Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-11-17
DOWN GO WAGES.
FARMERS TAKE STEPS TO GET ON A
HARD TIMES BASIS.
Wholesale and Organized Reductions in
Labor Accounts-What Some of the
Leading Planters Say About
Needed Reforms.
Said prominent farmer the other


day:
"The farmers Of Christian county
are beginning to watch points as they
have never done before. Since it has
been decided that there is to
be no improvement ID the condition
of the agriculturist, the farmers are
taking steps to put everything on a
Mckinley basis and make low.price
dollars go as far as possible"
"For instance l am making my
cabins pay me rent in work this win
ter for the first time. l have been
working share hands and letting them
occupy my houses for six, months
that they were not working a crop.
This year l have made ray contracts
only for the work season and during
the idle months the share hands pay
rent for the cabins by working two
days in each week. In this way ]
have been able to dispense with
hired labor altogether and keep my
work up at the same time. l have
recommended my plan to several
other farmers andI am satisfied it will
not be long before contracts with all
share hands will be made on this
common-sense and more profitable
basis. The farmer is fool who will
winter lot of share hands from Oc-
tober till April when they are not at
work at ALL"
Another farmer has stipulated IN
his contract with his hands that the
cabins they occupy are for their ex-
elusive use and will charge them up
with. lodging room for Migrants who
may be taken in for more than day.
He believes this will largely break up
the company" nuisance, by making
it an Improbable business to take
care of homeless negroes by those who
are fortunate enough to have shelters
over their heads.
1t is said that there is much bit
ter feeling among the farmers to-
wards one of the Republican politi-
clans in this city, who was sent out
to make infammatory speeches to the
negroes. He is reported to have said
in speech TO the negroes that they
ought to steal rather than go without
provisions. That if the white peo-
pie refused to supply them, they
ought to go to their smoke houses
and take meat for themselves and
families. 1t is said there is no doubt
about such speeches having been
made to the negroes and the result is
more stealing in the county than ever
known before.
A meeting of farmers was held in
the Longview neighborhood one day
last week to consider the labor prob
lem and other kindred subjects. The
farmers will next year reduce their
labor expenses about one-third.
Schedules of prices will be adopted
and all will adhere to it. The best
hands will be paid IS a month
and board. Cheaper hands will be
paid Sc and So month. Contracts
will not be made for the year, as it
will be cheaper to hire by the month
and reduce or increase the number of
bands as it becomes necessary. In
this way the farmers expect to save
at least third in their labor &C
counts.
Another new departure made nee
essary by the bard times will be to
charge interest on money or provis
ions advanced to share hands. Some
say they will try this plan, while
others have quit giving orders alto
/ gether, but will divide the proceeds
Aof the crops when they are sold and
Mot run open accounts through the
! ear, which always give dissatisfac
Z (n to the tenants when settled and
| sJuently results in expensive law
ME-. One Of the best farmers in the
u g;cyiew neighborhood says he will
" MOVIE 'no order" plan a trial from
a Sc, !, -,
Y nenspther farmers will quit the ex-
y toretland uncertain negro labor al
Y has ma A prominent Casky farmer
\ shars arrangements to work white
N largest : next year and one of the
4 mailed nS,ters near Beverly has
y of his lanGabins and will put most
D can be hawheat end grass, which
y None but'ted with day hands.
y experienced greenest and most in,
Y time price ofoers will pay the old
\ labor in the fup year for farm
u the example oil. They will follow
4 ufacturers and ewide'a,wake man
u to at least enablgages low enough
"a losing money at kIn to keep from
NJ The BoysM
u Messrs. Archie Luck.
\ Alex Oyershiner and as. Mcclure,
~ returned from week Ennis nave
- foot lake. For the fra On heei
their arrival at the Lake days after
n ing was good, but the w ehoot-
AZ ed so warm later along 4erSurn-
" was not SO fine as at first4 Ae sport