Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-08-03
EARN HANDS IN
DEMAND IN IDAHO
LA5oRERs TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF FARMERS PRESSING NEEDS
AND DEMANDS HIGHER WAGE.
State Director Of Farm Markets Sug-
aests That Wage Be Paid on Uniform
Basis and That ldIer Should NOT
Eat Fruit Of Laborer.

Boise, Idaho.-Farm Markets Bulle-
tin No. II has been issued by Harvey
Alfred. director of the Farm Markets
department, from which the following
of interest to Idaho farmers is taken
Farm hands are much in demand in
nearly all parts of the state. A consid-
cradle part of this need is being met
by the earnest cooperation of the
county agents with the Farm Markets
department. In the majority of cases
the county agents are supplying need
ed help in their respective counties by
drawing on the surplus they may have
or that to be found In adjoining coun-
ties, without being under the neces-
sity of applying to the Farm Markets
department.
Because of the urgent need for farm
help, some laborers have taken advaD.
tage of the farmers pressing needs
and have demanded wage out of all
reason, and one the farmers can III af-
ford to pay. In many instances labor
ers have demanded s. per day and
their board, and when the farmer was
driven to the extremity of paying this
price or letting his crops spoil, there
was but one alternative, namely, pay
the IS.
On the other hand, some farmers
have become exercised over the pros
pect of losing their crops and have bid
against their fellow agriculturists, Of
fering almost any price to obtain help.
This is very unwise and works hard
ship in the already difficult problem
of providing farm help. Many, idle men
who would accept employment Mt a
reasonable figure hear and read Of
these extreme prices being offered and
refuse to work unless they. too, can
obtain the same wage This Is ruinous
20 the farmer and the interests of our
state at large.
Our farmers are willing To pay
suitable wage and in order that this
wage may be paid on a uniform basis,
l, as state director Of Farm Markets,
take the liberty to suggest that the
uniform wage should be zoe per hour
and board in all farm work where
mans strenuous labor was required.
except perhaps in that of good and eX-
perienced irrigators, where IL should
probably be 35c per hour. This is sur,
ticient in either case. and all that con
ditions governing both the day laborer
and the farmer warrant paying. Some
would reply, but the cost of living
has so increased that ! must have
higher wage" In nothing but foods
Concerning the laborer) has the cost
materially advanced. and tie farmer
stands for that increase when he
boards his help and he now offers
wage of 1000 increase over that paid
one year ago. with no assurance that
his crop returns will exceed those of
last year. There are just as many
men to be had at $3 as there are ut 50.
In either case we will be short-handed,
and a man who is willing 10 do ms
part will do 1t faithfully for SO, while
the unwilling man who demands So
would not do an honest days work mt
any price.
Our nation confronts the most seri-
Gus problem Of our history. and every
human being in our land should do his
full part. feel that the idler should
not eat the fruits of the lahorer," and
man who can and will not work
sI1buiu 1OI GdI.
The following. most commendable
plan, has been adopted in few of orr
counties. and would be n wholesome
remedy II applied to aggrayating cases
In every county: The county sheriff APP
proaches idle men who have no known
employment and offers them work him
self or requests the idle 10 apply 10
| the county agent. As evidence of his
willingness to work he either obtains
employment or a receipt from the
county agent to the effect that he has
applied for work and holds himself in
readiness to accept such employment
when provided. If this is not done
within twenty-four hours, the vagrancy
law is enforced and the idier IS put
on the rock pile or driven from the
town-to prey on some other commun-
ity.
We have received many inquiries re-
garding bags, and we recommend the
early purchase of bags for every need
the farmer may have Of them. Early
and quantity buying will save you
much money. There is no present in
dication of a bag shortage, though
prices are high and may advance.