Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-09-28

That the Increase in pay Of men,
bers of the four railroad brotherhools.
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 aud capital and favor
nm eight-hour working day, but that
he personally doubted the wisdom OF
Congress fixing wages for labor EN-.
pioyed by private enterprise. u
doubt said he. III II 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 IL worse than that of the most
lowly railroad iuborer, Mr.. Pope stat
ed, with an average farm Income Of
only STAT day, out OF which must
be paid the expenses Of the family.
The condition of women laborers In
the fields he describes as worse than
during the days of slavery.
Not q 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 to
pay u 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 rightfuliy 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 a new responsibility and
organized labor now stands commit
| ted to the principle of government reg.
| ulation of wages. The government
he said, should fix wages for all
classes of railroad employees and
should have the power to decrease
as well as to increase wages to rene
dy comparative inequalities.
"squars Deal" Tor All.
| I'm my opinion" he continued, ''tht
next session Of Congress should read
tust the wages OF all railroad EN-
| ployees, from railroad president to see
ton laborer. giving all II square dea
and fixing a schedule of pay baset
| upon business justice and human
rights. l submit schedule Of wages
taken from official government reports
which presents conclusive evidenc,
Of the inequalities OF the present dali!
wage scale Of railroad employees:
| .General officers, $ia.l1: other ON
GERS, $3.50; general office clerks, S2.S3
station agents, $2.ST; other static,
men. $3.50: enginemen. S5.as. firemen
223; conductors. sac. other train
men. $3.1l; all shopmen, $2.3T. an,
trackmen, $3.50"
4 Mr.. Pope declared that the forego
i A. 81, Al
section hands In the country were con
demned 70 a life Of poverty. He sai,
he believed that Congress, having nm
iertaken to regulate the wages o
higher paid employees. should rsvtss
their wages.