News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-10-11
BROTHERHOODS WIN
FARMERS WIVES LOSE.
Democrats UnctuousIy but vainly
Flatter Themselves That TiIIers
of the Soil Believe Their Bunk
UpIift Laws Will Improve
Agricultural Conditions.
'FARING WORSE THAN
!.OWLIEST 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 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 q 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. II doubt"
said he, ''if it is in the interest of
either labor, capital or the people to
make the wage schedule of railroad
employees 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 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.
mot 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 I'm the world ma king three
times more money than farmer de-
% 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.
1.-THE farmers of this nation must
light through organization to hold what
hey have and to get what is rightfully
heirs from the government"
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
nent Of the eight hour day law con-
yress had thrust upon the people of
he country new responsibility and
organized labor now stands committed
% the principle of government regula-
ion of wages. The government, he
said, should fix wages for all classes
If railroad employees and should have
he power to decrease as well as to in
,rease wages to remedy comparative
inequalities.
Square Deal" For All.
an my opinion" he continued, "the
lext session of congress should read
ust the wages of all railroad employ
es, from railroad president to section
aborer, giving all a square deal and
king schedule of pay based upon
business justice and human rights. l
ubmit schedule of wages taken
rom official government reports which
,resents conclusive evidence of the
inequalities of the present daily wages:
General officers. SIGH; other Off
ers. SG.49; general Office clerks, 1888:
tation agents, S2.37 other station
zen, S1.99; enginemen, S5.2S; firemen,
8 %: conductors, $40; other train
zen. $3.11; all shopmen. S2.37, and
$3.50"
Mr.. Pope declared that the foregoing
chedule showed that the 100000 sec
ion hands in the country were con
emned to life Of poverty. He said
e believed that congress, having un-
ertaken to regulate the wages of
igher paid employees. should review
heir wages.