The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1917-05-14
FARMERS TALK
LABOR PROBLEMS
SYSTEM" ROrNDIY DE-
NOrNCED ALONG WITH IN
ION LABOR FOR FARM.
Wage Problem Affecting Many III
lis County Farmers and They
Meet 10 Talk Over Their
Troubles.


that farmers could not recognize Ia
Dor union hours and wages and
make farming pay, more than 500
Ellis county farmers gathered IN
mass meeting here Saturday after
noon to discuss labor problems. The
meeting was called to order by Frank
Timmins, who explained that the
purpose was solely TO discuss wag
problems and the reported differ
ences that have arisen between the
farmers and labor. He called on
those present to make suggestions
f. j. Anderson was the first
speaker and said he did not employ
any labor and for that reason ought
rot to talk. but declared IA farnie
can't work any fixed timemust get
up before day and work till sun
down He explained that labor
was sometimes imposed upon. but
said the farmer was also imposed
upon. Continuing he said:
Wages must be inereaaed--the
high cost of living demands 1t.
Farmers last year for one time got
almost what was coming to them. |
once belonged to the Farmers Al
lance. but it went under. ! joined
the Farmers Union, but ii has gone
just like the Alliance-the trouble
is you can't get farmers who will
stick together Not so many OF you
farmers will agree with me when
| say the real solution of the prob
lem is the cutting up of these large
farms. There are those among YOU
who are able to buy teams and sup
plies and work 900 to 500 acres
when there ought to be a family on
every leo acres or less. To cut up
these large farms would be better
for Waxahachie. 1t would help the
schools and the churches.
Farmers can't work their farms
on the hour system. and they might
as well not try it."
No Union for Wicker.
A. Wicker, manager of the Ander-
son ranch property. which includes
several thousand acres, said. 1--WE
all know that farmer cant go in
to labor union and make dollar
on the farm. Mules that work eight
hours day cost just as much and
1t takes Just as much feed to run
them as it does mules that work
twelve hours a day. Labor in this
country is getting to be weak and
no account. Good work is worth
good money. II is not the farmers
fault that prices are high. Take il
from me now. don't haul no union
man out for eight hours work"
Mr. Myers was the next speaker
and he declared it was his belief that
farmers as rule were willing to
pay the iahorer fair price. but that
farmers did not want to pay unrea-
sonable prices. Eve can't afford to
pay the prices and meet the terms of
the reported organization here in
Waxahachie. that is only ten hours
work at zoe an hour. I don't think
there is farmer in all the country
who can raise cotton and pay the
price. One reason for the condition
which we are facing today Is that
we farmers of Ellis county have paid
too little attention to the supplies at
home"
VIII Ralston declared that far
mers cannot pay the price demand
ed. He agreed that the wages must
be advanced, but said farmers should
and must cut out the hour system +"
O. A, Finley was another speak
er who said he was not directly in
terested in the labor question no
cause he had all his land rented
out, but he declared that working a
farm by the hour system was no
good and moved the appointment of
committee TO formulate recon.
mendations. After the motion was
duly seconded and carried the fol-
lowing committee was named
Nessrs' Ralston. Myers, Anderson
Finley and Sharp.
Real Farming.
While the committee was out max.
ing up the recommendations that
were 10 be suggested to the meeting
Chairman Timmins introduced a
subject that is OF the greatest mo
ment just at this time TO Ellis coun.
~ farmers. Timmins suggested that
each and every farmer, land owner
and tenant. ought TO raise enoush
wheat to provide flour for his famil,
and the families OF the renters ar
his place. He told OF his method
OF combating the high COS, OF Nv
ins' which is the only real way I,