Bryant Simon examines the politics of South Carolina textile workers from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. He demonstrates how a group of southern laborers perceived the world, especially in the context of politics and public power. We see how these workers went through many transitions in their ideology, as their views of race and class changed throughout political developments, especially those that were brought on by the New Deal. The author examines the careers of Cole Blease and Olin Johnston to crystallize his themes. He analyzes the roots of the appeal of these popular South Carolina politicians to demonstrate his main arguments.