The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-07-12
RA7|FY AGREEMENT
At M|NOT MEETING
Best of Feeling Between Nonpartisans
and Agricultural Workers Prevail
colleague Will Vote on
Proposition

One of the most important labor
meetings ever held in the state, was
attended by 200 Nonpartisan league
delegates from the Northwestern part
of the state and a number of dele
gates from the agricultural workers
division of the Industrial Workers of
the World. This is one of four meet
ings to be held in the state, the others
to be held at Bismarck, Valley City
and Devils Lake.
The Minot meeting was held in the
Sons of Norway hall. BY a vote of
100 to 10, the gathering ratified the
wage agreement between the l. w. W.
workers and the members of the
league. The matter has not been def
initely settled, as it will be necessary
to ratify the agreement at each OF the
other three meetings and then it is I'M
derstood that the matter will be put to
referendum vote of the members OF
the league. 1t is very likely that the
agreement will eventually be ratified.
The Minot meeting was attended
by only members of the league and
members of the l. w. W. organization,
all others being barred. l.. l.. Stair,
representative from Newburg, n. D.
called the meeting to order and A. Z.
Townley explained that the arrange
ment would apply only to those mem
bers of the league who desired to
avail themselves Of it. :,
He stated that this year labor would
be scarce and unless some agreement
was entered into with the organlza-
ton of farm laborers that it may be
impossible to secure help to harvest
the crops. He read the proposed I'M
derstanding as to wages and working
conditions as arranged between COM
mittees representing the organized
workers and League and emphasized
the fact that no permanent alliance
was aimed at but purely a business
arrangement for farm help during the
coming harvest season.
He explained further that four gen,
eral meetings were merely being helc
to discuss the matter and to eithe,
recommend to the membership ap
prevail or rejection of the plan as tht
entire arrangement was to be submit
ted to referendum vote of the mem
bership of the League within the state
of North Dakota even after the refer.
endum vote, the arrangement Woulc
ONLY apply to those farmers who votec
| for it and those against would be LETT
free to make their own arrangement
for labor as no effort was being made
to make it compulsory on any member
to accept the decision OF the League
Schedule Published Later
The schedule Of wages and rules To-
working conditions will not be MADE
public until after meetings to be heit
at Valley City, Bismarck and Devils
Lake has discussed the same.
A general discussion OF the subJec'
was INDUCED in by J. N. Hagan, state
commissioner of agriculture and labor
and C. H. Whipple of the committee
representing the League with the farm
laborers, who recommended a methot
providing for a certain and orderly
supply Of labor.
Ray Craig, sheriff of Ransom coun
| ty, discussed the past labor situations
and he favored the arrangement a:
tending to avoid the industrial dis
| turbances of former harvest seasons.
Many Of the members and delegate:
discussed the matter in all it's phase:
and there was a surprising spirit o.
harmony and effort to get together
with organized workers for the Labor
! supply and to avoid the serious fric
tons of the past.
1t is understood that the Agricultur
al Workers are willing to work fol
40 cents an hour for ten hours ant
that in case it is necessary to worl
overtime, or on Sundays, the same
rate is to apply. They are to assis
the farmers with his chores without
extra pay and expect only such bee
and board as the farmer has to offer
furnishing their own blankets if neces
sary. In case of a delay on account
Of rain, they are to receive three days
board free and after then are to pay
the farmer at the rate of dollar {
day. IF work is shut down on &C
count of an accident, they are to have
wages deducted after fifteen minute
delay. They are not to modest un
organized labor or farmers employing
it and if farmers have grievance
they are to take the matter up with
headquarters. Farmers are to be pro
tected against worthless help and EN-
ployes against any farmer who nigh
not want to be fair. Farmers are tt
be furnished all the men they need by
applying at headquarters. This plar
will undoubtedly solve the labor diff
culties in North Dakota according to {
statement made by delegate attend