The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-01-28
illustrating the character of unneces-
sary expenses to which we refer.
Union Opposes "FuII Crew" Bill.

Union Opposes "FuII Crew" Bill.
The Texas Farmers Union regis
tered its opposition to this characte
of legislation at the last annual meet
ing held in Fort Worth, Tex, Angus
4. 1914, by resolution, which we quote
as follows:
The matter Of prime importance
to the farmers of this state is an ade
quate and eff cient marketing system
and we recognize that such a system
is impossible without adequate rail
road facilities, embracing the greatest
amount of service at the least pos
sible cost We further recognize that
the farmers and producers in the end
pay approximately 95 per cent OF the
expenses of operating the railroads,
and it is therefore to the interest of
the producers that the expenses of
the common carriers be as small as
is possible, consistent with good SER
vice and safety. We, therefore, call
upon Jul lawmakers, courts and
juries to bear the foregoing facts in
AlAhN 0h~A 0CdlDl6 win nv -
carriers of this state, and we do espe-
cially reaffirm the declarations of
the last annual convention of u
State Union, opposing the passage OF
the so-called 'full-crew' bill before
the thirty-third legislature of Texas"
The farmers of Missouri in the last
election, by an overwhelming ma
jority, swept this law off the statute
book Of that state, and it should
come off of all statute books where
it appears and no legislature of this
nation should pass such a law or
similar legislation which requires I'M
necessary expenditures.
The same rule applies to all regu-
latory measures which increase the
expenses of industry without giving
corresponding benefits to the public.
There Is Outlines a body of men as
sembled at legislatures-and they
have a right to be there-who, in
their zeal for rendering their fellow
associates a service, sometimes favor
an increase in the expenses Of in
udollJ AbhOQ u iO6dA - hhO AACA
who bow their backs to the summers
sun to meet the payroll, but these
committees, while making a record
for themselves, rub the skin off the
shoulders of the farmer by urging the
legislature to lay another burden
upon his heavy load and under the
lash of "be it enacted" goad him on
to pull and surge at the traces of civil
i~zation, nc matter how he may sweat,
foam and gall at the task. When
legislatures 'cut a melon" for labor
they hand the farmer a lemon.
The farmers of the United States
are not financially able to carry dead
heads" on their payrolls. Our own
hired hands are not paid unless we
something for them to do and
we are not willing to carry the hired
help of dependent industries unless
there is work for them. We must
therefore insist upon the most rigid
economy.
Legislative housekeeping Needed.
1 tnC wei 10 O1 III lACl 10 q
Iull in business, WI want all legisla-
i've bodies to take an inventory of
The statute books and wipe off all
and useless laws. A good
louse-cleaning is needed and econo-
MES can be instituted here and there
hat will patch the clothes of INDECENT
children, rest tired mothers and lift
mortgages from respondent homes.
workmen taken off and
useless expenses chopped down all
long the line will add to the pros
,erity of the farmer and encourage
lin in his mighty effort to feed and
.lothe the world.
If any of these industries have sur
'lus employees we can use them on
he farm. We have no regular
chedule of wages, but we pay good
arm hands on an average of $1.50
er day of thirteen hours when they
GARD themselves; work usually runs
bout nine months of the year and the
nree months dead time, they can do
chores for their board. If they !
iClCl " 4 OA thCL OUA dNOOuAl
lere are more than $4,000. 000, 900 !
cres of idle land on the earth's sur I
ice awaiting the magic touch of the z
low. The compensation is easily OBJ I
from Federal Agricultural 8
apartment statistics. Tho total s
verage annual sales Of a farm in
lie continental United States amounts /
$4,000; the cost of operation is Y
$4,000; leaving the farmer s176 per !
mum to live On and educate his t
,mily. d
There is no occasion for the legis- 0
lures making a position for surplus /.
.ployes Of industry. Let them come
Jack to the soil' and share with us r
e prosperity Of the farm.