Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-03-23
The Matter of WAGES.

Some time since the ARGUS sent
out inquiries to the w~oolgrowers oil
this county relative to the question
of wages paid to herders. the object
being to ascertain whether the rise
in the price of wool and general i'm
provement of the industry had not
resulted i'm a partial restoration OF
wages paid prior to 1898. We have
not received replies sufficient to a
rant publication of the matter as the
average opinion of the ~woolgrow-
ers of the county, but SO far as
received the Information Is OF b
most gratifying character. In a
number of instances growers made
no reduction of wages whatever,
while Others have restored wages
since marketing their last years clip.
Probably seventy-five per cent of
those replying who have not already
raised the wages of their herders ex-
press q willingness to do SO during
the coming season, some in the
spring and Others after marketing
their wool, particularly if anything
like last years prices prevail, of
which there is little doubt. The
views expressed by the growers
show a disposition to do what is
fair in the premises, and many OF
them state indisputable facts as re-
CARDS the value and the work of
men employed by them. The man
who has performed long and faith
full service, who is sober and indus
trious and in whose hands valuable
property can be entrusted is worth
more to the grower than the happy
go-lucky emergency man who is not
looking for "a steady job. but takes
to herding in the absence OF other
work. One man may have the care
of $500 sheep while another is en-
trusted with 1000, surely the one
with the greater capacity and re
s~ponsibility is entitled to more pay
| All of which goes to prove that the
| sliding scale is the only true system
in the employment of labor.
While labor, like anything else, Is
governed in a large degree by supply
and demand, Montana has been
fortunate in that the labor market
ter wages are paid in this state to-
day than in any other state in the
Union and in any section OF the
known world, for that matter, except
perhaps on the Klondike, where
there will be no opportunity to labor
in a short time if such is not the con-
dition already.
Wages for farm hands and herders
are said to be from 70 to % per cent
higher than in Wyoming, Utah and
Idaho, and with conditions improv-
ing it is more than probable that
this percentage will be maintained II
not increased. There is no doubt but
the maximum price for good herders
will reach $40 while the minimum
price will not fall below $50, the
average being $35 throughout the
state. 1t is hardly necessary to
state that those thus employed are
found.
Considering that their business
was rendered profitless by the panic
and hostile legislation and many OF
them became heavily involved, it il
remarkable that SO many feel able
to restore wages even In part. II
must necessarily require several good
years before the grower himself car
say that he is out of danger and or
the high road to prosperity. 1t re
quires time to recover from such q
shock and loss of But the
disposition to lift the burden from
those he employees is in the highes,
degree commendable and ia poison in
the cup of the shallow and unprin.
cipled agitator.