The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-12-25
NATIONS LABOR
PROBLEM
OVER A MILLION AND a HALF
WOMEN WORK As FARM HANDS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
BY Peter Radsord

Our kONEffkMEHl HtftA Aa%tf't ~ -
mendous problem as that now lylEg
dormant al the doors Ok congress ana
the legislatures, and which. when
aroused, VIII shake this nation from
CENTER 10 circumference. and make
civilization hide its face n shame.
That problem Is-wemen In the Held.
The last federal census reports
show we now have l,5i4.oo0 women
| working ia the field, most " shem i
south Of the Mason and Dixon line
There we're approximately million
negro slaves wording in the fields
| when liberated by the emancipation
| proclamation We have freed our
slaves and our women have taken
their places In bondage. We nave
/ broken the shackles on the negroes
ana welded them upon our daughters
The chaIn-0ang OF Civilization.
A million women in bondage In the
southern fields form the chain-gang q
civilization = the industrial Tragedy
OF the age. There IS no overseer quite
40 cruel az that OF unrestralned greed
no whip that stings like the lash Of
suborned destiny, and no auctioneer's
II block quite SO revolving az that Of or
gained ayarice.
The president OF the United States
was recently Landed by the press, ana
very properly so, for suggesting medi,
alton between the engineers and ran
road managers In adjusting their
schedule OF time and pay, The engi.
lneers threatened TO strike II their
wages were not increased from MP
> proximately ten to eleven dollars per
day and service reduced from ten 70
eight hours and q similar readiust'
: ment OF the overtime schedule Our
q women are working In the field. many
/. Of them barefooted. for less than %
cents per day, and their schedule Is
the rising sun and the evening star,
|. and after the days work ID over they
"a milk the cows. slop the hogs and rock
the baby to sleep. Is anyone mediats
y ing over their problems, and TO whom
l. shall they threaten strike?
Congress- has listened approvingly
Ito those who toll at the forge and be-
hind the counter. and many OF our
statesmen have smiled at the threats
l, and have famed the fame OF unrest
!; among Industrial laborers But wom'
/, on are as surely the final victims q
Il Industrial warfare az they are the
burden.bearers In the war between ma
ions and those who arhitrate and
y mediate the differences between CAPT
Il iai and labor should not forget thai
IN when the expenses OF any industry ars
\, unnecessarily Increased, society footi
" the bill by drafting a new consignment
or OF women from the home TO the field
ke pinch no crunnb From Women's Crus
Of Bread.
No financial award can be mad
as without someone footing the bill, AM
- we commend to those who accept tn
responsibility OF the distribution OF y
OF dustrial Justice, the still small voice Q
at the woman IN the field as she plead
for mercy, and we beg that they pine
no crumb from her crust OF bread Q
ill nut another patch upon her ragge
Use garments. {.
We beg that they listen 70 III
~ scream OF horror from the eagle
ut every American dollar that is wrun
from the brow OF toiling women an
hear the Goddess OF Justice hiss at
se, verdict that increases the want
ap- woman TO satisfy the greed OF man.
u. The women behind the counter al
n IN the factory cry aloud for sympatl
and the press thunders out in the
defense and the pulpit pleads 4
mercy, but how about the woman
the fieldg WIN not these powert
s .ns opponents OF human rights turn the
,ast talent. energies and influence 70 y
, 81 relief Will the Goddess Of Liber
sale enthroned at Washington hold the G.
for loused hand and soothe the feveri
lion brow or her sex who sows and rea
~ the nations harvest or win she perm
AlsV the male OF the species TO sho
.a ~, women--weak and weary from I
for brend.llne OF industry to the back
sale ieys OF povertyg
non, Women and Children First
The census enumerators tell us q
az the .5f4 600 women who work in
fields as farm hands 100000 are $
teen years OF age and under, What
will the final destiny OF nation whose
the ture mothers spend their glrlhood de
behind the pillow. pitching hay q
hauling manure. and what isto beco
OF womaniy culture and refinem'
that grace the home, charm soci
Tse and enthuse man TO leap 10 glory
of noble achievements II our daught
are raised in the society or The OK 1
TOUT the companionship Of the plowe
ager In that strata between the ages
! at sixteen and forty.fve are $4,000 W.
/, en- working as farm hands and mi
pooe OF them with sucking babes
great ging at their breasts. as drene
lures in perspiration. they WELD the scy
Innc-