The Meeker herald., 1915-01-23
Illustrating the character Of uaascss
sa1y expenses to which ~ rsfss.
uslaa onaaaaa .Fsli cras...s mn


ualss Opposes "Fsls Crew. olil.
The Texas Farmsrs' Union regis.
tered its opposition to this character
Of legislation 1t the last annsal nsst-
ing held in Fort Worth. Tex. August
Z. 1914. By resolution. which 10 quota.
~ follows:
The matter Of prime importance
to the farmers Of this state 10 an ade
quate and efncient marketing system:
and We recognize thst such . system
10 impossible without adequate rail-
road facilities. embracing the greatest
amount Of service at the least POS
sibls cost We further recognize that
the farmers ana producers in the end
pay approximately 95 per cent Of the
expenses Of operating the railroads.
and II II therefore to the interest Of
the producers that the expenses Of
the common carriers be ~ small ~
10 possible, cousistent with good ser
vice and safety. We. therefore. call
upon our law-makers, courts and
juries to bear the foregoing facts In
mind when dealing with the common
carriers of this state, and We do ssps.
cially reafnrm the declarations Of
the last annual convention Of our
State Union. opposing the passage Of
the so-called 'fullcrew' bill before
the thirty-third legislature Of Terra"
The farmers Of Missouri In the last
election. BY an Overwhelming ma
jority. swept this law on the statute
book Of that state. and It should
come Oh Of all statute books where
II appears and NO legislature Of this
nation should pass such law or
similar legislation which requires I'M
necessary expenditures.
The same rule applies to all regu.
iatory measures which increase the
expenses Of industry without Givins
corresponding benefits to the public.
There il ofttimes body OF mon a.
ssmbled at legislatures-and they
have = right to be thsre-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 . record
for themselves. rub the skin on the
shoulders Of the farmer by urging the
legislature to lay another burden
upon his heavy load and under the
lash Of be 1t enacted" goad him on
to pull and surge at the traces Of civil
ixation. NO matter how he may sweat.
foam and gall At the task. When
legislatures 'cut 4 melon" for labor
they hand the farmer . 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 10 work for them. We must
therefore insist upon the most rigid
economy.
Legislative Hssss-c isanIns Nssdsd.
While the war 10 on and there 10 a
lull in business. We want all lsgisla-
tive bodies to take an inventory Of
the statute books and wipe OF all
sxtravagant and useless laws A good
house-cleaning Ii 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 on 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
scheduls Of wages. but We pay good
farm hands ON an average Of $3.50
Per day Of thirteen hours when they
board themselves; work usually runs
about nine months Of the year snd 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 .000. 900
acres Of idle land on the earth's sur.
face awaiting the magic touch Of the
pillow. The compensation ID easily OBJ
tainable from Federal Agricultural
Department statistics. Tho total
average annual sales Of = farm in
the continental United States amounts
to $4,000; the cost of operation IL
$4,000: leaving the farmer SITS per
annum to live ON and educate his
family.
There 10 no occasion for the lesis.
latures making position for surplus
employees Of industry. Let them come
back to the soil" and share with NJ
the prosperity Of the farm.
When honesty is merely q good
policy 1t IL = poor virtue.