The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-11
NO SHIP SUBSIDY.
National Farmers Congress Re-
fuses to Endorse the Measure.

Macon, Ga, Oct 11.-At the last days
session of the National Farmers con-
gress, the committee on resolutions re-
ported unfavorably resolution that Ia
Dor unions should not attempt to pre-
vent nonunion men from working at
wages which they themselves refuse.
A persistent attempt was made to in
duce the congress to rescind it's action
of 1901 and endorse the ship subsidy bill.
The delegates from the west. reinforced
by those from the south. sustained the
adverse report of the committee on res
olutions and the resolution of endorse
ment was laid on the table by an over
wheIming ajerity.
Cleveland, Detroit. Buffalo. Richmond.
Va, Denver, and Rock Island want the
congress in 1903. The local convention
will be fixed by the legislative commit
tee.
During the afternoon session Mr.. John
N. Stahl of Chicago, spoke of 1.-The La
Dor Problem From the Farmers Stand
point" He said in part:
One of the most annoying, difficult
and vital problems of farming is to get
a sufficient supply of good labor.
Farmers could hardly pay higher
wages. But to a very small degree is
question is more wages. The lonlineSS
of farm life that has been so powerful
in taking farmer boys from the farm
and i'll keeping city laborers from it is
fast passing away before rural free mail
delivery, the farm telephone and the
country trolley line.
If by education and a proper appreci-
alton of our calling, the introduction of
business methods, we put farming on
the same plane as other business enter
prises, we can command for it our right
full share of the faithful. intelligent la
Dor that now goes to raiiroading, manu-
featuring and merchandising.
This will come to pass all the sooner,
because the future will see many wo-
men farmers. 1t is already fashionable
for girls to be strong and muscular and
athletic and sunburned. In farm work
so much machinery is used nowadays
that the greater part of farm work on
the up-to-date farm requires intelli-
gence and dexterity and application
rather than muscular strength. Very
much farm work is no more firing on
the muscles than operating a type
writer; it is much less wearing on the
nervous system and 1t is certainly much
more healthful. Woman has taken
mans place to q large extent in the
schoolroom, the store, the office, even
the pulpit and the courts; why not on
the farrn2 The past harvest quite a
number of women worked in the fields
and liked it. There are now some very
successful women farmers. The farm
err may much indeed prefer seeing his
daughter helping him in the field, oper-
ating the mower or the harvester, or
hay rake, or corn planter than tempt
ing fate amid the artificial unwhole-
some and dangerous conditions of the
city.
a very good way to equalize the labor
supply of the city and country would be
to equaliZe taxation and also the ex-
penditure of taxes. The big public
building and the tax dodger are charac-
teristic of the city and not of the farm.
In time, and perhaps not long, cheap
ira nsportation between city and farm
our farms those that must have the
glitter and excitement of the city in
their lives.
We expend nine-tenths of our energy
4 in making laws and one-tenth in en-
forcing them. We must reverse that
1 for time. We have too many laws and
too little regard for them. Our hope lies
in fewer laws. only wise laws, and
those relentlessly executed.