Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1915-01-22


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 rail.
read facilities. embracing the greatest
amount of service at the least DOS.
slble cost. We further recognize that
the farmers and producers in the end
pay approximately So 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, can
upon our lawmakers, courts and
Jurles to bear the foregoing facts in
mind when dealing with the common
carriers OF this state, and We do espe-
cially reaifirm 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 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 un-
necessary expenditures.
The same rule applies to all regu-
iatory measures which increase the
expenses of industry without giving
corresponding benefits to the public.
There is Outlines body of men as
sembied at egislaturcs--and they
have right to be there-who. in
their zeal for rendering their fellow
associates 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
uy ur3in5 tia
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 20 carry dead
heads" On their payrolls. Our own
hired h2r6s axe rot paid unless We
have something for them to do and
we are 70 wiling = cav the iljrc
ncIp Of uepenJe:,t ,.'das :ics unless
there is WCrh iur t-.eM. We must
therefore insist upon the most rigid
economy
Legislative House-cIeaning Needed.
While the war is on and there IS a
lul in business, we want all Iegisla,
tive bodies to take an inventory of
the statute books and wipe OF all
extravagant and useless laws. A good
housekeeping 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 Off and
useless expenses chopped down all
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 81 so
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 $4,000 600. 900
acres OF idle land on the eartbs sur
face awaiting the magic touch of the
pillow. The compensation is easily OBJ
talnable from Federal Agricultural
department statistics. The total
average annual sales of a farm in
the continental United States amounts
10 $4,000; the cost of operation IS
$4,000; leaving the farmer St76 pcr
annum to live on and educate his
family.
There is no occasion. for the legis-
iatures making position for surplus
employees of industry. Let them co1ae