The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-17
Concerning Farm LabOrcrs.


are to contractors and master mechan-
les. If they do not expect to work all
their lives in the employ of others in
the business of farming, they intend to
remain farm laborers for an indefinite
period. AS they generally marry and
have children, and as their pay is small,
many, if not the majority of them, re-
main farm laborers all the working
years of their lives. A man with a
family once settled down as farm la
borer finds it difficult to change his con-
dition, even if he wishes to. He ordi.
narily has no trade and no capital with
which to engage in business. Farm la
borers in old countries ordinarily live in
cottages belonging to their employers
or the owners of the estates on which
they work. In some cases they are al
lowed, in addition to their regular
wages, the use of small piece of
ground, and the opportunity to keep a
COW, a pig, and some poultry. Many
farm laborers arrange with their en-
ployers to obtain a supply of fuel and
common provisions at current whole
sale prices. With these exceptions the
contract for labor, which generally in
cludes the entire year, makes no pro-
vision for board, lodging, washing, and
the care of clothes. The laborer must
look to his wages alone for the means
of keeping himself supplied with the
necessities of life. In this respect he is
in the same condition as the person en-
ployed at any kind of work except do
nestle employment in city or town.
In the United States we have no class
corresponding with the regular farm
laborers in European countries. In the
Southern States before the late civil war
nearly all the farm laborers were negro
slaves. In the New England and other
Northern States the farms were gener-
ally small, and most of the work on
them was performed by the owners or
members Of their families. When other
help was required, young men belong
ing to good families were generally en-
ployed to do it. AS they were the
equals of their employers in intel
ligence, they lived in the same
houses with them, and constituted
portion of their families. In the early
days of the West very Democratic ideas
prevailed and social distinctions were
almost unknown in the country. As a
consequence the ''hired men, lived in
the houses of their employers and asso-
ciated with the members of the family on
terms of equality. This custom is like
ly to prevail in any new country. At
present very large proportion of the
farm laborers in the Northern States are
foreigners who have recently ''come
over" and who wish to earn little
money to enable them to take up a
farm of their own. Many of them do
not understand the English language,
and very few of them expect to work
for hire for any considerable length of
time. They are generally unacquainted
with our methods of farming, and would
not be sought for by farmers and their
families for associates. They are, how
ever, received into their families, partly
because it is the common practice of
the country, and partly because tenn
porary necessity requires it. The ar
rangement, however, is not satisfact-
ory one in any respect. 1t interferes
with the culture and refinement of fam
lilies, and makes large amount of work
for the female members of them.
Not many years ago it was the GUS
tom for the city or village tradesmen,
mechanic and artisan to board the per-
sons in their employ in their own
houses. This custom is now almost en-
tirely abandoned, and employees of all
kinds in cities. with the exception of
those engaged in work in houses, make
their own arrangement for board and
lodging. Those who do not keep house
obtain accommodation in boarding
houses. This plan gives excellent sat
isfaction to all concerned. Employers
are not burdened by keeping boarding
houses, and employees are better salts
fed to obtain accommodations suited to
their taste and their income. There
is no good reason why large farmers
should board the men in their employ.
There is no more occasion for their do
ing so than there is for employers In
large towns. Most of the comforts of q
home are destroyed by filling house
with boarders, most of whom are stran-
gers about whose habits of life little or
nothing is known. Any farmer runs a
great risk who takes into
his family strangers who 60
about the country in search of
employment, and who makes them the
constant companions of his children.
So far as the experiment has been tried
men employed on large farms prefer to
board elsewhere than in the houses of
their employers, even if the food and
sleeping accommodations are not as
good. Those who are married desire to
keep house, and those who are single
prefer to board In the house of one of
their fellow-laborers. The experiment
of allowing the single men employed
on a large farm to board in the family
of a married associate is generally very
satisfactory. They find enjoyment in
each others society, and to use their
own language, " have better time"
They are free from the restraint they
habitually feel in the presence of their
employers. their families and visitors.
They can make the hours for their
meals more to their liking, and can en-
gage in games and other pastimes with
out fear of disturbing persons who do
not engage in them. Where several
men are employed ON farm they would
generally prefer separate sleeping
rooms, a common room in which TO take
their meals, and large room in which
they can read and enjoy themselves as
they choose. Such a building can be
constructed cheaply, and can be rented