The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-02
VIM
FARMERS WIVES LOSE
Democrats UnctuousIy but valnIy
FIatter Themselves That TiIIerS
of the Soil Believe Their Bunk
UpIift Laws Will Improve
Agricultural Conditions.
FARMG WORSE THAN
LOWLIEST RAILROAD HAND

Plight Of Women Laborers In the
Fields Described by President Pope
of the Association of State Presl.
dents of the Farmers Union az More
DeplorabIe Than During the Days Of
Slavery, and Yet Not a Word Was
Spoken In the Last Congress, Which
Is Boosting of Its Farm Legislation,
About the Woman Who Rakes the
Hay and Gathers the Sheaves.
That the increase In pay of the mem
bers Of the four railroad brotherhoods,
caused by the enactment of the eight
hour day law by congress, will rest
ultimately upon the farmer was assert
ed by Henry N. Pope, newly elected
president of the Association Of State
Presidents of the Farmers union, in a
statement issued by him.
Mr.. Pope declared that the farmers
Of the country stand for a fair wage
for both labor and capital and favor
an eight hour working day, but that
he personally doubted the wisdom Of
congress fixing wages for labor en-
ployed by private enterprise. Il doubt"
said he, eff it is in the interest OF
either labor, capital or the people to
make the wage schedule Of railroad
employees a political ISSUE"
The condition of the farmers Of the
country is worse than that Of the most
lowly railroad laborer, Mr.. Pope stat
ed, with an average farm income OF
only STAT a day, out of which must
be paid the expenses of the family.
The condition Of women laborers In
the fields he described as worse than
during the days Of slavery.
Not a Word For Farmers.
"Not word has been spoken by con-
gress in defense of the woman who
rakes the hay and gathers the
sheaves," said Mr.. Pope. Little has
been done that has increased the In
come of the farmer or enabled him to
pay higher wage to his laborers.
but today we find the highest paid
laborers in the world making three
times more money than farmer de-
handing % per cent increase, and con-
gress Fastening to their relief. This
increase must in the end rest upon the
back Of the farmer and will reduce his
income, increase his hours of labor
and call for another levy OF farm
mothers from the home to the field
''The farmers of this nation must
fight through organization to hold what
they have and to get what Is dght1uuy
theirs from the government"
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
ment Of the eight hour day law con-
gress had thrust upon the people OF
the country a new responsibility and
organized labor now stands committed
to the principle of government regula-
ton of wages. The government, ne
said, should fix wages for all classes
Of railroad employees and should nave
the power to decrease as we'll as to In
crease wages to remedy comparative
inequalities.
square Deal" For All.
I'm my opinion" he continued, th'
next session of congress should reau
just the wages of all railroad employ
ees, from railroad president to section
laborer, giving all square deal aht
fixing schedule of pay based upon
business justice and human rights.
submit a schedule Of wages taEei
from official government reports WHici
presents conclusive evidence or th'
inequalities of the present daily wages
General officers. SIGH; other ON
GERS. S6.49; general office clerks. sos
station agents, $2.37; other station
men. $199: enginemen. $5.2S: fremen
1928; conductors, S4.49; other tram
men. S3.11; all shopmen. $23'. anu
trackmen, S1.5O"
Mr.. Pope declared that the foregoing
schedule showed that the 35OWO sec
ton hands in the country were con,
demned to a life Of poverty. lie saiu
he believed that congress, having un.
dertaken to regulate the wages u
higher paid employees, should reVie"
their wages.