The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-03-27

"
that virtue is now an active agency
does the regular farm laborer in Kan
sas or Minnesota receive more than
S25 per month Cor 81 per day, when
reckoned by the day. for his work,
and this during the farming or work
ing season only. L further maintain
that S25 per month is seldom reached
in Kansas. Only under the stress of
belated seasons, or scanty supply or
laborers, and for momentary use, are
such figures offered. 1t may interest
81. a. c." to know that two strong
young Californians, of broken for
tunes, with intimate friends in this
city, are now working on plantations
in Southern Kansas at 80 and So per
month respectively. have no
earthly reason to doubt this state
ment as it came to me, for my own
extensive observation in Kansas,
while carefully studying this ques-
ton, induces me to accept 1t as true.
Full we'll know that this Is an ex-
ceptional case; but, while il may be
the minimum, / have stood over
MANY q weary toiler whose gross
income was but a few dollars more.
Of course, in these remarks L do not
refer to the concourse of "harvesters"
or "extras" who swarm into Kansas,
Minnesota and Washington in late
summer. These "eXtras," enlisted at
the critical moment to gather the
grain, are frequently paid $50, b,
and even 50 per day, as was the ne
cessity in Southern Kansas in July
and August, 1892. But they are only
needed for week, fifteen days, or
month at most. These "eXtras" enter
Washington at harvest, where they
receive about the same in daily wages
as is paid in Kansas. Continuin2, j.
A. c.. saws, "Whlle in the State of
Washington / am now paying farm
Iaborers SAT 80 and board" So does
Emile lola pay the hawker twice value
for his pot herbs. The section known
as the Palouse country, lying between
Spokane county and Walla Walla is
undoubtedly the best wheat region in
the immediate Northwest. This is,
taken as the highest standard for cul
tivation, whether in productiveness of
soil, quality of grain or matters of
management. In this, Colfax, Palouse
City, Pullman and Moscow (Ida), with
their neighborhoods, form the natural
center. Here S25 per month and
board is the universal standard.
Messrs. Staley and Hill, operating the
two largest wheat farms in Whitman
County, aside from their overseers or
managers, pay their labOrerS the
standard wages, a rate which has APP
piled for several years. In the busy
seasons (Which also applies to the hop
fields) many 'day" laborers are en-
ployed, and these receive better
wages; but in no cases are the regular
employees advanced beyond the figures
I have Indicated. Aud even the latter,
as in Kansas and Minnesota, are not
under salary after Autumn sowing.
Here we find the sober, industrious
Swede, the horny handed son of Scan
dinavia, in great numbers, turning
the black soil high on the open hills,
wheeling the barrow, gathering the
wheat and keeping the barn yard i'll
perfect order. Few words of condem-
nation ever besmirches the reputation
of Washington Swedish wage earn
er; and these are most often unjustly
given, and have little effect upon the
general mind, which, for many years,
has witnessed aud borne acknowledge
ment to the uneXcelled merits of the
hardy, steady Swede in his lowly
sphere behind the pillow, harrow, as
around the thresher, binder or ware
house. Not infrequently have / wit
messed circumstances, when. owing to
rare moral traits among the laboriDg
class, and degree of refinement and
gentility not expected there. A young
SW6u0 ldOOTeT Is tdheh lHlO ChS pldn-
ter's house and occupies seat at the
fire-side with the family. -. A. c."
may have found them undesirable; it
would hardly accord with his other
peculiar experiences were it other
wise. However, enough of this. 1t
really makes little difference to Ha-
wall what ~. A. c." pays his Maine
laborer, his Umatilla, NeZ Perez or
Chinook; the plowman earns in KAN
sas as compared with his figure, or
even whether they earn anything
or not. What this country needs
is the best grade of white labor.
This is not available in the United
States. 1t must be imported from
Europe, the particular country or
people yet to be determined upon. In
the light of vast experience and OBJ
servation L have presented the Swede
for consideration by the agricultural
community. He has never been tested
nearly all branches of American in
dustry, and the results have been as
generally pleasing to me as they were
satisfactory to his employer. In every
country where the Swede has found
Judgment, all fair minded men speak
in highest terms of his manly quail
ties, his patriotism and loyalty to
good government, and his efficiency
in all agricultural pursuits. L will
consider it mos fortunate day for
Hawaii when the Swede labOrer
stands with our friend here the Port
uguese, together in the cane-fieldS.
Il.