Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-06-05
Farm Hands.


The relations which exist between the
farmer and his '.hand'' differ from those
existing between any other employer
and his employee. The farm hand IS
one of his employers family. He sleeps
under the same roof, and eats at the
same table. The home of one is the
home of the other. The farm hand as
sociates not only with his employers
sons, but with his daughters. The
farm laborer brings no testimonials
from former employers when he seeks a
position; he offers no documentary evil
dence of his ability and fitness. The
farmer must Judge from his appear
ances; and appearances are often de.
ceptive. As result, the farmer hires
at hazard He takes into his family,
and the society of his sons and daugh-
tiers, Qne of whom he knows nothing,
except that he is a man possessed Of
brute ST. ength. Whether moral or i'm
moral, intelligent or ignorant, industri-
GUS or indoisnt, he does not know. He
may instil into the minds of his en-
ployer's sons, evil which will lead to
their ruin; he may seduce the daughter;
but the farmer takes no measures to
guard against this. He wants man
w oo WI NJ thbt 10 oil IC dSho
for. But he should ask for more when
that man Is to become one of his family.
The farm laborer is called a ''hand.
Isn't it just a little strange that he
should be known by so old a nameP
Does it not signify that in common be-
lief he need use only his hands? Surely
there is need of head and heart as
well. / can not believe that there ever
was time when the farm laborer did
not need to think, to reason, to plan, to
have useful head. And now the need
is urgent. He should know the best
methods; he should reason; he should
be of good judgment; he should be in
telligent. What'Cecent farmer wants
a machine for laborer? Surely there
is demand for head as well as hands.
And when the laborer is one of the
family, he should have heart, and a
good one. But of the qualities of head
and heart he must furnish documentary
eviden e, or else his employer must
hire him, and take the chances, which,
as matters now are, he does. This
state of affairs works evil to both en-
ployer and employed.
Farming now is different from what
1t was fifty years ago. Yet, even then,
an intelligent farm laborer.of good
Judgment, was worth much more to his
employer than an ignorant one. Now,
the Improvement in methods; the de-
terioration of soil and higher price of
land; the greater variety of crops
raised; the sharper competitions; the
greater intelligence and smaller mar
gins of profit everywhere; and especial
ly the use of machinery requiring skill,
all demand of laborers, intelligence and
Judgment. Less is asked of muscle.
but more is demanded of brain.
Yet the employer must hire a
man about whose intelligence and
skill he knows nothing. This is just
as detrimental to the laborer. There
is no inducement for him to improve,
to study farming, to keep abreast of
the times. He gets no more of
G ther employment or wages, than
the ignorant man. And as matters
now are, the good and the bad are
put upon the same level. AS there
is no object in being good laborers,
not only the men but their labor.
Hence, bright boy would rather be al
most anything than a farm laborer.
This labor is at the bottom; all other is
above it.
The remedy for this is easv. The
clerk, the accountant, the salesman,
the mechanic; the professional man,
all must furnish documentary evil
dence of fitness before they can Sc
cure position. OF this evidence
recommendations from past employ
ers are the most important part.
Let the farm hand be compelled to
furnish such testimonials. If they
are satisfactory, then, and not until
then, let him obtain a position.
This plan would work great good
to the employer and his family.
1t would he yet more beneficial
to the laborer. Then the ambi-
tious enterpris1ng, intelligent laborer
would not be pla ced upon the same
level as the shlftless, ignorant one; and,
as he would obtain employment more
readily, and at higher wages, he would
have some inducement offered him to
make himself yet better. The worth
less farm hand would find improvement
necessary to obtain a position; hence,
all classes of farm hands would inn
prove. Not only would the men be
placed higher, but their work; and we
would find many more Of our country
boys content to stay upon the farm.
This would also, in great measure,
remedy the evils attendant upon the
farm hand being one of his employers
family. Yet 1 Would suggest that the
building of houses for tenants be en-
couraged. 1t would tempt many
farm laborer to marry. His wife woeld
find profitable, independent and health
full employment in raising vegetables,
small fruits, poultry. making butter,
etc. Each would have a home. 1t is
homelessness more than anything else
which leads to discomfort and immoral
ity among farm laborers, We know that
the man or woman with home is much
the better for it. The married farm
laborer living in a house surrounded by
garden and orchard, the home of his
wife and children, would become at
tachea to it. He would not be the row.
ing character that he nowis. He would
stay with his employer year after year.
He would learn the farm; the methods |
and plans of his employer. Each year
their interests wouldn become more |
nearly identical, and the feeling exist
ing between them would become strong |
or and closer. The farm hand would
save his money instead of spending it |