The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-02
ARMY OF 500
HARVESTERS IS
READY TO MOVE
Kalamazoo Agency Writes
to Learn Exact Situation
In North Dakota
CONDITION MUCH
IMPROVED TODAY
"Wobblers" Report That
They Have Tied Up
South Dakota

Inquiries made at the different em-
Payment agencies on Front street
this afternoon revealed the fact that
the labor situation over North Da-
kota is less acute today.
The leading employment bureaus
of the city reported that they were
still offering $3.50 and So day for
harvesters. The Fargo employment
agency reported having Is orders on
its books for men this morning and
| that it could fill the demand.
500 Michigan Men Ready.
| An army of 500 men are waiting at
Kalamazoo, Mich, for word from the
Fargo police department and If there
| is need for laborers in the state har-
/ vest fields, they are ready to move
| westward, according to q letter re-
ceived at the police station this af-
| ternoon from the Star employment
agency of that city. The proprietor
asked the police chief to give him
the true status of affairs in the state.
1t was learned at the Industrial
Workers of the World headquarters
| on Front street this morning that
about 100 men boarded freights last
night and left for parts of the state
where reports indicated that farm
ers were willing to pay $3.50 and IS
a udys III was 6ldlSo IAAcL Ah INV
western part of the state some farm
ers offered IS, and at Forest River,
George Carey, an 1. w. w. delegate
stationed by the union there, report
ed that wages were $3.50 and that
some of the members had grabbed
this opportunity.
South Dakota Tied Up.
]. r. Parker, secretary OF the
Fargo branch of the 'wobblers,"
stated this morning that the situa-
ton is acute in South Dakota right
now because the farmers will not
meet the terms asked by the mem.
bers of sthe organization.
I'VE have tied up the labor situa-
ton in South Dakota and we will do
the same thing in North Dakota. We
have thrown a picket around South
Dakota and it's up to the farmers to
pay our demands or lose their
crops"
Parker said that reports reach
ing the Fargo office from delegates
in South Dakota were to the effect
that farmers had the police Of the
different cities round up the 'wob-
blers" in an effort TO prevent them
from leaving the state and If possible,
to hold them to work.
This action won't harm US in thg
least" said Parker. We are MAX
ing a fight with pocketbooks and
that's what counts among our MEM
bers."
Where probably 200 men gathered
around the headquarters Wednes-
day morning, there were about 100
this afternoon, all drawing near to
the desk of the secretary when The
Forum reported entered. 1t was
stated that about 100 left Fargo last
night and about so arrived during the
day
"We want decent working condi-
tons and we are strong enough this
year to force it through" said Park
er. I'VE are tired Of being placed in
the barns and told to sleep with the
horses and the cows during harvest
and threshing time. We want to be
treated as humans and the time is
coming when the farmers of the north
west win treat us differently"
No Vioience This Year.
II don't think you win and any evil
dence Of violence among our mems