Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-02-26
illustrating the character Of unneces
gary expenses to which we refer.
Union Opposes "FuII Crew" Bill.

Union Opposes "FulI Crew" Bill.
The Texas Farmers Union regis
tered its opposition to this character
Of legislation at the last annual meet
ing held in Fort Worth, Tex, August
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 efficient marketing system;
and WI 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 1t 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 our lawmakers, courts and
juries to bear the foregoing facts in
mind when dealing with the common
carriers of this state, and we do espe-
cially reaffirm the declarations of
the last annual convention of our
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 1t 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 UNI
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 q body Of men as
sembled at legislatures-and they
have a right to be t~here-who, in
their zeal for rendering their fellow
associates a service, sometimes favor
an increase in the expenses Of In
dustry without due regard for the men
who bow their backs to the summers
sun to meet the payroll, but these
committees, while making a record
for themselves, rub the skin OF 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, no 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
have something for them to do and
we are not willing to carry the hired
help OF dependent industries unless
there lis work for them. We must
therefore Insist upon the most rigid
economy.
Legislative housekeeping Needed.
While the war is on and there is q
lu11 in business, we want all legisla
tive bodies to take an inventory o.
the statute books and wipe off al
extravagant and useless laws. A good
house-cleaning is needed and econo
mics can be instituted here and there
that will patch the clothes Of indigen'
children, rest tired mothers and lf
mortgages from respondent homes
Unnecessary workmen taken off ans
useless expenses chopped down al
along the line will add to the pros
perity Of the farmer and encourage
him in his mighty effort to feed an,
clothe the world.
If any Of these industries have SUI
plus employees we can use them Of
the farm. We have no regula
schedule of wages, but we pay goo
farm hands on IN average of SIS
per day of thirteen hours when the
board themselves: work usually run
about nine months of the year and tn
three months dead time, they can d
the chores for their board. 1t the
prefer to farm on their own accoun,
there are more than $4,000, 900, 90
acres of idle land on the earth's sui
face awaiting the magic touch of tn
pillow. The compensation is easily OF
tainable from Federal Agriculture
Department statistics. The tots
average annual sales Of a farm 1
. the continental United States amount
to $4,000; the cost of operation !
$4,000; leaving the farmer $176 pc
t annum to live on and educate hi
family.
There is no occasion for the legit
, latures making a position for surplu
employees of industry. Let them com
: back to the soip' and share with Y
the prosperity OF the farm.
!, When honesty is merely a goc
! policy 1t is a poor virtue.