The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-17
Shortage of Farm Laborers.

retary OIL Agriculture, says IAdI thS
scarcity of farm laborers is more
responsible for his ailments than TIE
sins of the corporations. Since re-
turning from a Western trip Mr..
Wilson is more than ever impressed
with the conviction that the high
prices of food stuffs are directly
traceable to the neglect of farming.
The condition in the West, as OBJ
served by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture reveals a woeful neglect OF
splendid farming lands, where thou-
sands of fertile acres are lying ldle
because it is almost an impossibllity
for the owners to hire help, even at
oxorbitant prices. The country boys
are seeking town and gravitating to-
ward the industrial centers, while the
same tendency is plainly shown
among the immigrants. Hence, the
scarcity of farm products and the
severe strain upon the consumer.
"Those who regard this theory as
Inadequate and who think that mo-
nonoly is not without considerable
responsibility for the high prices OF
soodstuffs must admit says the
Chicago Record d-Herald, that the
scarcity of agricultural labor is
fact and as such it at least partially
o.cornts for the phenomenon in
question.
"But why not go a little deeper
into the case, and trace the cause ana
effect? What is the meaning of TINS
furious and increasing rush to the
industrial activities, neglect OF the
agricultural pursuits? asks the
Augusta Chronicle. The Chronicle
then proceeds to answer its own
question. and in doing so lays bare
the whole trouble. 1t says 1T IS
the lure of generalization. the thirst
for the benefit Of special faVors. the
instructive scent of cinch. that
sends men flocking to those pursuits
which promise easy money rather
than hard toll. 1t is, in other words,
the direct effect of the high protec-
tive tariff, which places an absurd
reward on the efforts OF manutac-
turers and while giving them a sure
thing" leaves the agriculturiSt TO
take his chances in an open market
selling his goods in fair competition
governed by the law of supply ana
demand. alone and not ministered TO-
and pampered by the lndulgent kind
ness of doting tariff law.
The hard and honestly earned
dollar Of the farmer, which rep
sents true mesaure of industry
and effort, is spent in a protected
market. which discounts it's worth
For the common every day necesSl-
ties of life, for the implements with
which he tolls, the man with the
hoe must pay his tax, must bend
his back to bear the burdens OF the
extravaganza. folly and self lndul'
pence which the tariff law permits
to its favorites. In the meantime the
agricultural products Of the nation
are its basis of wealth and progress
Without the cotton product by the
Southern States what would become
of those interests which MIR. Aldrlcf
IN
The nations prosperity and pro
eress demand a. square deal. Inter
| ests which are inter-dependent anc
allied must be placed on a parity OF
values, if honesty and fair play are
to be maintained as American IDEAS
and this can only be done by an nom
est and drastic downward revision
of the tariff, not by its friends, nol
by its enemies, but by the frlendS
honesty and justice and the enemies
of graft and favoritism. The dlsaf'
lection of the farm laborers is Du'
symptom of the deep seated trouD'
| lie from which the entire country i
suffering. Suggestions, such as the
Chicago Record-Herald offers, tha'
this difficulty be met by an eHten'
sion in promoting the better distri-
button Of immigration and directing
the aliens to those localities where
the shortage of labor is greatest
is valuable chiefly as a temporary
relief. The situation is bound tc
become more veXed and disastrous
as the years pass. without the remedy
to the underlying evil which pro-
duces it and tariff reform is that
remedy