The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-03-10
Farmers in Convention.

Farmers in Convention.
From Correspondence in Fargo Forum.
Valley City, N. D., Feb. 26.-There wal
large and enthusiastic gathering ol
farmers of Barnes and adjacent counties
held at Valley City on Saturday afternoon
24th, inst. The courthouse was filled to
ovsrhowing, and after listening to an elO.
quent address by the Rev. ". E. Clifford
the meeting was organized for business. .
After dlsposing of some local matters
connecteo with the organization of a
county mutual fire Insurance. company,
the meeting took up the question Ut tarM
labor and wages. \
There was very general expression q
opinion that some united action ought at
tnls time be taken ON the part Ot the
farmers Of North Dakota, i'll tue direction
OF securing some such reduction Of Wages
for farm laber as would be in keeping
with the low price of wheat and all other
farm products. $2S to $35 per month for
the season, or even $25 per month was
thought to be utterly dlsproportioned not
only to the price of all farm procucts, but
also to the rates of wages paid elsewhere.
10 the suggestion that the law of supply
and demand would regulate this matter,
it was very pertentiy replied that such
regulation IN the past had ueen most un-
satisfactory to the North Dakota farmers,
who had been compelled 10 pay nifty or
sixty per cent more than has Deen paid
elsewhere for the same work, not taxing
into account that work is much easier on
North Dakota farms for many obvious
reasons than in the older settled states
where crops are more diversified.
In this section of the state, at least, the
rates OF wages for farm hands have
steadily advanced for the past ten years,
though no intelligent reason for suoh ali
advance can be gwen, as far 40 was known
to those present at this medting.
There was vigorous determination ex
pressed by many that unless very de-
cided reduction in the rates of wages
should be secured for this year, there
ought to be and would be large reduc-
ion made in the acreage of lands culti-
waited as the profits at the present prices
are more than exhausted by the expenses,
of which labor Is by far the largest item.
1t was felt that he had been more than
usually fortunate farmer whose earnings
during the past ear had been at all pro
portioaed to those of his hired help, and
many instances were known in which the
net earnings of the farmer amounted to
fewer cents than he had paid dollars to
each of his farm hands.
If there is any good reason why this
should continue, those present at the meet
ing are desirious of knowing it, in order
that they may conform to what is reason
able and right. For this reason it was
suggested that the secretary of the meet
ing. through one or more of the papers
of North Dakota. having the vidset- cir
culation among the farmers, ask an ex-
preston of opinion from the farmers Of
all parts of the state as to whether it
would not be best, at this time, by some
,oncernted action, to take such steps at
may result in proper reduction OF tho
rates of wages to be paid this year, az
least.
1t was suggested also, by several per-
sons who we're present, that in case it is
found impossible to secure a reasonable
reduction of wages, there ought to be
very general determination throughout
the state to reduce the acreage to be
cropped, and save money in that way at
least; for it was felt by many that in
this way the profits of fewer acres might
be at least ss great in the end as of lar
ger number, as by summer following or
letting a part Of the land rest for year
or two substantial benefits could be OBJ
tained in several ways.
What have you to say, brother farmers
of North Dakota as to these things? Let
us hear from you, whether your views
coincide with ours or not; and please do
not stop after you have said what ought
to be, but let us know how it can be
hronvht ahOut bv some practical action
HERBERT RooT, Secretary.