Evening star., 1939-06-30
Textile Wage Plan
Violates Law S Intent,
Gov. White Says
Mill Owner to Hold
Plant improvements
Until After Election
~ the Associated Press.

ATLANTA, June 30-Gov. Hugh
White of Mississippi, opposing
proposed 32R-cent- -an-hour mini
mum textile wage, told Wage-Hour
Administrator Elmer Andrews today
such recommendation was ''in di-
rect violation" of the intent of the
law.
The Mississippi executive, appear
ing before Mr.. Andrews as the wage
hearing entered it's fifth day, said
the administrators speech in Bir-
mingham September 20, 1888, would
support his contentious.
1T is in the spirit of those re-
marks that I come before you,' Gov.
White said. Il come because rec
concentrations of the majority of
the industry committee number one
are in direct violation of the spirit
of those remarks, and of the intent
Of the law to which they refer.
The protest 1 make, the protest
which every Southerner interested
in the welfare of those about him
makes, is a protest against per-
version of the spirit and intent of
the act; perversion which would
make of this constructive legislation
another political tool fostering sec
tional domination, Scuttling South
ern progress and widening a breach
which already is giving cause for
alarm to those who believe that
America can remain a democracy
devoid of internal difficulties
Lists Three Principles.
To avoid such "perversion" and
keep faith with the assurances of
the administrator himself" Gov.
White insisted three principles
should be recognized. He listed
these as:
!. The purpose of the law is not TO
equalize or standardize existing eco
nomic or competitive conditions be-
tween different sections of the co,.n-
try, but to abolish sweatshop condi-
tions
2. 1t is social legislation, not de-
signed to grant or deny a competi-
tive advantage to the South or New
England"
3. With specific reference" to
Mississippi, wage differentials should
be established which will compen-
safe for existing inequalities in
freight rates, such differentials 70 be
continued until the inequalities are
adjusted, and exceptions should be
made for beginners during a reason
able training period
ITO do less" Gov. White asserted.
would be to admit to the N,uthern
States that the confidence mani
tested by their assistance in passing
the act had been betrayed, and that
In its operation the act is no longer
the act of the National Congress, but
the act of the Industry Committee
No. l, and that under arbitrary NAL
administration the South is not to
be accepted as partner to the in
dustry of the Nation. but as a Co.
lonial stepchild not even permitted
to process and manufacture its own
crop
A Georgia mill owner yester-
day asserted he thought the 30
cent general minimum wage which
becomes mandatory this fall was
high enough to scale pay until
business conditions get better"
The witness was R. O. Arnold of
Covington, Ga, who also asserted
plans for undermining his plant de-
pended on whether the next election
went "Communistic or radical"
Will Wait on Election.
He said he would wait until after
the election before deciding whether
ito spend any more money"
Ask on what basis he would make
improvements at his plant, if on
the basis of Democratic or a Re-
publican victory, Mr.. Arnold replied:
Il will make them if we elect
somebody that is not Communistic
or radical"
To meet the 32l2 cent minimum.
Mr.. Arnold testified, would REQUIRE
an additional pay roll expense of
800 a week.
Irving Nathan of Atlanta, attor-
ney for the American Federation of
Labor Textile Union which favors
the proposed wage minimum. re-
minded Mr.. Arnold that would
amount only to $4,000 a year.
Mr., Arnold shot back: You don't
think this gang is going to stop at
32l2 cents, do you?"
In other words,' Mr.. Nathan
said. you oppose it on the fear that
1t will 60 to 40 cents"
Il thing 80 cents is enough until
business condition get better. Mr..
Arnold answered.