The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-12-15
.s.y,fArnr nitd atOasthuld.


q. At the. East. there is considerable agita
ton OF the question Of reducing the hour
Of labor to eight. Tho Legislature Of Mas
sachusetts appointed commission TO In
nsif tsyestigats the subject and i has held severa
hss sittiags snAt tire hast session the question
isen Of furu labor was investigated. =.
- A statement was made by Mr. Lcandei
f-.t Wethetei, II tho interests Of the farmers
10 . The number OF hours employed upon the
o. hsla farm, he said, woro the average Tor the
year about twelve, For six months from
hrst Of April until frat Of October, It was
a ,loucteen hours, To a much greater extent
% was true with the farmer thatowns his
farm. The rule among farmers was that
they expect their help, in the season TO
work from sun TO sun. They know no such
thing as an eight or touhour rule. Many
,tiof, these farmers are In debt aud conse-
quenty feel constrained TO work as many
hours rs they can, and exercise all the econ.
ony possible. With regard to the time Of
meals, n hay time about an hour Is used.
ABMahy Of the farmers keep dairies and
usually desire that twelve hours shall pass
between the milkings; and IL the eighthOur
system were adopted il would bring the
two milkings within the eight hours, and
this wolfll tend TO r,iA their business.
aoo The fsTmers have found it necessary 10
work long hours in ordcr to support them
q vo selves. lie did not have reference to fancy
vfsrl turner's. The employment of children on
,.sn7i 'she farm was to a considerable extent az
pickeru Of berry-irus, and with various
things connected with farm. Those boys
sOn the farm that 60 to school about six
months IN tie year. and work halt the time
nv 48 made az good If not bvttor men than those
sol vi who go 10 school al the time without en-
g@ging in any work. IL had been said with
80 sgrent deal Of force that the boy who had
been sont to school all his time, exhibited
great .dstaste for business. l. iucation did
not consist merely in porting over books.
The occupation OF women on the farm was
rs common in many States as IL was to en-.
80 sploy men,. However, he did not approve
of II. Such were mostly foreigners, who
would do as much labor the mcn 1t
wasspot pncticed yin New England. lie
considered n, however, Just NJ honorable
% for woman to take care of ahower.gardcn,
as il was for q man. II was better for her
baa health and tended to make home happy
The effect Of law lcgaIizing eight hours
~" as days labor would be ruinous to the
u farmer. II the labor was curailed the sup
.fstf ply would be diminished, and consequently
the price of farm products would bo much
NhigheCI than atpresent lie could not see
rs how an eight.hour law would cure the ds.
ease. Those who are not satisfied to be
employed by others should own their own
"a, business aud work for, themselves, and
ils thus tear tlems Ives away from corpora.
8 noHs aud contractors. lilo did not think
the evil was half as bad with the capitalists
p' rs il was with the employers.
In answer to question, Mr.. Wethcrell
ta, raidthat In all he had expcussed hO spoke
ASIA IikingTnanp lie Thought any attempt
tb,tiNn given number of hours fOr days |
-5s SxHpsi woalill work to tho injury of the
has ,,ia fsndn. labor was in the market Ike
any o,be,- commodity, Ond tic man owning
-, a. had a lporls..' right 70 dspOse of il as he
\. ,aieht see ft. No Snecies Of Legislation, in.
his SPinion, could bettcr Me condition OF
the laboring classes, ...