The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-10-20

Who Rakes the Hay and Gathers
the Sheaves.
That the increase in pay of mem
hers 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, III
Il 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 Il
doubt" said he, "if it is in the inter
est of either labor, capital or the peo-
pie to make the wage schedule of rail
road employees II political issue"
The condition Of the farmers OF the
country is worse than that of the most
lowly railroad Iaborer MIR. Pope stat
ed with an average farm income Of
only $l.47 II day, out of which must
he paid the expenses of the family.
The condition of women abOrers in
the fields he describes as worse than
| during the days of slavery
Not a Word for Farmers.
Not il 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 incresrsett- tire IN
come Of the farmer JJr enabled him II
pay higher wags'to his laborerS.
but today We lind the highest paid
laborers ID thief world, making three
times more money than Il farmer, de-
handing twenty-five per cent in
4 crease. and Congress Fastening to
their relief This increase mist in
the end. rcSt upon the back of III
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 rightfully theirs from
II iHt -bNNl illliNlNs ~ hihf'' Wv ~
through organization
Mr. Pope stated that by the enact.
ment Of tht eight-hour day law Con
gress had thrust upon the people Of
the country Il new responsibility und
organized labor now stands commit
/ ted to the principle of government reg
ulation 81 wages. The government,
he said should fix wages ~ an
classes of railroad employees aud
should have the power Ia decrease
as well rs 10 increase wages to rene-
n dy comparative inequalities.
Square Deal" for All.
In liz opinion" he continued ",he
next session Of Congress should read
a just tile wages of all railroad en-
H ployeeS. from railroad president to sec.
rion lahorer. giving all square dral
and fixing Il schedule Of p;,y hgs-,I
Il upon business justice ana miH;aE
II rights. submit Il schedule uf wages
j taken from official government reports
/ which presents conclusive y@'teneys
Of the inequalities of the present daiiy
wage scale of railroad employees
General officers, S16.l1, other nni
GERS, S6.49; general office clerks. S2.53:
station agents. S237 other station
men, $1.99; enginemen, sos; tiremeI,
$3.23; conductors, $40; other train
men, S3.11; all shopmen. $2.3T. and
trackmen. Sl.50."
Mr. Pope declared that the forego-
II ing schedule showed that IN" $4,000
section hands in the country we're con-
demned to life of poverty He said
he believed that Congress, having w
dertaken to regulate the wages Of
higher paid employees, should reSI:s
their wages.