The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-20
SOUTHERN COTTON MILLS
AND LABOR

ties to learn to read and write, and many mill
workers seize eagerly upon this chance to be-
literate.
Reading matter available to mill VILLAGERS is
both scant in quantity and poors in quality.
There are no libraries on the hills, and mill
workers cannot afford to buy books, not hav-
ing sufficient income to buy food and clothing.
Also most families find subscription to daily
newspaper beyond their reach, but often one
paper is passed around among two or three
families. These local sheets are typical small
town and rural affairs, featuring local $50
ciety" news, crime and divorce cases, boosts
for democratic politicians, religious notes,
praises of southern textile owners and what
they have done for workers and the COM
munty in general, and editorials setting forth
the southern, middle class, Anglo-Saxon ver-
sion of the universe. Their opposition to
unionism is universal, and in times of organ
ization efforts and strikes, they openly align
themselves with management and heap abuse
upon the disloyal workmen!
A few village districts, as that surrounding
Greenville, S. c., receive visits each week from
a library on-wheels which is sent out from the
neighboring city. But the books offered con-
sist lily of popular fiction and children's
stories. There are no economic and sociolo-
gical books at ALL or books dealing with labor
and political topics. Sometimes there are
few books mechanical and popular science
topics, because of calls for these from the viii
layers. Among the men, western and detec-
tive stories are popular, while stories of Glove
and adventure" are much read by both men
and women.
Another agency of company propaganda in
addition to those of church, school and press,
is that of company welfare work. Quite a
abaY. of will 10 ,o+ II
necessary to add this extra feature, but often
the mills employ one or more social workers
to organize clubs for young people and "look
out for the welfare" of employees.
In some cases there is an elaborate pro-
gram developed, with community center, GYM
nasium and swimming pool. The purpose Of
these clubs is to make employees more salts
fled and loyal workmen and thus cut down on
the high rates of labor turnover and lessen
their interest in forming unions. Often
company subsidized Y. M. c. A. takes charge
of such activities. In no case do the clubs
function in any truly democratic fashion, but
everything is planned and put over by the
paid social workers who are in charge.
Participation of villagers in these company
recreational efforts varies considerably from
village to village, but in the places where we
were, less than fifth of them took any part
About two-thirds expressed unfavorable opin-
ions of welfare work, while others commented
favorably on specific activities, such as medi-
cal care, home economic courses, and recrea-
tional activities for the youth. Mill villagers
are proud and independent, and resent any
form of obvious paternalism, especially of the
type which clearly aims to Improve" them.
Also they feel that the company has some uI-
terror purposes to serve that "they doan
spend money for nothin'," and that the money
spent on welfare work could be much better
used in paying higher wages.
Autocratic paternalsn, in all of its varied
phases, is designed to further one end. Own
ership of village and control of church, school
and reading matter are means which the own
ers use for holding workers in material and
mental subsection to the mill system of low
wages and long hours Back of the system of
paternalism lies economic exploitation.
ITO Be Continned)