Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1915-03-12
NATIONS LABOR
PROBLEM
OVER a MILLION AND A HALF
WOMEN WORK AS FARM HANDS
IN THE limited STATES.
BY Peter Radford

Lecturer National Farmers Union.
Our government never faced so ire
mendous problem as that now lying
dormant at the doors OF congress aud
the legislatures. and which, when
aroused. viii shake this nation from
center 20 circumference, and make
civilization hide its face in shame.
That problem is--wOmen In the field.
Tho last federal census reports
show we now have l,5l4.00O women
working In the field, most OF them
south OF the Mason and Dixon line.
There were approximately q 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-Gang Of Civilization.
A million women in bondage In the
southern fields form the chain-gang Of
civilization 49, the industrial tragedy
OF the age. There is no overseer quite
so cruel as that OF unrestralned greed
no whip that stings like the lash Of
suborned destiny. and no auctioneers
block quite so revolving as that Of or
ganlzed avarice.
The president o. the United States
was recently lauded by the press, and
very properly so. for suggesting medi-
alton between the engineers and rail
road managers IN adjusting their
schedule Of time and pay The engi-
uoefs threatened 10 strike II their
wages were not increased from APP
proximately ten 60 eleven dollars per
day and service reduced from ten to
eight hours and a similar readiust-
ment OF the overtime schedule. Our
women are working IN the field. many
OF them barefooted. for less than so
cents per day. and their schedule is
the rising sun and tho evening star.
and after the days work is over they
milk the cows. slop the hogs and rock
the baby to sleep. Is anyone mediat-
ing over their problems. and TO whom
shall they threaten a strike?
Congress has listened approyingly
90 those who toll az the forge and be-
hind the counter. and many OF our
statesmen have smiled az the threats
and have famed the fame Of unrest
among Industrial laborers But wom-
en- are as surely the final victims OF
industrial warfare as they are the
in tho war between ma
lions. and those who arhltrate and
tho differences between capt
tai and labor should not forget that
vi hen the expenses Of any industry are
increased. society foots
the bill By drafting a new consignment
OF women from the home 20 the field.
Pinch no crumb From Women's Crust
o. Bread.
No financial award can be made
without someone footing the bill. and !
We commend 10 these who accept the |
responsibility OF the distribution OF In
dustrial justice. the still small voice of
the woman In the field as she pleads
for mercy. and We beg that they pinch |
no crumb from her crust OF bread or |
put another patch upon her ragged
garments.
We beg that they listen to the |
scream OF horror from the eagle on
every American dollar that is wrung 4
from the brow OF toillng women and /
hear the Goddess OF Justice hiss at a
verdict that increases the want OF |
woman to satisfy the greed OF man.
80 -c-c- behind the counter and I