The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-03-09
Farmers Hired Helm.

While the farmer has as vet had INIT
little trouble from strikes 9Hi n
fiicts in general with h'r.i labor,
would seem with the aanU;.. lpcre 3>si,:E
searcitv of obtaining good heio tiEi
something might be Devised iF.tne man
ner OF hiring help that woIi4 incroa''-
and promote the relstions ref~een e'i'
ployer and employe, ami tend TO checs.
the emigration OF our farfa hands btth
to the West and Outward. = - t.ni.
now and then that g man can D. o',i'.
who has worked several YEAR. tur s'.s..
farmer. and the rule is for hired t.i-'si ''.
be constantly changing io"atio, Lar
numbers of the farmers hire }Hec cos
tinuously. and no farmer is so u'ter!.
mean but that he can obtain \ hire.
man. fact that indicates that n
might be far less changing II It lji;!a
different system was introduced res.,
latiug labor itself.
Usually the farm help is hired for Il
year, or so much per month. and be
tween milking. chores an the like. q
'laV's " .''i j. s,n7iU3Cs, p - slsk LIGHT
and the 81. J., Iu,:l.a ~. :. l;tutern;
Contrasting this with taa city laborer' )
or shoDman's work of ten hours, the
talIn hand. who works by the month
for sixty cents per day is straightway
convinced that he has been, or is being,
imposed upon, gives notice sooner or
later. and is next heard from in the city
or .ollowing reaper in Dakota at three
dollars per day.
IS rue, hiring men by the year with
binding bargain is contrary to the
| best interest OF both narties: and that II
a standard could be fixed for the length
| OF davis work. much of the complaint
| a-9inst farm labor would be avoided,
and as result. it is possible that more
| work would be done in day of ten
hours than is now secured by a dav oi
unknown time. In haying and harvest
| Il would be. of course, necessary tC
have q loag day. but give the year
or month hands an extra compensa
ton and NV experience is, that 6
month hand. if he earns his wages a
all. earns them at any season. and tt
| nut him in having beside a fresh two
| dollar and fifty cent hand, is to invite
| a spirit Of discomfort.
/ Contracts for labor should never bt
| binding Tor any length of time. Eacl
party shouid ne free to discharge o.
withdraw ;tG pleasure, and to guart
| against anv disrupture, the plan of /,
| premium. say OF ten cents day, if the
| agreement for q certain length of time
was fuliiIleG. should be added to the
wages, but forfeited il the stipulated
| time was not worked ont, would have 6
stimulating effect. and would tend Il
| promote an interest in the work, aside
from the mere matter of earning 81
| manv dollars.
Among 1nanv farmers the system O
docking r lost time is carried to al
extreme point. and they fairly earn the
title OF -'o!d skin flints.n Cases MAJ
arise where man ''takes day. whicl
he should Justly lose, but upon the othe
hand. the promise of .'day off," if /,
certain Job Of work is finished by ,
definite time, would promote exertion
that would result ia no loss to ,th'
farmer. and in return he might receiv,
few hours extra work at some unex
pected demand; that the hired mai
upon the plan Of zone good thing de
serves another" would disdain to TAKE
more than s'thanks.
Farm hands, like city operatives
should be paid at regular intervals, ant
promptly. A farmer who pays his he'll
now and then in ''driblets," and thel
only by persistent urging, can neve
| have the financial confidence of hi
help. and when the chance offers, the,
work for the man ''who will pay them.
The question of hired help is a com
plex problem bat the tendency of tn
times is toward definite system, exac
time, prompt payment, and spirit o
right that recognizes the ''man'
whether in wool cloth or overalls an