Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-10-09
Z. G. CROW FIGHTS
EIGHT-HOUR BILL
Continued from rage ~
Harvest Will Not Wait.

fer if not cared for at the proper
time. If we should shorten the time
to eight hours in harvest it would
simply mean that we would be COM
PEELED to have double the help, which
would be an impossibility, as we are
frequently compelled to run the ma
chinery shorthanded on account OF
the scarcity of men.
This would mean lower wages OF
higher cost of production, either OF
which would work a hardship or
laborers. The harvest wages of the
Inland Empire average somewhere
between 20 and rs cents per hour.
This for 10 or IL hours work means
a daily wage of from $2.40 to SO pei
day. Should we shorten the hours to
eight, instead of the above wages the
workmen will have from $3.50 to 50
per day.
Either one or two things will occur
IL the eight-hour law should be
adopted. Wages on the farms will be
reduced per hour or the cost of pro-
duction will be increased, for the
farmer is UP against the least margin
in his business of all occupations. The
average income of the farm home is
less than $500 per annum, and if the
cost of production is increased it will
come from the farmer, for he is the
"goat that pays the price in the end.
Would Work Disastrously.
might adduce much more argu-
ment to prove that universal eight
hour law would work disastrously,
not only to the farmer but to the
day laborer as we'll. However, I did
not start in to write against the
eight-hour law, but to set myself and
organization right before the public
on this public question.
The Farmers Union is opposed to
the adoption of an eight-hour law.
l as a public official Of that organi-
cation am opposed to it. I shall
speak. work, write and vote against
it's adoption because l believe it will
interfere with the farmers
economic interests. l believe it is a
policy of the labor organi-
cations. Our organization is under
no obligation, through its officers or
otherwise. to support it. suppose
each organization will work and vote
for what they consider is to their own
interests.
Hope For Laws Defeat.
have no desire to commit the Far
mers' Union to the support of this
measure, would not if could, and
could not If would. l hope it will
be defeated. Not because l as far
mer will be especially benefited by
its defeat, but I believe its adoption
will be disastrous to the general pros
perity of all classes. I know that
Mr.. McCurtain, representing the Leg
islative committee of the Farmers
Union, is in accord with my views
and that of the Union on this entire
program. have every reason to be-
lieve, from remarks made in my pres
ence, that Mr.. Kegley is not support
ing the eight-hourN law. However,
he is empty able to take care of him
self in this controversy and doubtless
will do so.
When the "seven sisters" we're be-
ing circulated for signatures every
effort was made by designing men to
connect them with the eight-hour law.
l theh wrote Spokane paper that
there was no connection between
them, and still in many editorials one
would infer that they were being
supported by the same legislative
committee.
Will Support Five.
Five of the seven will appear on
the ballot to be decided by the vot-
ers. I shall support those measures
with all my ability, because I believe
them to be just and of sound econom-
ic policy which will go far toward
tax reduction in this state. On the
other hand, / shall work for the de-
feat Of the eight-hour law for the
same reasons.
While agree that men Of influence
and following should let the public
know how they stand on these inn
portant questions, I deem this an OPP
perfume time to say that there is an
other question coming before the vot-
ers this fall that l deem of as much
Importance to the public as the eight
hour law. and the organization
have taken a very decided
stand on this question also.
To Work For Prohibition.