The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-10-03

That the increase in pay of mem
bert 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 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. q
doubt" said he. ''if 1t Is in the inter.
est of either labor, capital or the PEG
pie to make the wage schedule Of rail
road employees a political issue"
The condition of the farmers of the
country Is worse than hat of the most
lowly railroad laborer, Mr. Pope stat
ed, with an average farm income OF
only $147 day, out Of which must
he paid the expenses of the family
The condition of women laborers IN
the fields he described as worse thar
during the days of slavery.
Not a Word for Farmers.
mot a word has been spoken by
Congress 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 tc
pay a higher wage to his laborers.
But today we find the highest paid
laborers in sthe world, making three
manding twenty-five per cent. In
crease, and Congress Fastening tc
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 cal
the home to the field.
"The farmers Of this nation must
fight to hold what they have and ia
get what is rightfully theirs from
the government We must do II
through organization"
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
ment of the eight hour day law Con.
gross had thrust upon the people OF
the country new responsibility and
organized labor now stands commit.
ted to the principle of government reg.
ulation of wages. The government,
hn ch Az
classes of railroad employees and
should have the power to decrease
as well as to increase wages to rene
dy comparative inequalities.
"square Deal" for All.
I'm my opinion" he continued, "the
next session of Congress should read.
1ust the wages Of all railroad EN-.
ployes, from railroad president to sec
ton laborer, giving all 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 scale of railroad employees
General officers, $16.11; other Off,
GERS, $6.49; general Office clerks. $3.50;
station agents. $2.S7; other station
men, $199; enginemen, 1928; nremen,
1928; conductors, $4.49; other train.
men, $3.11; all shopmen. $2.S7 and
trackmen, $3.50"
Mr.. Pope declared that the forego-
ing schedule showed that the $4,000
section hands in the country were con-
demned to a life Of poverty. He said
he believed that Congress, having un-
dertaken to regulate the wages Of
higher paid employees, should review
their wages.