The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, December 17, 1937, Page PAGE SIX, Image 6
Camden Man Radios
on Labor and Capital
(Speech Given Over Kadlo Station
WIS on December 3, by A. Stanley
JMuw.ellxv* Qt Cnmtieii, ? C.)
For several yeira my
fined to the New Midland
There I had the privilege of ?bsel7"
lug at close range the relationship
between the textile Industry In New
Kngland aud the public.
In 1919 I first moved to South Darj
ollna In connection with the
organisation, and here I have had the
privilege of making certain observations
of the same kind.
With that background, I feel that I
ran give a fairly accurate comparison
of the circumstances "Ming J"
both sections, truthfully and without
guy leaning toward either side, entirely
rid o? politics, labor or capital,
gly whole desire is to point out some
Observations, and let the chips fall
-whore they may, with the hope that
wo may take a page out of the experloncos
of New Kngland aud piotlt
I can remembor Quito well, for instance,
in New Kngland and partloularly
Massachusetts, seeing excellent
men with the best of intentions go to
the legislature and pass laws r08"'
luting the iudustry in the state, Including
a 48-hour week law?while
across the line in New Hampshire
and in other New Kngland ?tates. the
laws permitted labor to work && or ua
hours, and sometimes there were uo
limits. .
If u candidate for office was endorsed
by the textile employees, the oxocutlyos
immediately saw hint as a
ea-serpent, and the same token it
the mill officials endorsed a candidate,
immediately the textile employees
felt he was their enemy. ,
With such a spirit of distrust, together
with many other evidences of
lack of cooperation between government
officials and industry, between t
the public and industry, between the
textile employees and Industry, tho
Inevitable had to happen, and Massachusetts
was largely forced out of
the manufacturing field. |
Hundreds of BfUints were closed
within a short period of time. Thousands
of people were thrqw^out of_
work. Payrolls running into the mil-1
lions of dollars wore lost forever to
tho state. , . I
It waB a pitiful sight to see legislative
enactments, lack of public appreciation,
unusually high tax bur*
dens. together with labor unrest,
throw the otherwise prosperous state
or Massachusetts Into a condition of
turmoil and deprive It of its Kr?aJ
asset ? namely, the huge payrolls of
which It forniorly could boast.
When, of a sudden, tho above conditions
wore roallzod, public officials
came to their senses and attempted
to prevent tho migration of Industry
to the South. They tried to reduce
taxation, and some states offered tax
Immunity for a period of years. -But
alas! It was too late! None of the
remedies which were offered to stem
the tide was or any avail.
In South Carolina there is one
thing wo need more than anything
else, and that Is circulation of cash
money. Payrolls and more payrolls
is the answer to this. If we
payrolls, the farmers can sell their
produce to the working people. Pay
rolls will pay the merchants for purchases
that are made by the working
man It is the payrolls that pay the
doctors and lawyers their fees, and
even the preachers their salaries, and
when payrolls go, for whatever the
cause, you will find tho farmer poorer,
the merchant, closing up, the doctors
and lawyers/ not enjoying a proper
livelihood, and tho preachers getting
a few rations In return lor the./
,BI?know this to be a fact, because
I came from an industrial town where
the mills closed, and this was the result.
1 m>' frlond8 that
tn the mill sitting on VenC ki m?n I
park?as good and as honorable men .
vvor lived, but n<? place of employ-(
'Tsaw men who had risked their j
mm,*? and had given of their energy j
and even their life to build up bus- ,
grow old and gray, only to fi
J. ,., i!the mill which they hull t,
anil 1 he money which they and their:
' \v. ha\ e'"n?any payrolls iri this .
These must be guarded sa- .
eredD and wo must sc.- to it that
ev,-rv one of us shall conduct our J
g,.lv.\ s<? that more can come In. <
M iv 1 suggest some of the kravo ,
difficulties in South Carolina that can ,
)\n nrpRont payrollH ftnti
prevent new on". from coming Into j
the state
Stupendous taxes
Hnfair freight rates
High power rates, ana
Radical legislation. .. . a._
TX wUh heary tare, because ?
