The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-03-06
FARM LABOR FROM CRY.
Assertion That Farmers Do Not Treat
Their Employees Deeently.

II. II. Walsh Of Middlesex county. n.
j.. writes to the Country Gentleman:
! have been working at farming for the
past ten wears. and have had experience
with farmers Of four different states,
and have also worked for two different
farmers in Germany and one in Eng
land. | was born in Philadelphia. and
have learned the trade OF metal turn
ing and polishing, and have not made
anything less than $3.50 q day at it.
took to farming because my health
had given out, and IL has improved my
health considerably | have stuck at
it ever since, but this will be my last
year-for these reasons Our American
farmer uses his men Just as he would
dog, and in fact, worse than dog
which does not suit decent man. |
mean by decent man, one that is
sober. honest and willing, aud that is
the kind | Judge myself to be. | earn
5000 a year at my present place, and
[ help sister in the city, and have
also a small bank account of what
have saved Of my earnings.
/ have helped farmers TO get decent
men from the city, but they would not
stay more than month at time. for
the reason that they were treated as
though they were nothing but low dogs,
If ever our American farmers learn TO
treat a good, sober. steady and honest
man little more socially or with more
respect. and do not deprive him OF lit.
tie pleasure, think they will never
have any trouble in getting men. The
way most OF the farmers think about
a man Is well illustrated in q CONVEX
sation that / once overheard: Our
man. said the farmer, "is good work
er; he seems to have fair education,
and he seems to be clean. But be said
he made good wages in the city, so why
does he come out TO the country and
work? Perhaps he has got into some
trouble or his parents haven't any use
for him, or perhaps he is just giving
up drinking" They sometimes think
that Just because they had one
man that had done wrong, all the
rest are Just like him But that is
where they make a mistake.
Not one OF the different farmers that
have worked for has ever asked me
for reference. although have them
in writing and can also furnish them
orally. As I have said before, if the
farmer gets good man, let him be
treated - a man should be treated. To
make him sleep in q hog pen, wash
himself in hog trough. and dry his
hands on rag that they clean the
Kitchen floor up with, is poor policy.
7 do not wish you 10 think that ! write
these things because ! do not love the
farm. | love farming and nothing but
farming. aud il is my intention to own
one some Of these days. ] have been
al my present place going ON six months.
and out Of these six months I haven't
lost one day, not even a Sunday. Ana
that is the day when all the work Of
taking care OF eight COWS. six horses.
la pigs and 200 chickens falls on my
hands alone Do YOU call that right
love to 60 10 church. but cannot do
so, as have to walk two miles ia
get there, and by The time am
through with my morning work. then
il il almost time TO start in 70 do the
night work When the American farm
er learns 10 use sober. willing, steady
man with more respect. he viii never
hsve amy trouble 10 get such men from
the ciA.