Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-08-09
FARM HANDS IN
DEMAND IN IDAHO
LABORERs TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF FARMERS PRESSING NEEDS
AND DEMANDS HIGHER WAGE.
State Director OF Farm Markets suo-
oests That Wage Be Paid on Uniform
Basis and That Idler Should Not
Eat Fruit Of Laborer.

Boise, Idaho.-Farm Markets Bullc-
tin No. IL 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 ma ority 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 a wage out OF all
reason, and one the farmers can Ill ar
ford to pay. In many instances labor
ers have demanded 81 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 50.
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 10 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
20 The farmer and the interests Of our
state al large.
Our farmers are willing to pay
suitable wage and In order that this
wage may be paid on a uniform basis.
], as state director OF Farm Markets.
take the liberty to suggest that the
uniform wage should be SOC per hour
aud board in all farm work where ii
mans strenuous labor was required,
except perhaps In that OF good and ex-
perienced irrgators, where II should
probably be 35c per hour. This is suf-
hcient 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 i 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 IA
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 50.
In either ase we will be short-handed.
and n man who is willing 10 do his
part will do It faithfully for SO, while
the unwilling man who demands 50
would not do an honest days work at
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 laborer," and
a man who can and will not work
should not eat.
The following a most commendahle
plan. has been adopted in few Of our
counties. and would be a wholesome
remedy II applied to aggravating cases
In every county The county sheriff ap-
proaches Idle men who have no known
employment and offers them work him
self or requests the idle to 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 idler Is put
on the rock pile or driven from the
town-to prey en- some other comnun
. lty.
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 bag shortage, though
prices are high and may advance.