no logic in transporting cotton all the way to New England to be manufactured and then carting it back again for distribu- tion throughout the country. The chief req son in the beginning was a financial one. Tho money was in the North, and those who controlled the cotton manufacturing indus try at that time had prejudice against To- eating their investments in the South. Later there were many spacious reasons given why Southern labor, Southern climate and other Southern conditions were not adapted to the industry. Time and test proved the falsity of these arguments, while every other eco homie reason spoke infbehaf of the South as the center of cotton manufacturing The steadily increasing number of spindles in the South is cogent proof of the present trend.
 Nevertheless, an inquiry into the industry may not bs amiss. The things that Senator Walsh evidently expects to discover, in all likelihood, do not exist as influential fac tors. It is current belief in New England that the Southern mills depend greatly upon child labor. While itsis true that there are states in which such lamentable conditions are to be found, 1t Is not true that child labor is anywhere more than a minor factor. It may be said to have had absolutely noth- ing to do with the Southern trend of textile mills. That trend has been due to basic manipulation.
 It is said that there has been a rela- tive decline in the use of cotton goods. If so, it is likely because people nowadays make greater use of silk and artificial silk. The fault does not lie with the manufacture of cotton so much as with the merchandising of cotton goods. It may very well be that the industry at present is in greater need of competitive research to discover new uses for cotton, just as there have been discovered new uses for other commodities so that ab- solutely new demands have been established. The whole South is directly and intimately concerned in this question. The textile in dustry has its experts at work trying all l ak~ nf Sak- sn kkn ..f cotton to the. daily nse of mankind, not only as wearing apparelE which is the common view, but insa hundred and one ways not usually associated with cotton. As these experiments progress, the use of raw cotton will inevitably be extended. One important experiment may result so advantageously as to revolutionize the industry, or at least to add greatly to its scope.
 The public attentioh. which Senator walsh is directing towards this great industry may not be without its stimulating and beneficial effect The result may not be what the senator anticipates, but 1t may nonetheless be of wide public service The South is trebly interested-as producer, as manufac- CuIcE anu dc uSeE oI ColLOn pEOuuClS. AS producer 1t reaps each year a golden harvest in the sale of raw cotton. As manufacturer it is growing in prosperity by most amazing leaps. As user it enjoys the economy that comes from embracing within its territory the dual offices of producer and manufac- turer. The industry is not in any decline, as Senator Walsh seems to fear. Like every other industry, 1t has all the potentialities of development and a variety of product never before equalled in it's history. Although Sen ator Walsh's purpose may be local in it's conception, it cannot fail to be national in its result, if the inquiry is based on broad and intelligent foundation rather than con fined to serve special locality. The South ern senators will see to it that the alterna- tive does not prevail.