The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-04-23
Illustrating the character OF unneces.
sary expenses to which we refer.

Union Opposes "Fuii 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 we recognize that such a system
is impossible without adequate raii
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 IS 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 al 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 reafirm 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 of the statute
book OF that state. and 1t should
come of of all statute books where
it appears and no legislature Of this
nation should pass such a law or
similar legislation which requires un-
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 ofttimes a body of men as
sembled at Iegislatures-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
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 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.
ization, 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 is work for them. We must
therefore insist upon the most rigid
economy.
Legislative housekeeping Needed.
While the war is on and there is q
lull in business, we want all legisla
tive bodies to take an inventory Of
the statute books and wipe off al
e~xtravagant and useless laws A gooc
housekeeping is needed and econo
mics can be instituted here and there
that will patch the clothes of lndlgen'
children, rest tired mothers n iifl
mortgages from Respondent homes
Unnecessary workmen taken off ant
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 ant
clothe the world.
Ii any of these industries have sur
plus employees we can use them OF
the farm. We have no regula.
schedule of wages, but we pay goot
farm hands on an average of SIS
per day of thirteen hours when the.
board themselves; work usually run
about nine months of the year and thu
three months dead time, they can d.
the chores for their board. II the.
prefer TO farm on their own account
there are more than $4,000 900 ,00'
acres of idle land on the earth's sur
face awaiting the magic touch of thu
pillow. The compensation is easily oh
tainable from Federal Agriculture
Department statistics. The tota
average annual sales Of a farm II
the continental United States amount
to $4,000; the cost of operation i
$4,000; leaving the farmer $176 pc
annum to live on and educate hi,
family.
There is no occasion for the legis
latures making a position for surplus
employees OF industry. Let them COM
back to the soil" and share with u
the prosperity OF the farm.
When honesty is merely a GOO