The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-08-26
THE ii HlRED HELP ESTION.

ties the American farmer has to en-
counter to-day, and it seems to lie
growing more difficult every year.
For the past twenty Years | have
employed hired man most of the
time. and know whereof | sneak.
LII that time all who would have rat
ed iirst-class U did not expect pcrlcc-
tom, might have been counted on the
fingers of one hand. 1t is much more
difficult for the farmer to obtain a suit
able man than a city employer, pro-
vldcd the farmer boards his hired help.
as is usually the case. Unfortunate-
ly, this has been customary for many
years. The majority of farm hands
are unmarried and in many cases too
far from home to board there. If this
custom could be abolished it could
be by 4 persistent effort on the part
of the farmer and his wife-it would
obviate many of the disadvantages of
the present system. As it is, the
farmer is almost compelled to admit
his employee into the family, and un-
less he is great deal more gentle
manly than the majority of the hired
men, his presence is greater damage
than his service are worth. A hired
man who is ungentlcmanly or untruth-
tul, or who perhaps uses proianc and
obscene language, can do more mis-
chief to the farmers children in a
week than the farmer can undo in 4
year. | do not wish to be understood
as speaking disparagingly of anyone
who is, perhaps, by force Of circum-
stances, compelled to work on the
farm. | fully appreciate and value an
honest, well-bred and trustworth man
wherever he may be, and | know how
difficult it is to secure one of that
kind. have been a hired man on the
farm myself. as well as an employer,
and iriicve understand both sides
Of the question. | know there are
many hired men who are equal, or SUI
perior, to their employers in moral
or mental attainmcnts But where
Of fh,f l-tt1 i, ,,,,,l will
be found who are the oppssite. What
qualifications have we Il right to cN-
pcct. and what arr II cesslry in good
hired man!
|. That he will attend strictly to
his business and work to his employ
cr's interest.
>. That he will do an honest day 5
work, whether Ills employer is present
0rnot.
>. That h,. viii! .ln the work exact
ly rs ordcrc'.
I. And last but not least, that he
will attend to his own business and
not mcddle into his employers affairs
directly or indirectly.
As rule, will not employ Il man
who uses tobacco, and positively will
not keep man who uses strong drink
or becomes intoxicated. 1t is not adj
visablc to employ hel p of whom moth
ING is known, even though they come
we'll recommended. Opinions differ,
and Il man who would give good salts
faction at one place might not be want
ed at another. The payment OF high
wages viii not always secure satisflc-
ry help. The highest wages | ever
paid-for short time onl was a
man who soon showed himself to be
best man | ever had worked for low
wages at first. employed him three
wears and advanced his wages every
year.
"But, says someone, 'what do YOU
propose rs Il remedy for this difficult
problem - For the farmer who has
more land than he and his family can
handle. my advice would be, sell part
OF your farm, retaining no more than
YOU can farm without hired help Fail
ing in this, grow less grain and keep
more stock, especially sheep or young
cattle. both profitable industries at
present \ farmer who is Obliged to
depend upon hired help cannot grow
grain with profit ut present prices OF
grain and hired help. With Il small
farm man can generally exchange
help with his neiehi,orS in times of nc
c; SSity. such As hay.nr. harvestin.
and thrcShing. In the west, where
firms are large, it is becoming ncces-
sary for thrcshmen to furnish the en-
tire complement Of men necessary, and
board them also. This relieves the
farmer wife of much work and anNi-
ETY.. 1t is doubtful whether this sys-
tenn could he adopted where farms are
small, and but short time required
to complete each job. Where regular
help must be employed it is best to
employ Il married man, if possible, hy
the year, even if cottage must be
built for lis accommodation. \ mar
rictt man is usually more steady in his
halits-a desirable fraturp-and is
NOR" likely to try tn please his EN-
l,lnyrr, for he knows it is more difficult
or mn 80 got another position than ii
%in9Ir man. and he is iut to more ex.
l,"ms,' in changing. The latter has