The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-05-14

leisure time so broken into odd hours
it would be worth little.
But suppose the adoption of the new
system is the occasion of general adj
vance o. 25 per cent on all kinds of
manufactures and merchandise, to
compete with advanced cost? In order
to equalize. the farmer must advance
his figures also, otherwise he is vir-
tually paying for the two hours spent
in idleness, OF at least in unproductiye
pursuits by the operative. The farmer
derives no Leneft from the system !;
his day is bounded by the rising and
setting sun. Taxes, insurance, etc.,
must advance also, while but portion
of the community will be able to avail
itself of the change. Some of the eight.
hour advocates have signiied a will
lingness to accept eight hours pay, but
it is evident that the system once es-
tablished, those who so gracefully ac-
cept such reduction will crowd their
demands for restoration of old rates,
and then another struggle is to ensue,
and nothing definite is settled. If they
can comfortably support family at
the reduction and lay by something
for rainy day-and no one should be
satisfied with less-why such loud
complaints before? Consistency is a
jewel.
1t has been suggested that less hours
for labor would afford occupation for
greater numbers. If eight hours pay
is satisfactory, this is very generous
indeed, but it does not accord with the
scramble for places between the
strikers and the "scabs." A perma-
nent situation is Of no small value.
and with permanent employment, at
uniform wages and no time lost in
idleness or hunting for jobs, the labor
| ing man can well afford to work for a
less per diem.
We cannot close this series of ar
ticles without devoting a few words
to the farmers and their employees.
They cannot adopt the eight-hour sys-
tenn nor the ten-hour; they must nee
essarily make long days, especially at
seasons when every thing is pressing
and must be done at a certain time.
tits from "early morn to dewy eve"
with them. Before the introduction
of the mower and reaper the usual
routine for the average day IN haying
was to NOW from sunrise to breakfast
time; after breakfast swing the scythe
till ten O'Clock; then stir out hay till
noon; after dinner, watching every
cloud, rake and load hay till sunset, and
when bed time came the farmer was
ready to sleep without being rocked in
a cradle or reclining on bed of roses.
| The introduction of labor-saving
machinery has mitigated much of this
hard labor, but no machine has yet
been invented which will run itself.
The farmer must be up in time, teams
must be fed, machines examined and
put in order, and chores done before
breakfast. The days work then fol-
lows. They are largely dependent on
hired labor, Notwithstanding their ma
chinery. Labor does not fuctuate its
price so suddenly as farm produce. 1t
often happens in unfavorable seasons
short crops or short prices, or both
that the farmer, after paying expenses,
has not enough left to pay himself any
thing.
His patience, too, like others, is tried
with unreliable help. We have now in
mind several cases which will illus.
trate our meaning. Mr.. B hired a man
for eight months, commencing first of
April. for stipulated wages for the
aohoze time. 1t is well known that the
months of July, August and Septem-
Der. during haying, harvesting and
threshing, are worth much more than
the same length of time in any other
part of the season. The man worked
till first of July, when, knowing that he
could obtain higher wages for the re.
mainder of the season than his con.
| tract would afford, for some alleged
trivial reason, without regard to his
contract, quit work and demanded pay
pro rata for the time served This
Mr.. B justly refused first. because he
had not fulfilled his contract; and
secondly. because his labor for the
first three months was not worth pro
rata wages, but he would pay the actu.
al value of his labor. The farmer was
responsible, the laborer was irrespon.
sible, and the farmer bad no remedy
for violation of contract. In trial
at law, an discriminating jury, very
unjustly, awarde pro rata wages, be-
cause the poor man must not be Cypress
1 edl when he was an actual swindler
Similar cases are quite too common in
the rural districts
/ On the other hand, farmers have
been known for trivial reason, or nc
reason, to discharge help when the
most valuable part of their service had
been rendered, and another situation
difficult to obtain, rendering only pre-
rata wages. Says one, Z" it is poor rule
that will not work both ways alike,
when the truth is, that both parties
suffer inj Justice in either case.
/ How are such doingS to be helped
except by greater honesty in both par,
| ties The laborer has the advantage
over the farmer by his responsibility
and, in q majority of cases which have
come within our knowledge, the farm
er has been the victim.
/ The difference in the value of farm
laborers is usually greater than the diff
ference in wages. The one lies in bee
in the morning till called two or three
| times, then loiters and plumbers around
doing as little as possible to pass away
his time; watches the sun and knows
to minute when the summons to din
ner should be heard; always grum
bling about his fare or suspicious OF
imaginary slight, and is an eye-servant
at all times. The other is up betim es
sees to everything without waiting fol-
the farmer to order it, labors faithful
Ily whether the farmer is in sight OF
not, is easily satisfied, and never jeal.
Gus. Among farmers hired help is
usually treated as one of the family
/ and seldom need there be actual cause
for complaint. A large number of ou1
independent farmers commenced life
as farm laborers, and industry and
economy have made them what they
are. During the writer's experience
three faithful men who served several
years each are now well-to.do farmers
while three others who were worthless
then are worthless still. Similar re-
marks apply to domestic help, but in