The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-12
CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN MILL
COMMUNITIES

The following IS quoted lToHl Ahe All
derson, S. c., Independent:
''In his initial broadcast over the South Carolina
network Yesterday John Cauthen, of Columbia, re-
vealed some pertinent information concerning the
number of automobiles and electric refrgerators
in textile communities of the state.
I'm Bolton mill community, for example, Nh
Cauthen states that a survey shows that 70 per
cent of the homes have automobiles, while 80 per
cent have electric ice boxes. Other sections maze
equally as favorable showings.
Golfers should publish this information HaV-
ing engaged in a piece of deliberate misrepresen-
tation in an effort to make it appear that the tex
tile people of the South are living in a state of
virtual economic slavery, the least Golfers could
do would be to secure and present some fair and
impartial facts about the matter.
Should it make such a survey, it would ind
that the textile people of the South enjoy cond-
tons mparable with industrial centers anywhere
in the world"
The foregoing is reference to an ar
ticle published some time last year in Col
hers Magazine, in which conditions IN
southern cotton mills and mill communities
were pictured in an extremely unfavorable
light.
The facts are that conditions in large
majority of southern cotton mill villages
are as good as the conditions indicated in
Bolton, S. C. Here and there is found a
mill village in which this is not true; but
the estimate of this newspaper is that more
than ninety per cent of the mill communi-
ties, for example, in the Carolinas. will
fully measure up to the report made for
Bolton, and in some cases, no doubt, bet
ter showing than that can be made as to
the ownership of modern necessities, con-
veniences and luxuries.
AS to comparisons with conditions OF
textile operatives in the eastern States,
this newspaper has no hesitancy in saying
that it believes the mill people of the south
eastern States enjoy better living condi-
tons than the mill population of the New
England and middle States. In those States
there are no mill villages and this makes
an exact comparison difficult; but it is
doubtful if, on the whole, textile operatives
in other sections have as good homes, as
high type of living conditions, and are able
to buy as much with their wages as textile
operatives in this section.
In addition, in large majority of cases,
the mill employees have the active and
kindly interest of the management. This
is direct and personal interest which ex-
tends throughout each mill community. In
nearly all cases the mill villages are owned
by the mill and the result is that the man
agement is responsible for law and order
in the village, for the maintenance of good
moral conditions and the best possible
standards of living.
The interest of the management, how
ever, extends to the personal welfare of
the operatives and to individual assistance
in times of distress or need. The matter
was covered years ago by one Of the fore
most cotton mill owners and managers of
the Caroinas, in speaking to the editor of
this newspaper. This gentleman said:.
"Our people Cthe employees of the mill)
know that when they have sickness, or
reasonable needs of any character which
they are unable to meet, the company will
aid and care for them. They can get fnan-
cial assistance from the company under
such conditions"
The policies of cotton mill companies
vary, of course, but there are few mill man.
agements which do not do the best they
possibly can for their employees in the
wages paid, the conditions supplied, and in
their general dealings with their opera
tives. SO vs. - q
49,, sS7S 49, Ss7zTs go - 1885,