Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-08
FARMERS AID "HIREp MEN"


Are the Former AS Glass, Close-Fisted
and Penurious.
1t is q rare occasion when represent.
ativc of the men who labor on the farm
for wages undertakes to present in an
agricultural journal any views he may
entertain on topics that especially con.
Germs his class. For this reason we
give the grist of an article, in which
"a Hired Man" talks back quite
vigorously at the farmers.
We do not by any means indorse his
differences, however, Even though the
farmers, as class, were proven to be
the close-iisted, hard. selfish men the
writer would have them appear, we do
not quite see that the indictment would
prove that the average hired man is not
an ignorant, lazy, dissipated fellow, as
the agricultural papers and the tax
ing" members of the farmers club toe
often declare him TO be. And in judy
ing the agricultursts and their helpers
we are glad to differ with both sets of
men in their estimates of each other.
farmers some very poor specimens of
manhood--men who are utterly devoid
of honor or principle in their transac-
tons with their fellows-can not be de-
MED. So there are among men en-
gagged in any other business or profess
sion. But, as Il class, agriculturists
are fashione morally and mentally
very much like the rest of the human
race, and endeavor to deal fairly by
those with whom they have business re-
lations.
The farmer, of course has his foibles,
So do other men. The farmer is eager
to get the best possible price for the
products from his farm. So, too, are
the merchapt ami manufacturer when
dSposing of their wares. When the
farmer goes to town shopping, he does
not wish to pay more than he can help
for his clothing or other needful articles.
But the same fact is true OF the mer-
chant, mechanic or artisan. 1t is hui
man nature; that is ALL
As we understand it, the gist Of the
complaint OF "A Hired Man" may be
briefly expressed thus: 1.-The farmers
board is poor; he pays as lit Q rs pos
sble for wages; he desires to get more
work than he is entitled t. from his
h Zip, and in various other directions is
ANXIOUS to get something for nothing"
The truth Of the matter is that the
farmer readily learns that success can
only be purchased by the constant
practice OF economy in every depart
ment of his business. Circumstances
will generally compel him to pay wages
that repre- ent the market value of
labor; he would be foolish to pay a
higher price for the hep he needs 1t
is matter that regulates itself. Hired
help will generally abandon situation
where there is danger of starvation.
But we believe that, n rule, farmers
have enough food on their tables, and
and the quality and variety of the fare
is above criticism. During the season
of raising and harvesting crops, many
minor matters on the farm have neces-
sarily to be attended to early in the
morning or late in tie evening. But
there are thousands of wage-workers
who would only he too glad to be assured
that their services would not be
called for during the hours which the
farm laborer can call his own.
On the other hand, the farmers man
undoubtedly has to work hard and his
pay does not begin to be as big as that
of the President of the United States,
but there are many pleasant and at
tractive features connected with his av-
ocaton, and, at the worst, he suffers
no privations or hardships that are not
experienced, perhaps in greater meas
urs, by other laboring men. AS class,
the farmers helpers are pretty good
lot of contented fellows, proud of the
physical strength and rugged health
that comes from their simple mode of
living, eager 10 display ability to per-
form well the manifold duties of their
calling, and even to occasionally help
the women-folk at the farm house with
some of the heavier chores, and de-
lighted to take keen interest in affairs
around the place and in the success Of
their employers. OF course, as our cor
respondent admits, there are to be
found farm laborers who are ignorant,
wicked, dissipated and lazy. But it
would be unfair to condemn the thou
sands of industrious, painstaking hired
men of good character on that account.
And it is no less unfair to write down
The whole body of farmers because a
few of their number are guilty of mean
ness and selfishness in their dealings
with others. Field, Farm and Forge.