The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-12
Hours Of Labor on the Farm.

Fifty years. ago the mechanics COM
menced work ut sunrise and with the in
Permission of one hour at noon, worked
until sunset; during the spring and sum
mer months and during the autumn and
winter months he worked until nine
o'clock in the evening, having an inter-
mission at six O'Clock, long enough for
supper. At that time the farmers worked
less hours in the winter than the me-
chanic, and not many more in the sum-
mer; for the year his hours of labor were
less than the mechanic.
If we come down to the present time,
we shall find that while the mechanic has
greatly lessened the hours of labor the
farmer has made but little progress in
this direction. If the mechanic has
been able to reduce the hours of labor
one-third, and at the same time get
twice or three times as much wages a
day. is there any reason that the farmer
should not do the same thing? Certain
it is that the farmer does not depend on
the product of the mechanics labor SO
much as the mechanic depends on the
product of the farmers labor; therefore
he has no particular advantage over the
farmer, by which he may be able to die
tate the number of hours he shall labor,
or what he shall charge for the product
of his farm; on the contrary the farmer
has greatly the advantage of all other
professions, because they are all entirely
dependent on him for the food they eat.
and the raw material of which their
clothing is made. Should the farmer
stop these supplies for single week, he
could bring all classes to his feet and
dictate his own terms; having this adj
vantage. there can be no possible reason
why he cannot keep pace with all other
professions, as to the number of hours
he shall lsbor. or the price of his labor.
To the farmer it is very unpleasant to
contemplate the fact, that while he con.
tinues to toll from daylight until dark,
through summers heat and winters
cold, the mechanic works but eight or at
most ten hours, and the city merchant,
rarely works more than from four to
eight hours day, and he does not feel
verv much better, when he calls to mind
the fact that all classes except the farm
ers are working less hours and getting
more pay. Even the clergy in former
days were required to be on duty fifty
two Sundays in the year, and three ser
mems each Sunday, but now, many OF
them give but one service week, anC
become so exhausted that they yearly
ask for one or two months vacation, and
perhaps to have their expenses paid tc
some foreign country. Surely the farmer
cannot contemplate these changes with.
out feeling that he, toe should share
in the lighter labors and larger pay. The
thinking farmer cdnnot conceive why the
professional men, the merchants, and the
mechanics, should have one or two
months vacation every year, and he have
none. But whose fault is it? cannot the
farmer leave his business as well as those
who follow other profession? He may
not be able to leave in August, the fash
ionable season, quite rs well as some
but there are portions of the year whep
his business can be left with hired help,
quite as well, if not better than either
the merchant or mechanic. The farmer
should take decided stand and resolve
to keep pace with other professions; if he
others it. is his own fault, he has no
one to blame but himself. If the
farmers throughout the country would
unite as the mechanics do, and resolve
to work but ten hours a day, at 4
price as high as the mechanics obtain,
the work would be done; there are none
who have the power to dictate to them;
they are complete masters of the situa-
ton, and can demand for the product of
ten hours labor as much as they now get
for fifteen. Undoubtedly the reason why
cured what is so evidently his rights, is
because of the want of united action.
When the farmers of the country work
together as the mechanics do. there will
be more equality in regard to hours of
labor and the price per hour than there
now is.
1.-THE farmer could complete his labors
BY working ten hours day, he would
have more time for reading. investiga-
ton and thought, and thus he would be
better prepared to direct his labor in a
manner to secure the largest return pos
sible. He who works from daylight I'M
til dark has but little time and no dis
position to read much. and therefore is
very likely to fall behind the times, and
to direct his labor in a manner that fails
to secure the best results.
There are but few, if any occupations
that more surely pay for the time spent in
thoughtful reading and investigation
than farming; therefore he who
spends so many hours at work On the
farm. that there is no time left for study
is wearing out his physical energies 70 a
great disadvantage.
Some farmers have learned that less
work and more thought secures larger
returns at the end of the year. An in
telligent farmer, with his eyes open, can
not visit other intelligent farmers with
out learning something to his advantage
so great that it viii more than pay for
the time and expense of the visit. Far
mers should be quite as Independent as
those who follow other occupations, and
should not feel that they are obliged to
work so many hours that there is no time
for social enjoyment or intellectual inn
prOvement-
If it is true, as it is asserted, that it has
been found by actual tests that in many
occupations the labOrer can perform
more work in year by working ten
hours day than he can to work sixteen.
there can be but little doubt but it would
be better for the farmer to work ten
hours, and occupy three of the six hours
in reading, investigation and thought,
on subjects relating to the production Of
crops.
With the many improved machines
which have been introduced on the farm
during the last few years, there is no
danger but the farmer can greatly re-
L., a. e IL - II.