McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-03-05
Talks to FarmersNo.lS0
By T. F. PECK
Commissioner Of Agriculture
Farm Labor

We see much in the papers about
the back to the farm movement.
Now, while there are thousands of
able-bodied men in the city who are
almost dependent upon charity for
their food, clothing and fuel, and a.
the same time while the majority Of
our farmers are short on labor, some-
thing certainly ought to be done to
bring together the farmer needing
laborers and the laborers needing
work.
Before this is accomplished a lot Of
readjusting will have to be done; the
way of looking at the matter will
have to change on the part of both
the farmer and the laborer.
Before the laborer drifted from the
country to the city, while working on
the farm he received low wage fir
his labor, but this was supplemented
by free house rent, free fuel. free
garden, pasturage for COW, fruits,
in fact the bulk of his living expenses
were provided free, and for which.
when he moved to town, he paid out
the bulk of his wages.
When work was scarce his expens-
es were just the same, and in a short
time he was in very hard luck. While
working on the farm both the laborers
and the farmer, feeling that as the
wages were low, it was not so i'm
portant to make the most of the time,
it was happy-go-lucky way Of doing
The laborer was paid for all he earned.
When there was period of railroad
construction work, numbering, mining
or manufacturing opened in the vicin-
ity or in the city. the laborer heard
of the big wages, as it looked to him,
and he was lured away to the city and
public works, where he used up what
in the country he could always re-
plenish. His wages were larger but
his expenses took it all,
Now If he comes back to the farm
his viewpoint and that of the farmer
must change the old happy-go-lucky
days are gone. Both must appre-
ciate the value Of time and that more
intelligent attention must be given to
farm work.
The farmer to succeed. must be a
business man and use business meth
DDS in farming. He must know that
he is getting an honest, intelligent
davs work and he must get pay for
his house, garden. fuel. etc. furnished
his laborers. When 10 does, he can
afford to pay just as good wages as
can be paid for the same class Of
work anywhere.
When the farmer and laborer get
to looking at the situation in. this
way, then and not till then can the
farmer afford to compete with public
works in prices for labor.
The laborer must realize the value
of his house, garden, fuel, etc. before
he islsatisfed with his wages. When
this viewpoint can be adjusted, then
all our labor can be employed all the
time; can be assured of the necessi-
ties Of life.
With the proper distribution of la
Dor the farmer, the manufacturer,
the railroads will be in better condi-
tion. Cities will not be congested
with unemployed. farmers can handle
their farms to better advantage
There win be no cause for hunger.
and suffering with the poor. Charit-
able organizations will be able to
change the detail Of their activities.
Everybody will find things more har-
monious.
So let's all work for the only sane,
practical solution to our greatest
economic problem, and see an end to
a distribution of labor that can only
result in unrest, suffering to many
and inconvenience to all.