Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-21
IMPORTANT PARTS PLAYED BY ANDR0SC0GGlN
S0L0NS IN MUNICIPAL COURT HEARING
TELLS ROTAR|ANS
OF CR|S|SIN n. {.
COTTON INDUSTRY

Something of the problems of the
cotton manufacturing industry and
the critical period which the New
England mills have recently passed
through was explained to the mem
bers Of the Rotary club at the reGu-
lar weekly luncheon session of the
club, ED at the Augusta House. Fri
day evening by William Clinton,
AGENT of Lockwood mills of Water
vile.
Mr.. Clinton's appearance was the
| feature of the program carried out at
| the meeting under the direction OF
Milton O. Dean, chairman of the buSi-
ness methods committee of the club.
| After the members and guests had
| taken their places at the tables III
| the banquet hall for the luncheon,
| President Arthur n. Soule turned the
meeting over tc Mr.. Dean, who pre-
| sided during the remainder of the
session. The program was opened by
the reading of excerpts from the Ro-
| tary International code of ethics.
In prefacing his remarks Mr.. Clin-
| ton called attention to the critical
conditions which existed in the New
| England cotton centers throughout
1924. He Gaid that because of compe-
| tition and high prices for raw ma
j
| experienced one of the most critical
periods in their history and several
| of the larger concerns were forced to
the wall.
| Mr.. Clinton told his hearers that
there are about seventeen million
spindles operating in the New Eng
| land states, while there are fifteen
million in the south. The southern
mills were founded in 1898 and their
growth has all been made since that
time. In Massachusetts the hours of
labor in the cotton mills are restrict
| ed by statute to As, while in certain
| of the southern states they are re-
! stricted only at 60 hours per week.
The speaker indicated to the Ro-
tarians something of the problems
which harass the New England cot
ton plants when he told them that the
average weekly wage in the southern
mills is sl3.55 as compared to the So
| weekly average in Massachusetts. lie
blamed too much legislation and eX-
| cessive taxes for the present difficult
ties Of the northern mills. During the
past six months the New England
i mills have operated at only 1870 of
| capacity, while the southern plants
] operated at 1907 percent in the same
period.
| Speaking Of the Importance OF the
cotton industry in the commerce of
the United States, the speaker told
! his audience that in 1924, 100000
acres were planted to cotton. with an
average production of AS pounds to
the acre. The total production last
year was 13.500.O0O bales having
total value of s3,375, 900 900. Seven
| million bales were exported and the
| value of the cotton exported was
| greater than the total value Of all
| other exports.
| Mr.. Clinton said that since the
tariff reduction from 40 to 200 on
manufactured cotton. seventy English
selling houses have been established
| in New York as compared to two be-
fore the tariff reduction. The Eng
| fish manufacturers are sending II
million yards of their products inta
the United States each month. which
is enough to keep $500 New England
| spindles busy for a year at fun time.
! These English goods are made of
American cotton and are sold cheap
| er than American uanufa cturers can
market their product. This great in
| flux of English made goods has
| seriously affected the whole New
England cotton industry.
Speaking on the relationship be-
! tween employer and employee, the
| speaker declared that he believed in
| the application of the Golden Rule to
business. and cited examples of good
| which had resulted from closer and
| friendlier relationship between mill
superintendent and overseers and
| the operatives.