The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-27
Governor Bailey Wants Better
Harvest Hand Rate.
Asks for a Cent a Mile from
Chicago.
THEY MUST HAVE MEN.
Wheat Will Be Ready to Cut on
July l.
Then 1t Must Be Cared for
Without Delay.

Governor Bailey today telegraphed 10
the officials of the Western Traffic as
sociation at Chicago. urging the roads
in that association to grant immediate
ly a one cent rate for harvest hands
I from Chicago and St Louis to points in
the Kansas wheat belt This is the
same rate which now exists from Mis-
siouri river points, and the railroads
have steadfastly refused to agree TO rs
adoption any further east. Up to noon
today Governor Bailey had received no
reply to his telegrams.
I sent an urgent message" said
Governor Bailey. "and I sent it whers
it ought to do some good. 1t is a re-
quest which applies equally to all vest
ern roads,
If the rate is granted. it means that
within week. at least 25.OO0 laboring
men will be poured into the Kansas
wheat fields. T. B. Gerow. agent of tho
State Free Employment bureau, says
that Chicago and st. Louis can send
out thousands of men on twenty four
hours notice, and that all that is nee
essary to start this army moving to-
ward Kansas is to have a low rate.
made by the railroads.
There is not such an immediate nee1
VI men AOi the harvest as Inere would
have been had the weather been dry
instead of wet. A telegram received
today By Mr.. Gerow from Hays, Ellis
county asks that no men be sent untii
july ., owing to the delay in the ripen-
ing of the wheat due to dampness. Al
ready 200 men have been sent to HAYS
and Mr. GeTOW notified the people out
there that they must take care of those
zoo men in some way between now and
harvest time, or they might not get any
more Ellis county has been clamor.
ing Win especial energy for harvest
nands kilograms from other points in
the state are to the effect that wheat
ter July l.
IF we can just get the men the farmers
VIII att said MIR. Gerow totissv- s4Sy-e hone
that We will get the rate from Chicago
ana 81 Louis. which viii let the men
come in from those cities Some time ago
l communicated with the Rock Island
traftlc OFFICIALS about rate of this kind
and received letter from John Sebastian
agreeing definitely to give us the rate.
Later on he denied that he had made
any such agreement. so I suppose that
the other railroads landed on him and
whipped him back into line"
REORGANIZE EMPLOYMENT
BUREAU
LILY. B- Gerow has a plan for the prac-
PiOYneht agency lie expects as soon as
the present rush of harvest hands is over
the farmers in each county. deliver an ad-
dress to them on the work of the employ
ment agency. and have them appoint some
capable farmer of the county to make
himself sort Of d central agent of the
county for the state employment bureau
lhis agent will receive reports from the
farmers as to the number Of farm hands
needed, and will make his summaries to
MI Gerow He Will also Keep the em-
ployment agency posted as to how well the
demand was supplied, and on the progress
Of the harvest.
AT present Mr.. Gerow gets his informa-
ton from the county and city clerks ana
township officials. but this Information is
not very accurate or satisfactory because
these officials are not in as close touch
with the farmers as they should be 10
give intelligent reports The city and
county officials Will be used occasionally
to give information which comes more
directly in their line.