American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-10-05

That the increase In pay OF 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
q statement ISSUED by him.
MIR. Pope declared that the farmers
of the country stand for n fair wage
for both labor and capital and favor
an elght-hour working day, but that
~s".a".ailu danhted the wisdom of
pioyed by private enterprise. II
doubt" said he, 'lf Il is In the inter.
est of either labor, capital or the peo,
pie to make the wage schedule of rail.
road 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 Sl.47 a day, out of which must
be paid the expenses OF the family.
The condition Of women laborers In
the Fields he describes = worse than
during the days of slavery.
Not a Word for Farmers.
mot II word has been spoken by
Congress In defense of the woman who
rnkes the hay and gathers the
sheaves," snid Mr.. Pope. Little has
been done that has Increased the In.
come of tho farmer or enabled him TO
pay II higher wage to his laborers.
but today we find the highest paid
laborers In the world, making three
times more money than n farmer, de.
mandlng twenty-five per cent In.
crease, and Congress Fastening ia
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 TO hold what they have and to
get what Is r%lghtfully theirs from
the government. We must do II
through organization"
MIR. Pope stated that by the enact.
ment OF the eight-hour day law Con.
gress had thrust upon the people of
the country n new responsibility aud
organized labor now stands commit.
ted to the principle OF government reg.
hlation Of wages. The government.
he said, should fix wages for all
classes Of railroad employees and
have the power to decrease
rs well ms To Increase wages TO RENE
~ comparative inequalities.
Square Deal" for All.
In my opinion" he continued, the
'ext session Of Congress should read.
ust the wages of all railroad M.
from railroad president 10 sec.
laborer, giving all a square deal
nd fixing n schedule OF pay based
Ipon business justice and human
lights. ! submit a schedule Of wage
aiken from official government reports
ihich presents conclusive evidence
{ the inequalities OF the present daily
scale of railroad employees:
General officers, Si6.il; other OH.
.rs, SGD; general Office clerks, S2.R;
agents, S2.3T other station
Sl.Ho; enginemen, S52S; dremen. ,
BIB; conductors, sac; other train. F.,
len, SILL; all shopmen. S2.3T, and
'ackmen. Si.50."
MIR. Pope declared that the forego. 4,
y schedule showed that the 100000 ,
hands IL :he ccaa.ry were con. !;
amned 20 a life of poverty. He said
, believed that Congress, having M
to regulate the wages OF ,
CHER paid employees, should review /,
Ieir wages -,