American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1916-10-28

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
n statement issued by him.
Mr.. Pope declared that the farmers
of the country stand for II 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. Il
doubt" said he, III II Is IN the inter
est of either laber, capital or the pco-
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 ot
only Sl.I7 n day, out OF which must
be paid the expenses OF the family
The condition Of womro laborers In
the fields he describes $ worse than
during the days of slavery,
Not a Word for Farmers.
Not n word has been spoken by
Congress In defense OF the woman who
rakes the hay aud gathers the
sheavcs." said Mr.. Pope. Little has
been done that has increased the In.
come Of the farmer or enabled him t.
pay n higher wage to his luborers.
But today we ind the highest paid
laborers In the world, making three
times more money than u farmer, de.
handing twenty-five per cent In.
crease, and Congress Fastening Ia
their relief. This Increase must, in
the end, rest upon the back of ia,
farmer and will reduce his income
Increase his hours of labor, and cal
for another levy of farm mothers from
the home to the field.
The farmers of this nation mus,
hight To hold what they have and t.
get what is rlghtfully theirs from
the government. We must do Ii
lIuN- organization,
Mr., Pope stated that 10y the enact
'Hent ot the cight-hour day law Con
greSs had thrust upon the people of
the country u new responsibility an,
organized labor now stands commit
ted to the principle of government reg
ulatlon of wages, The g]oycrnmru,
he said, should fix wages for All
CLASSES of railroad employees an,
should have the power To decrcuS,
as we'll ms To Increase wages to RENE
dy comparative inequalities.
Square Deal" for Al.
In my opinion" he continued, "th,
next session of Congress should read
just the wages of all railroad en-
ployccS, from railroad president To sec
ton luhorcr. giving all a square dcu.
aud fixing u schedule of pay huscJ
upon business justice and human
rights, | submit u schedule OF wage.
taken from official government report.
which presents conclusive evidence
of the inequalities of the present daily
wnge scale Of railroad employees.
General officers, SIGH; other uti
GERS, SGD; general office clerks, S2,a}
station agents, S2.3T; other Stutjor
men, Sl.a9; engluemen, S5.2S; iremcn
1923; conductors, $40; other train
uen, S3,1l; all shopmcu, S2.37, unc
rackmcn, Sl,5O,"
Mr., Pope declared that the forego.
ng schedule showed that the a5O,OOo
ection hands In the country were con.
lemned TO a life OF poverty. lie SAID
e believed that Congress, having I'M.
ertaken 10 regulate the wages of
igher Paid employees, should review
heir wages.