The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-10-12
BROTHERHOODS WIN
FARMERS WIVES LOSE
Democrats UnCtuOuSIy but VainIy
FIatter Themselves That TiIIers
Of the Soil Believe Their Bunk
UpIift Laws Will Improve
Agricultural Conditions.
FERING WORSE THAN
L0WLIEST RAILROAD HAND

Flight of Women Laborers In tn,
Fields Described by President Pop,
OF the Association of State Presi.
dents of the Farmers Union as Mors
Ceplorable Than During the Days ot
Slavery, and Yet Not a Word Was
Spoken In the Last Congress, Which
is 6oasting 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 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
IoWly railroad laborer, Mr.. Pope stat
ed, with an average farm income Of
only Sl.47 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 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
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 a farmer de-
% per cent increase. and con-
gross Fastening to their relief. This
must in the end rest upon the
back # the farmer and will reduce his
ineoh.2. increase his hours of labor
ana 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
hey have and to get what is rightfully
heirs from the government"
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
ncnt of the eight hour day law con-
Eress 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
'aid, should fix wages for all classes
II railroad employees and should have
he power TO decrease as well as to in
rease wages to remedy comparative
inequalities,
square Deal" For All.
I'm my opinion" he continued. "the
ext session of congress should read
ust the wages of all railroad employ
es, from railroad president to section
lborer giving all a square deal and
King schedule of pay based upon
usiness justice and human rights, |
ubmit a schedule of wages taken
rom official government reports which
resents conclusive evidence of the
lequalities of the present daily wages;
General officers, $16.11; other Off
ers, $6.49; general Office clerks. S2.53:
.ation agents, $2.37; other station
len, $1.99; enginemen, $5.2S; firemen.
S.23; conductors, $40; other train.
zen, $3.11: all shOpmen. $237, and
ackmen, $3.50" ~
Mr.. Pope declared that the foregoing ~
hedule showed that the $4,000 sec - -
on hands in the country were con- u
emned to life of poverty. He said al
. believed that congress, having un- VI
.rtaken to regulate the wages of VI
CHER paid employees, should review OF
cir wages. w
ha