Macon beacon., 1905-08-12

THE FARM LABOR QUESTION.
The scarcity and Unsatisfactory
Quality of Farm Labor In the
Southern states.

Go where you will in the south, and
you will hear the farmers discussing
the two phases of the labor question;
first, the scarcity of it and the unsat
isia.tory quality Of it. Now discus
sion will not settle this vexing prob
lem, and it will take many years of
uLited, well-direced effort to settle it
in anything like satisfactory man
ner if il can ever be accomplished
with our present class of labor. 1t Is
our purpose TO devote some space to
its discussion from time to time, and
To- publish letters from many farmers
giving their views upon this important
matter. AS we stated above, discus
sion Will not settle it; but it may aid
lis IN getting down to work upon a
more systematic basis, wh'rh we are
sure must be done, eer we start to-
wards its solution. According TO the
best light before us, there axe eight
distinct heads into which the subject
should be carefully studied by all our
farmers, and each endeavoring TO find
the best solution for himself, also
standing by his fellow-farmers in all !
right and proper methods of settling 1t |
for themselves. Farming is no longer
such an isolated and Independent call
ing that the individual can ignore the
interest of his class as whole. We
must learn TO work together, it is the
only way We can attain any high de-
gree of prosperity. Now as to our sub
divisions of this great question:
/. We would have clearly defined |
written contract between landlord and
tenant
2. The insisting upon more careful
preservation and thorough cultivation
of the soil
g. The insisting upon a three-year |
rotation Of crops, generally speaking,
Is in wheat and oats; l3 in corn and
l-S in cotton.
d. Then taking rent notes payable
1-3 in grain, 1-3 in corn and l-3 in cot
ton.
3. Then hiring wage hands, the |
keeping back certain per cent to in
sure the carrying out of their con-
tract
6. They payment of wages in cash,
10 insure satisfaction on part of la
borer.
{. The holding of man in abso-
lule contempt who will interfere with
his neighbors hands, or try to induce
them away from him.
s. The use of improved farm tools
and machinery.
The days of cheap land, fresh lands
and plenty of labor has caused our
farmers to drift into many slack ways
and methods that must be discarded
now and new and better ones adopted
in their place. Conditions have changed
and are rapidly changing and he who
cIngs to the ways of the past will GER
tainly find himself left. Because we
have been doing certain way Is no
longer a sufficient reason for continu-
ing in it. ln fact when you find any
thing becoming ineffective, it Is sure
call for a change for something better.
We admit that there are few doing
so well that they need not worry them
selves about change; but we know
The great majority need 10 consider
well this subject; an even these few
should lend all the aid they can to
better the condition Of their fellow
farmers. We travel over this south
land, and about one-tenth is blossom
ing as the rose; while the other nine
tenths show the need of better care
and more effective work. Let us wake
up and 20 to work and work together,
This is what we were created for; and
our highest usefulness Is to leave
things better than we found them. So
these unsolvej problems call forth our
hest efforts, Lands in the south are
becoming more and more valuable ev-
cry year, and we are glad they are. 1t
behooves us to increase their produc-
tyeness every year; which certainly
calls for more efficient labor. Give this
subject your thought, fellow-farmers,
and be sure you give the movement the
very best aid you can by helping to
carry forward the views Incorporated
in the eight divisions given above, or
If any one can suggest better ones, we
would most gladly welcome them.-
Southern Cultiyator