The record-union., 1895-03-22
FARM HANDS AND HOME COMFORTS.
Comparison of Eastern and California
Conditions.
a Correspondent Who Seems to Think
There Has Been No Change
for the Better.

"EDs. RECORD UNION: Permit me to
present through the valuable columns Of
your paper the following views of the
wage question for farm labor in Califor-
MIA:
The chief argument advanced by those
VINO wish to reduce the pay of farm labor
ers seems To be comparison OF the wages
pald IN California with those paid in
Eastern States for the same kind ofIabor
NOW that the Wage-rate for farm labor in
TINS State is rapidly descending to the
DESIRED Eastern tlgure, 1t is time tor the
farmers To adopt The Eastern treatment
OF farm hands.
AS IS well known by people who have
lyed IN Eastern States, the treatment re-
celFed by farm hands there differs widely
from tAat given to men OF the same class
IN California. For instance back East
tne Iarm hands are usually permitted TO
1--we IN the house occupied by their em-
ployer; they have beds TO sleep in aud
are furnished with other comforts of
civilized life.
in California the hired man is shown
TO some dilapidated old cabin, or to some
sort OF an inclosure in barn in which to
reside and where be may make his bed,
IL he Is the possessOr Of one. Eastern
! worklngmen have denominated Calitor-
| ma blanket country from the condi-
| uons prevalent here, obIiging men to
| carry their blankets from place to place.
Inc great majority of farm laborers
would, L believe, respond to any I'M
pfoYement III their mode OF life by rem
/ dering more faithful service to their ON
pIoyers, Notwithstanding a reduction of
wages. FARMER'S DRUDGE.D
Is THIS THE RULE?
Is it true, as our correspondent saws,
that such is the rule in California? That
it once was SO, and that tie popular be-
of 10
day, there is no doubt. But is it not true
that the California farmers, as class, are
gradually adopting the Eastern plan?
Certainly those of the well-to-do class
are treating their few white workmen
much better now than in former wears.
Numerous instances can be cited in this
county where the regular farm hands eat
at the same table with their employers
and families and have comfortable sleep
ing quarters. The fact should not be
overlooked, however, that there is vast
difference in the conditions governing
farm labor in this State and in the East.
The winters here are not so long nor so
rigorous as there, and laboring men here
DO not require the same conVeuiences
Again, farming is carried on here on a
much larger scale than in the East. Dur
ing the harvest season the farmer en-
pIoys for few weeks a large force oe
men, from fifteen TO fifty, and it is simply
out OF the question for him to provide so
many with sleeping accommodations in
his house. And the men do not require
1t. Nine out Of ten Of them prefer to
sleep Ia the open air in the warm sum-
mer nights, and would not occupy rooms,
even though they We're provided with
them.
: +J,of
picking seasons-large numbers of men
are employed for few weeks and then
all Is over. Except on very large farms
the number OF white men empioyed be-
tween the planting and harvesting sea-
sons IS very small on any farm. and
these men are, as rule, well provided
for.
In the East the farms are small, and
TWO or three mon do most of the work,
being employed blythe year. There the
labor Is more diversified, and there is
! usually something to be done at all sea-
sons. Storms are of frequent occurrence.
even in summer, and at all times the men
have TO be comfortably housed, especially
during the long and cold winter months.
in this State, where men drift about
from farm to farm and orchard to
orchard, during the busy summer sea-
son, the "Dlankep' system cannot well
be avoided, and Will last until California
becomes a State of small farmers and
more diversified farming interests Large
grain ranches, large vineyards, orchards
and hop-felds are chiefly responsible for
the present system, While the saIubrIous
climate has much to do with it.
There is, however, class OF farmers
or, more correctly speaking, ranchers-
who are either not able to provide labor
ers with home comforts, or are indiffer-
ent TO their wants. But they are consist
ent in this, for they scarcely live them
selves.
The real comforts Of home are to this
small class of "ranchers' almost un-
known. They rarely have butter on their
tables, are too shilLless 10 raise few veg
etabLes, and subsist chiefly on pork and
poorly made bread. Happily, this species
OF farmer - rapidly becoming extinct,
/ even in California.
Taken altogether, the condition of the
/ larm IaDorer IN this Stale is gradually
/ lmprovlng-thati is, OF those who are en-
/ pIOyed. OF course, the Chinese and jan
anese have largely crowded white men of
the farms and orchards. DuJ when our
PopuIistIc friends capture ali the Offices
anu became 'nabobs" they will doubtless
discard their Oriental cheap labor and in
stall the men OF their own race at good
wages.
Then the era Of the "blanket-man', will
have passed into history.
SAD AFFLICTION.