The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-18
Farm Labor.

The question OF farm labor is one of
the matters which is always up for dis
cussion. and one in which those who
are interested must answer for them.
selves, and that as influenced by the
conditions by which they are surround
ed. To say that help is scarce because
the farmers are selfish and mean does
not answer the question at all, for, as q
class, farmers are quite AS liberal and
lenient as any class of persons who buy
labor. One of the reasons at the start
why labor is scarce is because young
men who have labor to sell object to
farm labor, preferring shops, factories
and the allurements OF clerking in all
sorts of stores, under the impression
that the employment is steady, the
wages more uniform, and the chances
for rapid promotion (?) more promis-
ing. That they succeed in the end bet
ter than the saving, industrious boy
who first hires out as farm hand, then
becomes a tenant, and finally to buy a
farm and become a farmer and home
owner, IS for the two classes to decide
tor themselves.
As it now stands, farmers will have
to pay more wages. or else the famine
for good labor will continue. The
Western farmer pays better wages than
in the East. and can afford to, because
the lection of land that costs $1,000,
produces exactly as much or more than
the section of Eastern land that is worth
$4,000. The difference in investment
in favor of the Western farmer, and
20 he divides with his help, as taxes and
interest on $1,000 is only a fraction of
he other. Perhaps. if the Eastern
.drmer will try intensified farming, he
might so increase the products OF his
farm that. while employing three or
Jour times as much help, as he would be
obliged to, he could raise the wages cor
respondingly. There is yet another side
issue of this same problem of labor.
As arm:ng is now carried on, the net
in ONE does not warrant the farmer in
paying lefty salaries" to his help.
Would 4 change give larger net incomes
when Hired help and all the extra ex-
pense was computed? Why do the hoys
shun the farm and 60 elsewhere? Sim
ply because they imagine that other
IN ngs pay better than the usual one of
farming; that other vocations promise
them better social advantages and a
freedom from the isolation of farm life |
The time will soon come when the
city will become over-supplied with
lelp. The chances to obtain easy lobs |
an large salaries will decrease, and |
then there will be return to farm life |
and an acceptance of farm wages.
When farmers so order their calling |
that their incomes are commensura' Q |
with other well-conducted industries
then there will be no further conflict, |
and tarm-labor will again become OBJ
.ainable and at equtab e rates. Agri-
culture will some day be the one great
occupat on of this country. and will be |
conducted by men of wisdom ard large
understanding and Judgment, and these
will stop the balance of power Let US
hold moment! the farmer, after all.
in any con .ict with labor. such as is all |
The time raging" between capital and
the miners. iron-workers, spinners and
weavers. railway employees. sailors,
and all kinds of labor
in The erection of city build
ings. etc? When d d the farmer have
10 contend W tn striker When?-I
Cleveland Herald.
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