The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-08-10
FARM HANDS IN
DEMAND IN IDAHO
lAsoRERs TAKING ADVANTAGE
oE FARMERS PRESSING NEEDS
AND DEMANDS HIGHER WAGE.
s,ate Director of Farm Markets Suu.
o,sts That Wage Be Paid on Uniform
Basis and That ldler Should Not
Eat Fruit of Laborer.

Rofse. Idaho.-Farm Markets Bulle.
sr No. II has been issued by Harvey
.ured director of the Farm Markets
Sonartment, from which the following
~ interest to Idaho farmers is taken
Farm hands are much in demand in
ooarly all parts of the state. A consid-
orabIe part of this need is being met
by the earnest cooperation of the
oounty agents with the Farm Markets
department. In the majority of cases
the county agents are supplying need
Cd help in their respective counties by
drawing on the surplus they may have
ar that to be found in adjoining coun-
tics without being under the neces-
sty of applying to the Farm Markets
department..
Because of the urgent need for farm
help, some laborers have taken advap.
hge of the farmers pressing needs
and have demanded a wage out of all
reason and one the farmers can i'll af-
ford to pay. In many instances labor
ers have demanded So per day and
their board, and when the farmer was
driven to the extremity of paying this
prlce or letting his crops spoil, there
was hut one alternative, namely, pay
the S..
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
ferng almost any price to obtain help.
This is very unwise and works a 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 Day
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 SOC per hour
and board in all farm work where a
mans strenuous labor was required,
except perhaps in that of good and eX-
perenced irrigatOrs, where it should
probably be 35c per hour This is suf-
fclent in either case, and all that con-
dtiOns governing both the day labOrer
and the farmer warrant paying. Some
would reply, But the cost of living
has so increased that l must have a
higher wage" In nothing but foods
concerning the labOrer) has the cost
materially 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
bis crop returns will exceed those of
last year. There are just as many
men to be had at So as there are at 50.
In either case we will be short-handed,
and man who is willing to do his
part will do 1t faithfully for So, while
ne unwilling man who demands So
would not do an honest days work at
sly price.
Our nation confronts the most seri-
GUS problem of our history, and every
ianan being in our land should do his
lull part. l feel that "the idler should
aot eat the fruits of the laborer," and
man who can and will not work
should not eat.
Inc following, a most commendable
pah' has been adopted in a few of our
@uhtles, and would be a wholesome
remedy if applied to aggravating cases
every county: The county sheriff APP
EoacheS idle men who have no known
uplOyment and offers them work him
WI or requests the idle to apply to
Wy county agent. As evidence of his
'HnhgneSs to work he either obtains
'Iployment or receipt from the
'1uV agent to the effect that he has
'ppued for work and holds himself in
.yaulheSS to accept such employment
'aeh provided If this is not done
s''nlh tWenty-fOur hours, the vagrancy
:" Is enforced and the idier Is put
Tue rock pile or driven from the
%'n--to prey on some other commun-
we nave received many inquiries re-
sllhg bags, and we recommend the
sy purchase of bags for every need
'arner may have of them. Early |
quantity buying will save you /
~ money. There is no present in
,~uoh of a bag shortage, though |
"eS are high and may advance.
lower Rate to Winter Range.
PocatelIo q rooor- ,,ootiDg If |