The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-09-25
BROTHERHOODS VIM
FARMERS WIVES LOSE
Democrats UnCtuOuSIy but VainIy
Flatter Themselves That TiIIers
of the Soil Believe Their Bunk
UpIift Laws viii Improve
Agricultural Conditions.
FARING WORSE THAN
l0WLIEST RAILROAD HAND

Plight of Women Laborers In the
Fields Described by President Pope
Of the Association OF State Presi-
dents Of the Farmers Union as More
Deplorable Than During the Days Of
Slavery, and Yet Not a Word Was
Spoken In the Last Congress, Which
10 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 bro%therhoods,
caused by the enactment of the eight
hour day law by congress. win rest
ed by Henry n. Pope, newly elected
president of the Association of StHtt
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, IF II 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 $l.4T a day. out Of which must
be paid the expenses of the family.
The condition OF women laborers I'm
the fields he described as worse than
during the days of slavery.
Not a Word For Farmers.
Not a 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
oeen done that has increased the In
come of the farmer or enabled him TO
pay a higher wage to his laborers.
But today we find the highest paid
laborers i'm the world making three
times more money than "a 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 rightfully
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 % stands committed
to the principle OF government regula-
ton Of wages. The government, he
said, should fix wages for all classes
Of railroad employees and should have
the power to decrease as well as TO in
crease wages to remedy comparative
inequalities.
Square Deal" For All.
lin my opinion" he continued, "the
next session of congress should read
just the wages of all railroad employ
ees, from railroad president to section
laborer. giving all IA square deal and
fixing "A schedule of pay based upon
business justice and human rights. |
submit a schedule of wages taken
from official government reports which
presents conclusive evidence of the
inequalities Of the present daily wage
General officers. SIGH; other Off
GERS. $6.49: general Office clerks, $3.50:
station agents. $2.37: other station
men, S1.99: enginemen, $5.2S: firemen,
1928: conductors. $40: other train
men. S3.1l: all shopmen. $2.37. and
trackmen, $1.50."
Mr.. Pope declared hat the foregoing
schedule showed that the 100000 sec
ton hands in the country were con-
demned to a life of poverty. He said
he believed that congress. having un-