The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-08-10
FARM HANDS N
DEMAND IN IDAHO
LA5oRERS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF FARMERS PRESSING NEEDS
AND DEMANDS HIGHER WAGE.
State Director Of Farm Markets Sug.
oests That Wage Be Paid on Uniform
Basis and That ldler 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 i'll 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 SIS.
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 at
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
to the farmer and the interests of our
state at large.
Our farmers are willing to pay a
suitable wage and in order that this
wage may be paid on uniform basis,
take the liberty to suggest that the
uniform wage should be soc per hour
and board in all farm work where a
mans strenuous labor was required,
except perhaps in that of good and ex-
perienced irrigators, where it should
probably be 35c per hour. This is suf,
fcient 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 a
higher wage" In nothing but foods
concerning the laborer) has the cost
advanced, and the farmer
stands for that increase when he
boards his help; and he now offers a
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 So as there are at SIS.
In either case we will be short-handed,
and a man who is willing to do hrs
part will do 1t faithfully for So, while
he unwilling man who demands S.
would not do an honest days work at
my price.
Our nation confronts the most seri-
Jus problem of our history, and every
human being In our land should do his
ull part. feel that "the idler should
lot eat the fruits of the laborer," and
| man who can and will not work
hould not eat.
The following, a most commendable
,lan, has been adopted in few of our
and would be a wholesome
emedy If applied to aggravating cases
n every county: The county sheriff ap-
'roaches idle men who have no known
and offers them work him
elf or requests the idle to apply to |
he county agent. As evidence of his
willingness to work he either obtains
or receipt from the |
ounty agent to the effect that he has
pplied for work and holds himself in
eadiness to accept such employment
7hen provided. If this is not done
7ithin twenty-four hours, the vagrancy
aw is enforced and the idier rs put
n the rock pile or driven from the
own-to prey on some other commun-
".
We have received many inquiries re-
arding bags, and we recommend the
arly purchase of bags for every need
he farmer may have Of them. Early
nd quantity buying will save you
luch money. There is no present In
ication of a bag shortage, though
rices are high and may advance.
Lower Rate to Winter Range.