Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-09-29
WOMEN IN THE TOBACCO FIELDS.
How the Tweed" Growers of Connec.
ticut Have Solved Labor Problem.

bacco plantations of Simsbury and
nearby territory are witnessing the
entrance of women into u new sphere.
The large growers have for several
years employed percentage of wo-
men, as many of the inside operations
could be done more rapidly and more
economically by women. But this year
w. NJ. Ketchin of the Ketchin Tobac.
co corporation, with large plantations
in Hoskins and Tarinville, is employ
ing the experiment of using women
in the field, and is much pleased with
the results.
Women have been used on the to-
bacco settlers, and Mr. Ketchin says |
that women who have worked but a
few days are as fast and as accurate
as men who had set for years, and he
considers the experiment great sue.
cess. With the image in mind of to-
bacco settlers with seat in the rear
from which the operation of setting |
the plants was performed, while
clouds of dust from the horses feet |
enveoped the workers and made their |
task most disagreeable one, Mr. |
Ketchin was asked if the task was
not hard for woman. lie said it
would have been with an old-style set |
made the work much easier, as the
seat from which the work was done
was in front instead of at the rear,
and tobacco men in this section were
fast replacing the old-style setter with
the new.
Mr.. Ketchin thinks that he may
| employ women to help put on cloth,
as he is of the opinion that many of
the operations could be done more
rapidly and neatly by women. Women
have been employed for years in help
ing weed the young plants and in the
transplanting processes, but this is the
first time that they have entered the
field to compete in what has been con
sidered man s special domain, although
women have often helped their hus-
bands and fathers in all manner of
field work, but not as hired labor.
When harvesting time comes, if
there is any labor trouble on the
Ketchin plantations, the women have
signifed their willingness to 60 in the
field and pick. The only disadvantage
would be that skirts would be bother
some, but the women say they will
wear overalls.
Opportunity for various kinds of
work are offered to women in this vi
cinity. The Ensign ickford company
employs a large percentage of women
laborers, and at the present time
many are being brought by auto bus
from Collinsville daily. In addition
to those regularly employed at the
tobacco plantation there are large
numbers of women with family cares
who work on the tobacco plantations
, during the busy season, thus adding
considerably to the family income
Boys and girls also find many oppor-
tunities for work during vacation,
such as were impossible a few years
ago, and it, iss doubtful il many, towns
can offer as many opportunities to
r help the famil y-man as do the towns
$ in this vicinity
% Simsbury notes with considerable
} interest that colored help from the
South is being brought in considerable
numbers to nearby tobacco planta-
? lions. AS early as last February, when
the tobacco farmers of this section
were worrying over the labor situa
ton, the superintendent of the Ameri
J, can Sumatra Tobacco company at the
plant at Weatogue said that his com
pany was not worrying, because il
could transport colored help from
plantations in the south, where they
engaged labor for ffty-two planta
tions in Georgia and Florida, where
they raised approximately $4,000
:. acres of tobacco. At the time thi,
C statement was made, it was expected
that if trouble developed on any OF
the company's plantations in this vi
cinity it would come first at the plant
- in Weatogue, where there was a strike
10 - ,ni
= proved to be the case, as condition!
are quiet in and around Simsbury, ant
= the trouble has been mostly at South
\ wick, Sufield, Hazelwood and Buck
y land.
. A large consignment of negroe:
from Georgia and Florida are already
! on the way north to work on these
i plantations, as the Italians and Pole
:. have struck for a higher wage anC
y fewer hours. 1t is said that the trouble
, has been caused by Italian member,
\ of the shovelers union of Springfield
9 several of whom have been around thu
. tobacco plantations and have induced
the laborers to strike. In some cases
. they extorted fee of S. from thu
:. strikers, and as the company dis
! charged the strikers they have los
~ both their job and the So. The sam,
= labor agitators appeared at the plan
IS in Weatogue, but were run off tn,
premises.
I 1t is not believed possible that thu
\ importation of southern labor viii
. prove feasible or profitable, but thu
% effect on other labor may Offset thes,
disadvantages. Those in a position
# to know say that these darkies will
% not work more than four days a week
a that they have to be paid every day
T. and although their wages are but hal
70 that of other labor, they do not ever
~ earn that. 1t would be impossible 70
II them to stay in this climate after tn,
sc approach of cold weather. There are
II however, number of cOlored labor
W ers from Virginia on some of the to
% bacco farms near here, who are sale
to be desirable help, and although tn,
:. tobacco farmers would rather dispens
,s with such labor, they are compelle,
to secure whatever help is available.
70 Over half the tobacco crop is al
@. ready set, and the close of this weel