The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-09-29

Tint the increase in pay ~ mem
her, of the four railroad hrOthcrhuuds,
caused by the enactment Of the eight
hour day law 10y Congress, will rest
ultimately upon the farmer was assert
I'd by Henry y Pope. newly elected
president of the Association Of State
Presidents Of the Farmers Union, ~
u statement issued 10y him.
SIR. Pope declared that the farmers
~ the country stand tor II fair wage
Tor both labor and capital and favor
IN eight. hour working day, hut that
hr personally doubted the wisdom ~
Congress fixing wages for labor EN-
ployed by private enterprise, Il
doubt" said he, III II Is In the inter
cst of either labor, capital or the PEG
pie tn make the wage schedule OF rail
road employees u political issue"
The condition OF the farmers Of the
country is worse than that Of the most
Iowly railroad luborer, Mr.. Pope stat
ed. with uu average farm income OF
only Sli7 a day, out Of which must
he paid the expenses Of the family.
The condition NJ women lahorers IN
the fields he describes ns worse than
during the days Of slavery.
Not a Word for Farmers.
"Not a word has been spoken by
Congress In defense Of the woman who
rakrs the hay aud gathers the
shruycS. said MIR. Pope. Little hus
been done that has increased the In.
come 1T the farmer or enabled him To
pay u higher wage IN his luhOrcr~
hut today We HUI The highest paid
lnbOrcrs In the world making three
times more money than u farmer. de
mundiug twenty-hye per cent in.
crease, aud Congress h~ustoniug to
,hrir relief This increase must. In
The end. rest upon the back Of the
.armrr and will reduce his income.
Increase his hours of labor. and call
Tor another levy ~ farm mother, from
the home tn the field.
The farmers at this nation must
bshl Ju hold what they have aud to
SI What is r%ightfully theirs from
The government. We must do Il
through organization
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
meut "f the right-hour day law Con.
sreSs had thrust upon the people Of
The country q new responsibility aud
organized labor now stands commit
ted to the principle Of government reg
ulutiou of wages The government.
he said, should Tia wages Tor all
CLASSES ot ruilroud employees and
should have the power to decrease
as well ms to Increase wages 10 rene
dy comparative Inequalities.
Square Deal" for All.
In my opinion. he continued. the
next session uf Congress should read
just the wage, of all rullruud EN-
ployrcs from railroad president "a So,
ton lnhorrr, giving ull a square denI
and fixing n schedule 81 pay hnsed
upon business Justice ana humur
rights. submit u schedule of Wugr.
mken from official government report,
uhiclt presents conclusive cvideurr
ut the inequalities Of the present iulIy
wage scuip at ruilruud employees
General officers NlGll. other 9TH
GERS. 81 90 general office clerks. S2.a3 .
station agents S.3i other station
men Sl"n: ~rugiurmen. S5.2s. frpmen
Si"@. conductor, san: other train
men. SILL; an ]>hopmrn. S237 and
trnckiurn Sl.n
Mr.. l'"ur declared that the fnregu
ing schedule ~h"Ncd thul the giuWsr
section hund~ Doe the country we're con
drmucd ln % NE ~ po,rrtl. lie aio
he believed rhut r"ugrr~. huyiug IN
d"riukru Eco rrgulnr" the wages nj
higher paint employees should review
their wage
nhn Hnnriur L.. L. n.L.I