Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-10-06

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
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.
doubt" said he, 'if 1t is In the inter-
est of either labor, capital or the peo-
ple to make the wage schedule OF rail-
road employees political ISSUE"
The condition of the fasmers 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 famliy'
The condition of women labOrers In
the fields he describes as worse than
during the days of slavery.
Not a Word for Farmers.
Not 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 10
pay a higher wage to his laborers.
But today we find the highest paid
laborers in the world, making three
times more money than farmer, de-
handing twenty-five per cent In
crease, and Congress 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
fight to hold what they have and to
get what is rightfully theirs from
the government We must do II
through organization"
Mr.. Pope stated that by the enact
lnent of the eight-hour day law Con
gress had thrust upon the people OF
the country new responsibility anC
Organized labor now stands commit
ted to the principle of government reg
ulution of wages The government
he said, should fix wages for al
classes of ra.iroad employees ant
should have the power to decrease
in, tn RENE
dy comparative inequalities.
"Suuare Deal" for All.
"In my opinion" he continued, "th'
next session of Congress should read
inst the wages of all railroad EN-
ployees. from railroad president to sec
ton laborer, giving all square dea
and fixing schedule of pay base'
upon business justice and human
rights. l submit schedule OF wage
taken from official government rerort
which presents conclusive evidence
of the Inequalities of the present dali,
wage scale of railroad employees:
General officers, SIGH; other Off
GERS. S6.49; general Office clerks, S2.53
station agents, S2.37; other station
men, $3.50; enginemen, $5.2S; firemel
S323: conductors, $40; other train
men, $311; all shopmen, $2.37, an
trackmen, $3.50"
Mr.. Pope declared that the foregC
ing schedule showed that the $4,000
section hands in the country were col
demned to a life Of poverty. He sal
he believed that Congress, having vi
dertaken to regulate the wages @
higher paid employees. should revie'
their wages.