Your TR Source
Matilda Gabriel sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of a book written by her late son which deals with the child labor question in Southern cotton mills. Gabriel hopes Roosevelt will help draw public attention to the real conditions which are described in the book.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-01
Edward A. Horner writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the cotton industry. According to Horner, the current cotton handling methods cost the farmer $100,000,000 a year. Horner does not blame the farmer entirely, he believes everyone in the industry plays a role. He discusses European tariffs which result in American farmers adding refuse to their cotton shipments. Horner thinks the biggest culprit is the practice of “compression in transit,” which allows transportation companies to increase the weight of shipments and charge higher prices. Horner encloses two booklets which detail the issues in the cotton industry and Horner’s ideas for remedies. Horner also asks Roosevelt if they could meet to discuss this matter in more detail. Horner has spoken with Alfred Henry Lewis, who thought it would be an interesting subject to write about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-27
Lieutenant Governor Guild writes to President Roosevelt that the cause of depression in the cotton mill industry is child labor in the south. Guild urges Roosevelt to call for an executive investigation into child labor and warns that democratic congressional representatives are already planning to introduce a bill calling for an investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-28
Joseph E. Wiley brings Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to his plan to develop a cotton mill that will train and employ African Americans in Dallas, Texas. He believes the development of the textile industry run by African Americans will benefit the workers, the South, and the nation at large. He already has support from other textile estates in the north.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-12
Chief Clerk Lundy acknowledges receipt from the Executive Office of a letter addressed to President Roosevelt in regard to the cotton investigations by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Statistics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-27
Unknown
English
Unknown
Prospectus outlining the plan and financing for a new cotton mill in Dallas, Texas, the result of combining Mill City Mop and Twine Factory with Mill City Yarn Mill. It will employ African Americans, lease houses to operatives, build a school, churches, and store.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-12