'teel that they bare "J* ",.' M.
point Win be reached where they ewe
Sot carry this burden, and we
not only drive those Industries that
are In the state out, but will prevent
others from coming in.
A, Wti have a peculiar system lu South
Carolina?different from any state of
which I have any knowledge. The
property tax aaaeaaiuenta of corporatlous
are flxeA by a state tax cool*
' ^ .OK .
individuals Ate fixed by lotfal bohtda
of aaaeajToriy county antT municipal.
County aud "municipal boards are conatautly
vying with each other In a
keen competition for their own counties,
or for their own localities; and
aa a consequence, real property owned
by Individuals, Including farmers,
la returned at a value averaging 10
per cent of actual value.
On the other hand, the real properties
owned by corporations are supposed,
according to the state tax
commission regulations, to be returned
at 42 per cent of real value, and
this figure ranged down to as low as
22 or 24 per cent
For Instance, if 1, as an Individual,
owned a home, I might have that
hpino returned on the tax books In
Camden at a relatively high assessment
of from $1,600 to $2,000; if It
were an unusually good house, maybe
$3,000. Hut, If 1 should sell this
home to the Kendall Corporation,
for whom I workv It would Immediately
be stepped up in value to a neighborhood
of $6,000 or $7,000.
This is an impossible and unfair
situation, which naturally drives off
Industry. We are reducing the taxes
of individual taxpayers in the state
at the expense of corporations. What
wonder that corporations do not want
to m<jVe ifitb thd state, buy and develop
property. The tax rate per
spindle In the state of South Carolina
Is higher than that of any other
state in the textile world. That la
not a nice thing to say to prospective
industry, it Is not a good way to
sell them on the advantages of the
state of South Carolina.
I heard only yesterday of a case
where a certain Industry was seeking
a Location sometime ago, but passed
Swotlr Carolina by and went to an other
Southern state. I was told that
one of the reasons was the system of
taxation on corporations and other
reasons were the high power rates
and the uncertainty of the legislation.
I mention this simply to show that
we all need to cooperate for the betterment
of the whole and not overburden
any one so that eventually
we will lose What we've got and prevent
other Industries from coming
in, which would help us all In the support
bf the government.
When the South has to pay more
money to ship Its goods to a distant
point than some Northern localities
have to pay for the same distance, It
is unfair and not equitable and does
not spell for prosperity of Industry
in ths south. There bu bean much
written on this subject ot lets. The
South hss recognised the feet, end
there are eble men now looking into
thiit questlou, which is Just gnother
point of cooperation. And, whether
we ship goods or not, if It is for the
of our state we should give
enthusiastically to these men who are
tryi^ to. solve this problem, because
it means, again, thar one cannot live
by himself alone. '
Electric power is quite a major
factor in manufacturing today and
the prloo per pound for power in the
manufacturing of cloth has to be studied.
In a state where the power
rates are high. It is not healthy condition
for industry, either those that
are here or those that are looking
for a place to build. Whatever can
ba dona to lowair the power rates end
still give the power companies a reasonable
return on their money?to
which they are entitled?should be
done.
If any of us wsrp going to build a
plant that required an abundance of
power for Its manufacturing, it Is natural
that we would hunt the state
that has the lowest power rates, because
It will be a major part of the
cost.
So, with dear thinking and honest
Intents, everybody should be Interested
fn seeing to It that rates are
equitable..
Since time began, man's fight has
been for existence. That Is true in
the animal world also. : Those who
have property will flght to protect it,
and those who have not, will fight to
obtain it. I suppose fundamentally
that has been thecauB? ofTrtl wars.
That struggle has caused heart-aches,
worry and even death.
Each factor in the sot-up has stood
ready and willing at times to crash
the other. How foolish It all teems,
because in crushing one, all are crushed.
Labor and capital have always
' d
them. The Government has its problems
also, and will always have
them. When each factor that goes to
make up our society recognises that
each is dependent upon the others
for its success and welfare, and when
any one of these agencies is unreasonable
or distrustful of the other, the
whole structure will fail.
