The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-01-21

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 reafarm 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
J 40me OF Of all statute books where
It appears and no legislature of this
nation should pass such a law OF
similar legislation which requires un.
necessary expenditures.
The same rule applies to all regu.
latory measures which increase the
'Uxpenses Of industry without giving
corresponding benefits to the public.
There is ofttimes 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.
dustry without due regard for the men
who bow their backs to the summers
sun. to meet the payroll, but these
committees, while making q 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.
tzation, 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 House. Cleaning Needed.
y While the war is on and there is a
hull In business, we want all legisla-
tive bodies to take an inventory of
the statute books and wipe of ALI
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 INDECENT
children, rest tired mothers and lift
mortgages from respondent homes.
Unnecessary workmen taken of and
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 and
clothe the world.
= II any of these industries have sur.
plus employees we can use them on
the farm. We have no regular
schedule Of wages, but we pay good
farm hands on an average of $l.5O
per day of thirteen hours when they
board themselves; work usually runs
about nine months Of the year and the
three months dead time, they can do
the chores for their board. II they
prefer to farm on their own account,
there are more than 100000, 900
acres Of idle land on the earth's sur.
face awaiting the magic touch of the
plow. The compensation is easily oh.
tainable from Federal Apriculturol
Department statistics. Tho total
average annual sales Of a farm in
the continental United States amounts
to $4,000; the cost Of operation ia
$4,000; leaving the farmer SIG per
annum to live on and educate his
family.
There is no occasion for the leeis.
htures making q position for surplus
employees Of industry. Let them come
back to the soil" and share with us
'lkeaprospefity Of the farm.