Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-01
ON TO THE WHEAT FIELDS.
Scene in New York Free Employment
Bureau

Scene IN NeW-1ork Free Employment
Bureau.
New York Sun.-High wages in the
wheat fields have appealed so far TO
about 200 New Workers. That at least
was the number of applications that
had been received by Superintendent:
Bealin of the state free employment
bureau when he closed his desk The
other day. Mr.. Bealin had announced
! in the newspapers that 21,OOO extra
hands were needed to reap the south
western harvest. Mr.. Bealin's stateC
reception time was p. m, and tina
hour found a score of the up-against-i
on the stairs and in the hallway
the bureau. Supt Bealin was busy
/ the policeman told them at intervals
but would see them soon. The wOulC
I be farmers busted themselves readin.
bulletin which said that a ticket Z
the wheat belt could be had for s2O.5t
with a special beyond that of a cen
a mile. There were no cheers for tn.
bulletin.
''Twenty-ffty!" growled one of th'
unemployed. IF had that much
wouldn't want to work at ALL
mo corporation gets that much ou
of me-" said another. me for the
popular rolling stock, with the grab
and gateway at convenient lunch
counters"
That's the way to talk" said a
/ former waiter on the Bowery. ANY
geezer who can't beat his way to Kan
sas City amt fit TO work there. BY
the looks Of that bill of fare it would
take a 5O-spot to make the round trip,
and there wouldn't be much of bank
roll when we got home"
81 wish l could find a guy who could
play a guitar" was the sigh of man
who looked robust enough to preside
over an ice wagon. 81 can make
banjo hum and it's pretty soft travel
ing for pair of musicians.
That speech brought beam of hope
to the face of young fellow along
side. Il can play a piano" he said
4 quickly.
Nothing doing" replied the banjo
list, 'TI can't carry even one end Of a
piano" The other candidate saia
nothing, but looked gloomy. Nearly
all looked willing to work and most Of
them were cleaned and dressed up"
Presently the Office door opened and
Supt. Bealin marshaled the aspirants
before him.
'T'l tell you all at once and plain
~" he said. you men think you
want to go out there to work, but 1
don't want you to start with any mis-
understanding. No man can do the
work out there unles he's strong and
healthy and used to rough, outdoor
work. The hours are long and the
food is coarse. II you go out yoH
will have to pay your fare just as the
bulletin cells you, and cent a mile
beyond the center of the wheat belt.
We don't want you TO start for there
and 60 broke on the way, and We
don't want you to get sick out there.
The pay Is about $3.50 day-from 81
to $3.50, with $3.50 the limit. If you
get sick out there you won't have any
drug store to run to or any mother 10
care for you; you'll have to take
chance. Think ii all over and come
back in day or two, if you still be.
lieve you want to be farmhands. But
remember. above everything else, thac
you had better not think of making
the trip unless you can do the work
that is wanted"
The candidates salaamed and march
ed out. Some almost ran, so fearsome
was the prospect that Mr.. Bealin had
exposed. One or two fingered long
enough TO say that they were a-Iious
to go. but couldn't see just whe- The
money for their railroad fare woul1
come from.
MY little lecture may have sounded
harsh and discouraging, said Supt
Bealin afterward, "but 1t would be
wicked to let men like these start foI
the west under a misrepresentation.
They mean well, most Of them. but OF
the 20 that you just saw in here J
don't suppose more than four could
do the labor that is required. The
object of this bureau is not 10 get men
away from New York, but TO find for
them work they can do. That is why
1 have spread all the hardships Of the
farm in front of them. Men have
been coming in punches like that ever
since the announcement was printed
and l have given the same talk to al
Of them. Those who are determined
to tackle the job will come back in a
day or so, but do not think we will
begin sending any of them west until
early next week. l have written TO
learn how long the employment will
last, and if the period isn't long
enough to make it profitable for the
men I viii advise them all not to 60
Have you had any applications
from college men?" Supt. Bealin was
asked.
Not yet. We sent a number OF
them to the wheat fields last year, and
IT have a letter from Labor Com