Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-08-03
FARM HANDS IN
DEMAND IN IDAHO
LABORERS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF FARMERS PRESSING NEEDS
AND DEMANDS HIGHER WAGE.
State Director Of Farm Markets Sug-
gests That Wage Be Paid on Uniform
Basis and That dler Should Not
Eat Fruit of Laborer

Boise. Idaho-Farm Markets Bulle-
fin No. J. has been issued by Harvey
Alfred director Of the Farm Markets
department, from which the following
of interest to Idaho farmers is taken I:
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 a wage out of all
reason, and one the farmers can i'll af-
| ford to pay. In many instances labor
ers have demanded 50 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 So
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 a hard
ship in the already difficult problem
of providing farm help. Many idle men |
who would accept employment at a
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 at large.
Our farmers are willing to pay a
suitable wage and in order that this
wage may be pald 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-
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 l must have a ;
hi CHER wage" In nothing but foods
the laborer) has the cost
advanced, and the farmer
stands for that increase when he
boards his help; and he now offers a c
wage of 1000 increase over that paid
me year ago with no assurance that o
lis crop returns will exceed those of Il
asst year. There are just as many o
men to be had at So as there are at 50.
n either case we will be short-handed,
nd man who is willing to do his
'art will do it faithfully for So, while
ne unwilling man who demands So
rould not do an honest days work at
ny price. W
Our nation confrontS the most seri- L
us problem of our history, and every b
uman being in our land should do his 81
all part. feel that "the idler should re
OF eat the fruits of the laborer," and lie
man who can and will not work W
lOuld not eat. pl
The following a most commendable oil
Ian, has been adopted in a few of our II
)unties. and would be a wholesome hi
'medy if applied to aggravating cases
every county: The county sheriff APP pi
reaches idle men who have no known lie
nplOyment and offers them work him OF
If or requests the idle to apply to III
ie county agent. As evidence of his
illingnesS TO work he either obtains
nployment or a receipt from the D,
unty agent 20 the effect that he has
,plied for work and holds himself in
aGiness to accept such employment
hen provided. If this is not done III
thin twenty-four hours. the vagrancy 81
W is enforced and the idier IS put IN
the rock pile or driven from the 10
prey on some other commun- III
?. lie;
We have received many inquiries re- tic
riding bags, and we recommend the III;
rly purchase of bags for every need co
z farmer may have of them. Early
d quantity buying will save you is
lch money. There is no present in pc
,ation of a bag shortage, though ms
Ices are high and may advance. de