The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-02-20
Drift of Comment.
FARM LABOR.

With the approach OF spr'ry
there comes a cry from the farm
crs that il is going to be difficult
to secure "help' during the COM
ing season. Last year, 1t w,i' DC
remembered, there was at coLsi i"r-
able shortage OF farm labor, AMI
the falers complained sorely at
the prevailing wages that ia'a 10
be pad the labor that was obtain
able.
The truth of the matter is that
since farming became business II
has TO compete with other busi-
ncsscs. Farming has not always
been business. 1t has cnly been
IN recent years that a farmer chl
tivatcd land upon business prlnci-
pie. or with any idea Of making
dividend upon h.s investment.
The farm was considered only a
means OF obtaining something to
eat and coarse clothing to ptolct
one against the elements. j. a
farmer raised enough grain to run
him through the winter he was
satisfied, provided he raised u
calf or two, to sell and buy & plow
or wagon, and his wife could "save
|mp" enough eggs and clnrn enough
butter to take care OF the liable
needs.
In those "gocd old days" farm.
lahor was abundant. 1t desired
as little as did the farmer. The
"'hired man" wanted LIVING
that was all. lie was willing to
work the year round for eight or
ten dollars p month, and take most
Of that IL produce. A farm hand
IN those days, was not the mcst
ambitious fellow in the world, and
if Ire could go TO town to the circus
and have plenty of chewing tobacco
that was about all he cared for.
But all cf that has been chang.
cd. The farmer is now in business
sel'ous, remunerativc businesses and
one that requires high order of
intelligence. lie runs his farm
as manufacturer runs his plant.
EIe buys intelligently. sells intelt-
gently, knows whether certain
crops pay, and has to watch the
details of his business as closely
as does q merchant.
And along with this Improvement
in the farmer and farm methods
has come an Improvement in the
'Alarm' hand lie wants some
thing more than scanty living.
He know" that human energy is
valuable commodity. that there is
a demand for human energy, and
that wnen mere physical force is
backed up by rational thinking it
commands a still higher price than
brute strength. He. therefore, seeks
TO improve his condition by being
something more than strong an
imal to hold up one end Of plow
while two other strong animals at
the other end draw it through the
ground.
He sees the farmer in business
and he, the hired man, embarks in
busincss-thc busincs of selling
his labor. lie seeks The best
market. lie goes to the towns or
cities where men are advertised
for, and he weighs the wages Of
fcred III the factory or on the
railroa,l against the wages offered
by the farmer. That is the sum
and substance Of the scarcity Of
farm labor.
Then arises the question, can
the farmer. meet the competition cf
his city brother, the man who runs
the factory. Can he pay dollar
and half or two dollars day
to farm hand and remain in the
farming business! Can he so oper
ntc his institution. his farm, as to
make profit after meeting the
competition OF the fellow who is
making stoves or washing ma
chimes"
Those are the questions he will
have to answer for himself, for
they are put Eight up to him every
time he goes cut and tries to hire
a helper. He VIII have to answer
them before, for he is going to
have harder time securing help.
But he believes he can answer them
III the affirmative, and that his
answer will affect farm help not
only this year and next, but for
all the time TO come.
IN assuring the wage Garner that
nc the farmer can compete I'm wag-
es with the manufactures, it will
not be necessary for the farmer TO
add up in dollars and cents what
he can afford TO pay a hand. lie
must pay more than dollars and
cents, for he certainly can not
compete with the manufacturer in
he mere matter OF money. But
lc must come TO understand that
ie has 1t within his power to out
,id the manufacturer in way
'ie manufacturer can not reach
nm. He can offer the farm laborcr
advantages the manufacturer could
'ot think of offering. This can