Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-04-28
Concerning Farm Lab0rers.

I In 0lu-Settleu countries professional
! farm iaborerS constitute a numerous
and well-detined class of the population.
They are to farmers what jOurneymen
are 10 contractors and master mechan-
les. II 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-
diti0n. 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 4 small piece Of
ground, and the opportunity to keep q
COW, . pig. and some poultry. Many
farm laborurS arrange with their en-
pioyerS to obtain Il supply of fuel and
common provisions at current whole
sale prices. With these exceptions the
contract for .abo:, which generally in
cludes the entire year. makes no pro-
vision for board, lodging. washing, and
the care OF clothes. Tie 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-
p'oyed at any kind of work except do
mcStic employment in 4 city or town.
In the United States we nave no class
corresponding with the regular farm
la3orerS i'll 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 em-
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
4 portion OF their families. In the early
days OF the West very Democratic ideas
prevailed and social distinctions were
almost unknown i'll the country. AS a
consequence the ''hired men" lived in
the houses OF their employers and asso.
ciated withthe members OF the family on
terms OF equality. This custom is like
ly to prevail i'll any new country. At
present very large proportion of the
farm laborers III the Northern States are
foreigners who have recently "come
over and who wish .h a.. to ~ earn tE1hj lHittls
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 q tenn
porary necessity requires it. The ar
rangement, however, is not satisfact-
ory one i'll 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 pan 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
-
his family strangers who 90
about the country in search of
employment, and who makes them the
constant companions of his children.
So far rs 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 10 board In the house of one of
their fellow-laborers. The experiment
OF allowing the single men employed
on large farm to board in the family
OF married associate is generally very
satisfactory. They find endowment in
each others society, and to use their
own language, " have 4 better time"
Ihey are Tree from the restraint they
habitualiy 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 III games and other pastmes with
out fear of disturbing persons who do
not engage in them. Where several
mon are employed on farm they would
generally prefer separate sleeping
rooms. Il common room in which to take
their meals. and Il large room in which
they can real and enjoy themselves as
they choose. Such a building can be
constructed cheaply. and can be rented
To Il married couple on the farm. or to
any other competent persons who may
wish to take boarderS. The plan of al
lowing farm hands to make their own
arrangements Tor board, lodging and
washing, makes it necessary to pay
them for their services in cash or its
equivalent ~ specified times. This
plan is the right one. Justice demands
that y farm hand should receive his
monthly wages when they are earned.
The use OF the money is worth as much
to him rs to his employer. An order
en- store where u farmer has running
account is not worth as much as the
sum called for. Cash is required to buy
goods 1T the lowest prices, and the pur.
chaser should be allowed to trade where