Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-14
NORTH DAKOTA AND LABOR

Regardless of whether or not any considerable mum.
Der of North Dakota farmers enter into agreement with
the I. W. W. for their labor this year, and regardless OF
the immediate result of their action, the labor problem
in North Dakota will still be far from solution, and sat
isfactory conditions cannot be established until North Da-
kota raises the bulk of her own labor. F
The big farm and the exclusive grain cropEcall for
the importation of much transient labor at certain sea
sons Of the year. The. rush over, the laborers go else,
where, for there Is nothing for them to do here in the
winter. The conditions are good for neitherAernploye
nor, enploye. Occasionally everything works. out to the
satisfaction of both partnes. The same farmer employs
the same hands, year after year. Wages and conditions
OF work are satisfactory, and the work is faithfully done
But the average farmer must take a chance in the open
market, and as a rule the men whom he hires for the
busy season are strangers. The farmer may be an ideal
employer, or he may be a miserable skinflint who under.
pays and underfeeds his men. The laborers may be hon
est workers, or they may be shirks or criminals. : It. is a
case of taking chances all round.
The organization Of the laborers into a society. by
whatever name it may be known, gives little promise OF
betterment. The farmer is a fixture. Even the single-
season tenant farmer is anchored for a time. He has
property which can be levied on for debt. A contract
which he has made can be enforced against him. The
transient laborer is here today and gone tomorrow. He
can make a contract and break it with impunity. The
l. w. ". organization has never sought, and does not seek
TO mold Its members to their contracts. Efficient mem
Dership is not one Of the conditions of membership. 1t
has never sought to cooperate with employers in any
line. On the contrary, its entire attitude is and has been
one Of antagonism to all employers and all owners of
property. But If the society were organized on a differ
emit basis. it could not we'll exercise control over a body
of men SO elusive as those who flock into the state in the
summer months. I
We have departed somewhat from the single CROP
standard, and we are travelling away from it. Not until
we have established ourselves on a basis Of the most COM
plete diversification possible will there be an approach
to the solution Of our labor problem The need is for
the greatest possible variety in field crops, for the devel-
opnent of the dairy industry, and for the raising general
ly of live stock. This means a smaller demand for labor
at any particular period, and a greater demand for it
all the year round.
When our industries have become established on
that basis the labor Of the state, or a very large share OF
nent residents of the state. men, with homes and families,
VINO can rely on employment at all seasons Of the year.
That will mean a vast Improvement in the character of
our labor and in the conditions under which labor is
performed. Naturally, the demands Of the present can
not be ignored in anticipation Of something that is to be
brought about some years hence. We must have labor to
take care of this. crop. But there should be ever present
In the minds of our people a conception Of the only sat
isfactory ultimate solution Of this problem as something
to keep working toward as rapidly as possible.