I believe that In South Carolina,
where our people, employers And employees
alike, come from much the
same stock, speak the same language
and worship the same God, It should
be much easier to get around the conference
table, dlacusB the problems
together, and with faith In each other
they can solve the problems, because
they know what the problems are better
than any outside agency, including
the legislature.
Wo are all dependent upon each
other, and therefore we must all try
to put ourselves to eeeh others plsoe
There iimwM ha r?ionsMe am tofer
irifis and resiowshle iud fitr y#>
turns to the investors of monev in
our industries. Beeh one of these
factors lis effected by the others.
There should be enough returns, by
properly managed industries, so that
each shall have its fair and just proportion,
with the realisation that
every one of the factors have their
problems. It to only by mutual understanding
and recognition of the
other fellow's problems that these oan
be solved. When any one trlse to
get more than his share, to the detri*
meat of the other, then the inevitable
will happen?even as it happened to
New England. ,
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND
CREDITORS
All parties indebted to the estate
,of Mary E. (Gardner are hereby notified
to make payment to the undersigned,
and all parties, if any, Having
claims against the said estate will
present them likewise, duly attested,
within the time prescribed by law.
fJ W1LUE E. GARDNER. |
Administrator
Camden, S. C., Nov. 30, 1987
l
1 v ... "
"NOTICE TO CREDITOR8 AND DEI
POSITOR8 OF THE BANK OF
CAMDEN: -v;J
All creditors and depositors of the
j Hank of Camden, Camden, S. C., are
hereby required within thirty (80)
days from the date hereof, to file
with the underslgnad Conservator of
the said Bank, verified statements of
their claims at his office In Camden,
S. C., and upon failure so to do, at
, tho expiration of the said time, tu?
accounts and deposits as shown by
the books of the said Bank shall con1
stitute the true amount of the said
i claims or the balances due thereon.
D. A. BOYKIN,
Conservator of The Bank of Camden,
S. C.
t November 26, 1937 37-40
1
TAX NOTICE
The books for the collection of
J State, County and School Taxes for
the fiscal year commencing January
I, 1937, will be open from September
16 to December 31, 1937, Inclusive
- without penalty. No discount will be
allowed for early payment. When
making Inquiries about taxes, be sure
to state the District Number In which
you live or own property.
The total tax levy for the various
chool districts are as follows:
DeKalb Townsmp
\ Mills
District No. J 46
District No. 2 37%
District Noi 4 ?? ? * ?
District No. .? ... ? ?H
District No.\J6 .... '$;% . ? jjjfi
District Np. 43 ? .. .. .. ?? > ""7i
Buffalo Township
Mills
District No $ .. .? ..^Y. ? tjj' >
District No. 6 ,,
District No. 7 ?. .. .. ,< ?? J*' i
District No. 16 , 131,
tSrow^o. 3o*, ... ^ ?*,!??>
District No. 33 ?. ?* .. .. ?. ? ?*' t
District No. 33 ..
District No. 37 .. Mi ,
District No. 88 .. 361i,
District No. #1 ,, ,. .. 31A,
District No, 40 .. 4314
District No. 43 3314
Fist Rock Township
District No. 8 1414
.
M&?::
District No. II .. .. .. .. v. .. *4%
District NO. II lij
District No. la 23\4
District Ho. if 34%
District No. 17 84%
MM*:
District No. 47 ...... .. .... 13%
WoUrof Township
Mil%
District No. U 18%
District No. II 87
District No. II t?
District No. II ,, .. ..19%
District No. *8 13%
District No. I? .. ?. ... 28%
Respectfully yours,
a J. OUTLAW.
TroASuror Kershaw County. 8. C.
ii/cijniii
XMAS GIFTS
M? UtflH
UHU8UAL V4J.W68 IN ALL
COTTON AND BATON AND
COTTON BBDSPBBADS
Extra large aize, 86x106 Inches?In .beautiful
Jaoquard patterns. Gloeofy woven of eeleoted
yarns. Will add-Jbo^uty and oolor to any bedroom.
