The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-06-12
A FARMER ON LABOR.
Nashville Union

~ ~N@NSSN@ w ~ NNA SNHN'
There have been many speeches,
editorials AID not a few SER
mons. All seem to feel that labor
has wrongs; there are but few who do
not fear to say anything to the con-
trary, and We cOncede the point in
general way and in some vocstions.
The recent strikes have put some very
dull people to thinking. The con-
servative, toiling and poOrly.paid
farmer, be it heralded far an near, is
beginning to think. Though compar-
isons may be odious, suffer us to make
a few. We find labor, in all branch.
es except tilling the soil, contending
for higher wages, this notwithstand-
ing the fact that their wages, taking
gold as the standard, have been con-
tinually on the increase, and this in
crease still made greater by the lower
prices Of provisions and all else that
they consume. Even car>drivers,
having steady work and full pay,
have wanted their wages increased to
1926 per day, while an equal man
on the farm gets fifty cents a day.
1t seems to us that the "doing
well" has multiplied wants until none
seem to be satisfied. The wife has to
be fashionably dressed. The table has
to have luxuries in season and prOba
ably often out of season, and there is
the day off for recreation and concerts
and theaters and various places of
amusement. Our commissioner of
agriculture is looking forward to the
day when these poor laborers will
have their living expenses reduced
one-half by reduction in price of
farm produce.
We are taking up the cudgel for
the farmer, the man that moves eveu
rything, that makes occupation and
money for all, but who is left out,
not considered of any moment, who is
expected in his blindness or philan,
thropy to feed the world and starve
himself, as said to have been express,
ed rather irreverently and blasphem-
ously by the elder Vanderbilt, On
the farmer"
The farmer is neither anarchist nor
communist, but of all men just now
he needs organization and is full
blown protectionist.
A half century ago the pioneer
could with eight or nine hours work
provision his family, his wife make
the clothes, and have surplus hours tC
improve his place and gather com
forts around him. This has al
changed. Feeling the want of more
means, he has sought by extra WORK
and larger crops to realize the few ex
ira dollars needed; from eight or Mint
hours a day he has increased his labo
to fifteen hours in the busy season
but like the ignis fatuus, the none,
was not there. He has only been on
Of many striving in the same way tt
accomplish the same purpose and de
feating his own object by an increasO
Of the visible supply for the world
Like many, he has commenced at tn
wrong end. He needs protective
tariff, and to decrease, not increase
his products. He will then get tn
same amount of money for less worl
and find time to repair his fences
grub his fields, improve his land an,
, mind and find some time for sOci0
recreation with his neighbors, Broihe
farmers, you are masters of the situa
! ton if you will only consent and OF
ganize. Without it you will continu
as a class to get poorer and poorer
The capitalist farmers and fancy farm
ers may be doing we'll We are gla,
of their success, but we can not all b
as they are and do not expect it; bu
what we do want is equal pay 70
equal work. Let US hear from sem