The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-05-28

1t is expected that the farmers of the
United States will have to pay at least
20 per cent more this season than last
for the gathering of their grain. The
organization of the harvest hands into
national unions is the cause of this
threatened increase. Notice has already
been served on thousands of the grain
growers of the middle West of the
unions demands, and the farmers in
some sections Of Illinois, Missouri and
Kansas are taking steps to oppose the
organized labor.
About 100000 men go into the fields
every year and harvest the grain. The
farms o. the United States number al.
most 100000, and cover an area Of
S41 100000 acres. The products Of the
farms sold last year for $500, ,000, 600
the largest total ever recorded.
National organizations have been per
fected in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kan
sas, Oklahoma and several other States.
In the great wheat belt of Kansas, union
labor is practically in control. The free
employment agencies have been boycott.
ted, and only the labor agencies con-
Quoted by the unions are recognized. D.
W. Blaine of Pratt County, who put into
effect the famous harvest hand bureau
several years ago. and who has in the
past furnished 1900 workmen annually,
is in favor and aiding the labor unions.
He says it will result beneficially to the
farmer as well as to the laborer.
Crowdinz Into the Union.
As the summer season approaches
thousands of men leave the city and 60
into the country to work in the fields.
One finds them in all sections of the coun-
try, and before the end of the harvest
the number Of strangers seeking work on
farms exceeds the million mark. 1t is
indeed vast army that is called to the
aid of the 100000 farm owners of the
United States.
There-are 100000 of day laborers in
the United States, of whom 1,25O,OO0
belong to the national trade unions. An
other million belong to trade unions Of
purely local interest, while the remain
der comprise the element Of unorganized
labor. Within the past two years several
hundred thousand of the latter class have
Joined the farm labor unions.
The farm hand, as well as other
classes of workmen, is looking to the
future. The hours Of work upon the
farm are from sun-up until dusk, and
often then the farmer puts his men
through an hour after dark, especially II
the grain be in danger of falling. Here
tafore the custom has been not to pay
The men for this overtime. In some in
stances small sums were offered, but the
farmer usually held it as a right that his
workers should aid him unremunerated.
Hence the farm hand has been easily
guided into the union, and everywhere
the organizers Of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor have been they have
brought a majority of the workers intd
the ranks. Cooperation of the harvest
srs, where it has already been practiced,
has proved highly beneficial.
To Raise Scale Of Wages.
The present scale of wages paid to
farm hands runs from $1.5O to s. per
day. The work differs In the task.
Binder drivers, for instance, are not over
worked, and are classed as light work
men, hence they are only paid $780,
The union scale for binder drivers Is set
at 81, and the ruling is made that neith-
er women nor boys shall be allowed to
fill this place in the harvest time. Often
in a rush the farmer brings his wife or
daughters into the field to drive the
binder, while he puts the men into the
harder places. Wheat shockers are paid
not over 81 per day. Under the new rul-
ing they are to receive $3.50. Other
classes of workmen are to receive higher
prices in proportion, the raise being on
an average of 20 per cent. In the grain
belts of the Southwest rome of the big
ranch owners are organizing to fight the
union, but there is doubt whether they
will succeed. In central Kansas last
year there were numerous strikes, where
the union was In partial control. and
were seeking to rule out the non-union
men. This year will probably see great
many strikes and so will the following
season, until the farmers are willing to
accept the union, which, with its present
growth, is certain to gain a solid footing
In the ranks of the harvesters.
While the income of the farmers last
year was over $5,OOO,OO0OOO, the
amount paid out to workers, both extra
and regular, amounted to less than $780,
100000. The average expense of each
farm, average size 40 acres, was $64 in
1899, and $75 last year, and this year it
will be at least SS5, and perhaps $50.