Makes glftft&oeptable tO-whole family.
Tremenduoe direct from faotory order makes
possible the prloeo below. Colore: Rose, Blue
Moid, rivrr* Of CfCZr..
ALL COTTON
Weight about t I be. 6oxa.
86x106 lne*ee, each
5
EAYON & COTTON
Wolght about 2 Iba. 4 ou.
4x100 Inohoa, aach
$2.15
V
Both of tne above SPREADS will be shipped prepaid
wrapped in Xmas cellophane ?Q QQ
package for only ?>t>etFO
~ (To . two different persons when
desired, your oard enclosed)
\ * i
Send check or postal money order. Shipment Till he made
day order Is received. Friends, save by buying these bargains.
Mall to _ .
MoOEB SYNDICATE, ANDERSON, S. 0.
/?/?/? COLDS
0 0 O FEVER
Liquid, Tablet* flr,t
Salve, Nom headache
Drop* 30 minute*
Try "RUB MY TI8M"
Wo-ld's Beet Liniment
ANNOUNCING
that I have the aRency foe
Charlotte New*
(Evening)
and
Philadelphia Enquirer
(Weakly)
TELEPHONE 390-J
H. A. Brown, Agent
Are the Cotton Mills Worth Keeping?
4
Sometimes our blessings seem so commonplace, and are so close to us, that we take them for granted
ancj do not adequately evaluate them.
The cotton textile mills in'South Carolina, for instance, 'have for years been an integral part of our
life, at our very elbows wherever \?e turn. We have become so accustomed to them that we actually look
upon them as our jiust due, our very own, like the climate and like the many public facilities which we
jointly own and enjoy. In reality, however, the cotton textile mills are not public institutions at aM. They
are privately owned corporations, though actually they produce benefits which are publicly enjoyed.
Together our cotton mills supply a very large proportion of the man-made assets which the state affords.
So many are the advantages which we as. citizens derive from this industry, that hardly a man,
woman or child can be found in the state who has not benefitted from the payrolls or the sundry purchases
of the mills, or the taxes which they pay.
It is suggested that you study the figures below in the light of the benefits which you derive as a citizen.
and ask yourself the question, "Are the cotton mills worth keeping?"
*
First, consider the payrolls (wages only) $56,4 98,852.00 in 1936, according to the Department of
Labor. Is it worth while to preserve this to supply the trade and income for our merchants, farmers, educators.
bankers, doctors, lawyers, ministers, insurance men, and other trade and professional men aiid
women? In the face of the decrease in our agricultural income, what would we do without our industrial
payrolls? The bulk of these payrolls are spent right here in our state.
Then consider the huge purchases of the mills:
1,155,094 Bales of Cotton in 1936.
774,085,408 K. W. Hours of Electricity in 1936.
597,322 Tons of Coal in 1936. _
(S. C. Dept. of Labor Report of 1936)
t _
And the huge amount of gasoline, oil, coTd wood, building materials, freight, express and postal gefvices,
and hundreds otf other services and general equipment and supplies purchased each year by the
cotton mills. Together tfhe mills' purchases run into Ihundreds of millions 6i dollars as they buy from 4
individuals and corporations throughout the state. Together they represent the state's largest customer. *
These expenditures, when added to the millions of dollars of taxes paid by the mills, represent a
figure spent in South Carolina totaling over $150,000,000.00. This is greater than the value of the state'*
farm crops, greater than the expenditures for highway purposes, greater than the expenditures of the rail- ~ "
roads within the state, the power companies or any other single class of industry. It is greater than thetotal
individual bank deposits within the state, nearly six times greater than the total savingB depoeite - "Twithin
the state, greater than the total value of the annual products of all other industries in the state, r
and thirteen times greater than annual public school expenditures in South Carolina. '-'ir'
The value to each South Carolina citizen of the annual expenditures of the cotton mills within the
state is apparent. . If
these advantages are worth keeping, are they worth protecting?
: . ' - vV,f
The Cotton Manufacturers Association of S. C.