The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1914-12-24
NATION IS LABOR
PROBLEM
OVER A MILLION AND A HALF
WOMEN WORK AS FARM HANDS
IN THE UNITED STATES
BY Peter Radfore,,
Y,ecturer National Farmers Union.

center 10 ClTCuWleTeHCe, anu
civilization hide its face In shame.
That problem is-women in the nelo'
The last federal census reports
show we now have 1,614,ooo women
working in the field, most OF them
south Of the Mason and Dixon line
There we're approximately 9 million
negro slaves working 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 off the negroes
and welded them upon our daughters
The chaln.Gans Of Civilization.
A millioA women in bondage IN inc
southern f,lds form the chain'gang OIL
civilization the industrial tragedy
Of the age. There is no overseer qulte
so cruel as that Of unrestrained ereeu.
no whip that stings like the lash OF
guborned destiny, and no auctioneer
| block quite so revolving as that OF or
ganized avarice. ....
The president Of the United states
was recently lauded by the PRESS anu
very properly so, for suggesting mear
alton between the engineers and rail'
road managers in adjusting thelf
schedule Of time and pay. The engr
neers threatened to strike II tnelf
| wages were not increased from az
| proxin,ately ten to eleven dollars per
| day and service reduced from ten W
eight hours and a similar read'ust-
ment Of the overtime schedule. our
women are working in the field, many
! Of them barefooted, for less than oo
, cents per day, and their scheaule ~
the rising sun and the evening star
and after the days work is over they
milk the COWS, slop the hogs and ROCK
the baby to sleep. Is anyone mealal
Ing over their problems, and to whom
, shall they threaten strike? :,
i Congress has listened approVlngls
= to those who toll at the forge ana Dc
f hind the counter, and many OF oul
| statesmen have smiled at the threats
!, and have famed the flame OF unres'
among industrial laborers. But WON
Il an are as surely the final victims 0
industrial warfare as they are tn'
d burden.bearers in the war between nd
d lions, and those who arbitrate AM
s, mediate the differences between cap
J. tai and labor should not forget ina
when the expenses of any industry ar
unnecessarily increased, society 1oo'
the bill by dr. fling new conslgnmeI
of women from the home to the hell
!, Pinch no crumb From Women's Crus
of Bread.
No financial award can be mad
without someone footing the bill, an
wa commend to those who accept tn
responsibility Of the distribution OF Il
dustrial justice, the still small voice
It, the woman in the field as she plead
in for mercy, and we beg that they pine
no crumb from her crust OF bread
d. put another patch upon her raggf
er garments. :,
N We beg that they listen to Il
scream Of horror from the eagle
vi every American dollar that is Wru'
IT. from the brow of toiling women al
at 1 hear the Goddess of Justice hiss at
verdict that increases the want
ny woman to satisfy the greed OF man
lerI The women behind the counter q
Of In the factory cry aloud for sympat
E, and the press thunders out In tn
'ne defense and the pulpit pleads
the 1 mercy. but how about the woman
in-A the field? Will not these power
+ opponents of human rights turn tn
GIL talent, energies and influence to
We relief? Will the Goddess Of Libe
al enthroned at Washington hold the
loused hand and soothe the fever
Wy brow of her sex who sows and re-
eed the nations harvest or will she per
the male Of the species to sht
women-weak and weary--from
a'7' bread-line of industry to the back
for leys Of poverty?
onss Women and Children First.
The census enumerators tell US
per of the 1,514,OOo women who work in
vld- | fields as farm hands 100000 are
bv teen years of age and under. VIVA
the final destiny of nation whose
ture mothers spend their girlhood q
lity behind the pillow, pitching hay
rye hauling manure, and what Is to bee
,ood of womanly culture and refinen
'oo that grace the home, charm soc
the and enthuse man to leap to glor
low noble achievements If our daugh
are raised in the society of the OK
the companionship Of the plow?
In that strata between the age
8 sixteen and forty.five are $4,000 Y
4 h,, en- working as farm hands and n
y Of them with sucking babes
La, cling at their breasts, as dren
day. In Precipitation, they WELD the sc