The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-08-19

udyS III lCAdS W CIc Wl1tcF C11ICSu
ing time in Manitoba. The man
addressed was one of a gang stand
ing in front of Pascoe's employ
ment agency a few days ago, all
of them waiting to be sent to the
wheat fields in answer to the great
demands the farmers of the north
west are now making for this class
of labor.
There they were-scores of
them. Healthy, strong and able
bodied men with magnificent
physiques, capable of following
the harvester from early morn to
dusk, willing and anxious to get
to their calling and by their labor
contribute their large share in the
work of providing the white
bread, to which has been attrib-
uted the supremacy Of the Ameri-
can nation. They were an inter
esting collection-one which is not
ordinarily found.
They Are Intelligent.
The Bowery of New York. h slums
of Chicago, or any of the settlement
districts Of the large cities can furnish
q large and more conglomerate collec-
ton Of employment seekers on short
notice. But here was a collection of
Americans, mostly; men who spoke the
English language n talked intelli-
gently occasionally a foreigner could be
fOund, but he was usually German or
Scand1navian-onc OF the agricultural
class and VINO honestly and earnestly
wished to sell his labor and give dollar
for dollar.
How do you happen to be out of
employment" was the next question,
ply was Just as curt Is the former, but
q little persistence brought out the
story. 1t is typical Of the entire crowd.
Their jobs never. last for long and u
great portion of their time is spent in
travelling. The men merely follow the
thing for which they are equipped
manual labor.
Started in Oklahoma.
The story of n is the story OF an
Army of tncm, and then there is an
other story, which is not as pleasant
and which does not speak well for the
advancement Of our social status. But
interviewed, which in the main cor
responds with a number of other stor-
les from the same crowd. The man
In question had started in down in
Oklahoma, in the wheat fields, on his
way north. Had he not been a little
behind time, he would have started in
II Texas, which is the first state to
yield it's harvest to the public store
houses.
Starting in Oklahoma, he came
through the state, finding work wher-
ever he could, and remaining at one
Job until the grain was cut and a Pc
riod of idleness faced him. He then
moved farther northward, in the state.
going through the same experience. and
finally he arrives in Kansas at a time
when the farmers are clamoring for
help and are Offering good wages. Last
week In Kansas 50 a day was cheer
fully paid for farm labor and most Of
the men shown in the Illustration ac-
c~ompanying this article, gathered in
the money and had it in their pock-
cts at the time the photograph was
taken. although their appearance would
hardly indicate it.
$3.50 Per Day.
On the day the picture was taken
they were waiting for the arrival of
an agent, who was to take them to the
wheat fields of South Dakota. where
the demand for farm labor at this sea-
son is urgent n the wages are good.
Two and a half dollars a day is being
offered the ron and not enough are re-
1ponding to meet the demand.
And so it goes with them, on into
Canada. In Canada they arrive in time
for the cuttin. of the crop and there
they hold on for a while until the
threshing commences. The threshing
continues throughout most o. the win
ter, and those who are industriously
inclined can always find employment,
and although the demand is not SO
great for labor nor the wages SO good,
the laborer gets his board and a fair
remuneration for his services.
In the meantime he has accumulated
a little money and he is only too glad !
to put In a short period Of rest and
recreation at his own expense. or If he
desires there is other work to be had
With the first signs of spring, how
ever. he is again on the road. Now he
has a different line Of farm work and
n which will carry him back to the
him the means of livelihood and easy
stages on the journey at the same
time.
cultivates Corn.
The farmers are putting in corn and
mere Is work Tor MIN. The early plant
Ing n later the pulling and thinning
give him employment all along the
route Of this western country, from its
northernmost agricultural boundaries
to the far south. And so when he ar
'rives he starts in again on his return
trip to the north and the same program
is carried out. Year in and year out
these travelling agriculturalists" (but
they wouldn't know what that means)
go over very much the same routine
but not the same places. Always they
change, taking q different route each
and that is why they are never
going or coming from anywhere. It is
with them always the same-but diff
But while these gentlemen Of ~trayel.
are covering the earth. or that portion
OF II which they desire to honor with
gether of m%onotonous routine. The
life and experience of the ..hobo' have
been depicted by one of them, who has
become one of the leading members Of
the present day school Of short story
writer's. His brother, the .trayelinx