The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-22
NATIONS LABOR
PROBLEM
OVER A MILLION AND A HALF
WOMEN WORK AS FARM HANDS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
BY Peter Radford


aroused. will shake this nation from
center to circumference, and make
civilization hide lis face In shame.
That problem is-wOmen In the field.
The last federal census reports
show we now havel 1874, 900 women
working in the field, most Of them
south Of the Mason and Dixon line.
There we're approximately a 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 have
broken the shackles of the negroes
and welded them upon our daughters.
The chaln-eang Of Civilization.
A million women in bondage in the
southern fields form the chain-gang OF
civilization - the industrial tragedy
OF the age. There rs no ovarseer quite
so cruel as that Of unrs rtralned greed,
no whip that stlngs like the lash Of
suborned destiny, and no auctioneer's
block quite 80 revolving al that Of or.
ganized avarice.
The president Of the United States
was recently Landed by the press, and
very properly 30, for suggesting medi.
alton between the engineers and rail
road managers in adjusting their
schedule OF time aud pay. The engi-
neers threatened to strike II their
wages we're not increased from APP
p~roximateiy ten to eleven dollars per
day and service reduced from ten to
eight hours and a similar readjust'
ment OF the overtime schedule. Our
women are working In the field. many
Of them b~arefooted. for less than 80
cents per day. and their schedule is
the rising sun and the evening star.
and after the days work is over they
milk the cows, slop the hogs and rock
tho baby to sleep. Is anyone mediat-
ing over their problems, and to whom
shall they threaten n strike?
Congress has listened approvingly
"a those who toll NJ the forge and be
hind the counter, and many Of our
statesmen have smiled at the threats
and have famed the flame OF unrest
among Industrial laborers. But wom-
en- are as surely the final victims OF
Industrial warfare as they are the
burden.bearers In the wal between ma
tions. and those who arbitrate and
mediate the differences between capt
tai and labor should not forget that
when the expenses NJ any industry are
unnecessarily increased, society foots
the bill by drafting a o consignment
OF women from the home TO the Aeld
Pinch no crumb From Women's Crust
Of Bread.
No financial award can be mate
without someone footing the bill, and
we commend to those who accept the
responsibility Of the distribution Of In
dustrial Justice, the still small voice OF
the woman IN the field ,5s,Ehe pleads
for mercy. and we beg that they pinch
no crumb from her crust Of bread Oi
put another paich upon her ragged
garments.
We beg that they listen to the
scream OF horror from the eagle OF
every American dollar that Is wrunl
from the brow OF toiling women and
hear the Goddess Of Justice hiss at 4
verdict that increases the want o.
woman to satisfy the greed Of man.
The women behind the counter ant
In the factory cry aloud for sympathy
and the press thunders out In thei'
defense and the uulpit pleads To-
mercy, but how about the woman II
the field? WIN not these powerfn
exponents Of human rights turn thei
talent. energies and Influence to he
relief? win the Goddess NJ Lihert'
enthroned at wnshiu rton hold the ca
loused hand and soothe the f%evcrisI
brow OF her sex who lows and roam
the nations harvest or will she permi
the male Of the species to show
women-weak Esd weary-from IN
breadllne Of industry to the back a
leys Of poverty?
Wsmen and Children First.
The census enumerators tell us tina
Of the 1.514.000 M who work In th
fields az farm hands 400 600 are ST.
teen years OF age and under, What
the final destiny Of q nation whose n
ture mothers spend their firlhood day
behind the pillow. pitching hay on
hauling manure. and what Is o beccmI
Of womanly culture and refinemef
that grace the home, charm societ
and enthuse man to leap to glory I
noble achievements II u daughter
are raised IN the society Of the OK an
the companionship Of the pillow?
In that strata between the ages {
sixteen and forty-ive are 100000 won
en- working as farm hands and man
OF them with sucking babes tn.
ging at their breasts, as drencht
In perspiration. they WELD the scytf
and guide the pillow. What Is to b
come Of that nation where power
! breaks the crowns OF he queens
) the home; despair hurts a mother
p love from It's throne and hunger driv,