Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-03-01

]. Z. Gaugcr was called to the front
on the subject OF The Labor Situa-
tion." and opened with a good story.
Mr.. Gauser said that in the earlier
days there was little to be had in the
way OF local help, but OF late il ap-
peared that the young people resi-
dent in the vicinity were more dis
posed to go into the fields to work.
The outlook for Japanese help was
not good because Of increased de.
mand for this kind Of help in Califor-
mia. The chance of more Mexican
labor was better and he dwelt on the
need OF better treatment OF this class
Of labor in order to encourage its
coming. He urged the employing
farmer to erect cabins for these peo-
pie and increase the inducement to
come back year after year. The In
dian help had ben very satisfactory.
and Agent Collins had said he ex-
peeted to increase the number Of In.
dians brought in. This was eneour-
aging. The other class Of labor 10
the Russion. which was inclined 10
become permanent on the soil and
should be encouraged BY good treat.
ment. These people took eontfaets
and kept them, and did some beet
growing on their own account. The
outlook on the whole was more
promising than Il had been, In the
past. There was not much doubt
bot the supply Of labor would be very
good for the coming crop.
D. L. Jochnek spoke for Mr..
Wiesxef who was on the program.
and supplemented Mr.. GauRer. espe-
eially on the point Of q more genef.
ous treatment of the labor that
comes to us. He noticed tendency
to be very selfish on the part Of some
growers. II was notable that help
that came back year after year came
back to particular employers who
treated them exceptionally well. He
suggested the wisdom Of doing what
we could to keep the help here
throughout the season: find work for
Il for the short period between the
end Of cultivation and the beginning
Of harvest. He said he saw a marked
Improvement in the help here since
the saloon had gone out. BY con.
irast Las Animas. he believed. had
had the poorest quality OF labor. He
urged contracting for the whole sea-
son as tho surcst way of getting sat
isiaetory help. He also gave some
estimates Of cost. and suggested the
advantage of extra incentive in extra
pay above the normal tonnage for
good tillagc. He made a number Of
other valuable suggestions for the
growers in employing and manag-
ing labor. He believed the prospect
for the getting of laborcrs the coming
season was good and gave his rcas-
ons for thinking so.
L. w. Babcock asked as to the ad-
vice given by the A. b. S. Co. to
plant as lbs. Of seed to the acre.
Mr.. Jocnck said he believed cxpcr-
In particularly favorable seasons as
do. but more was safe.
o. ]. Baxter spoke of the particu-
iariy good work done by the Indian
labor and Mr.. Collins who brings
them here said there was prospect
of as much of that kind of labor tho
coming season as usual. He said
there was some prejudice against the
Indian. He did not advise treating
any kind of labor too good, but they
should be treated fair and without
prejudice. 1t was very hard for hui
man nature to get over its prejudices.
He urged better housing. The labo.
that came from the south here lived
in better houses than VIC supposed,
and while they could rough it they
did not enjoy hardship any better
than more civilized people. Mr.. Col
Inns opposed Mr.. Jocnhnck's approv-
a; of season contract labor and be-
iievcd that time labor was the better
plan. He dwclt at some length on
this point. arguing that there were
less chances to the grower in paying
his help by time than by season con-
tract. This debate brought the after
noon session to a close.