The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-02

That's bad, Charlie. win the farmers
be able to plant as much ground with so
many leaving?" Il am afraid not, John.
The reports indicate per cent less cui-
tivation this year. But let me go on
with my Interpretation OF this table.
Dan took his sister with him TO the city;
and another country boy went along.
Della got Job in cotton manufactur-
ing plant; and Sam landed in a shoe fac
tory. They took those jobe because they
could soon learn the work, while Dan,
being ambitious and having a turn for
machinery, stuck 20 his plan and was
hired by the automobile company. That
was a year ago. Now Dan, Della and
Sam are city people. They are pale and
not SO strong. Their evenings are filled
with amusements; movies, walks in the
bright lights, visits with other young
workers. sometimes bit of beer or
some other relaxation. Even ambitious
Dan has lost his first determination to
work for the future. The spirit of resig-
nation of the poor is eating their vital
ity. And here are some of their expe-
riences written in this report
Della is one among 53,242 who were
working February last. The payroll is
bigger than when she started in. The
average was so week then, it is 5000
now.
"Sam gets little more pay now;
sl4.37 against sl2.sS a year ago. There
are 90 ,226 in the factories reportlngi
wear before there were 56499. The shoe
business is looking up.
uTon rate 10 wapkt and wear
ago it was Sl9.3l. There are lll97l in
those factories now, where 93,555 worked
a year ago.
"But how much better off are Dan,
Della and Sam, reallyr
1.-THE factories pay more to their work
ers; the payroll increase runs from 10 TO
80 per cent. More workers are busy, as
many as one in FIVE more in some kinds
of industry; and many of them came
from the farm, which works to reduce
the supply of food for us all, and 10 in
crease the cost OF our living. And listen
to Della: Dam she is saying, i think
we had better STAYED on the farm. You
get the biggest pay of the three of us,
almost 500 month. Your pay would
be only $3.50 on the farm. but look
melts down when il meets the grocery
man. Back home you got your meals
with the job, and so did Sam and l..
There are four men in that automobile
factory where three worked last year.
and nine in nv mill where eight worked
when | came in, but none of Va are as
well of Dan, let's go home
but Dan won't go. He doesn't want
to lei Mary Harper think he failed.
"Tohn. John, look at those tables again.
Boots and shoes. So establishments
were asked for reports: IS replied. They
paw every week Fifty-six thousand,
four hundred and ninety nine worked for
them in February, 1916; 60.226 in Feb
rtary, 1917. That means that 6.6 per
cent more were working in 1917 than in
1916: and the payroll figures show that
it cost is per cent more to pay them. In
other words, this taEle shows the rising
cost Of labor in the industries reporting;
and the increasing number OF workers
employed in the industries that have re
ported Thirteen industries have report
ed; percentage Of employed rose in every
one except cotton manufacturing, which
lost . per cent. and wooden, which lost
less than per cent; while iron and steel
work u per cent more and automobile
plants 1871 per cent more. Payrolls rose
everywhere; 37.s per cent in iron and
steel. $50 per cent in automobiles, 29.s
per cent in leather working 23.6 per cent
in papermaking. In each Of these trades
of Dans and Delias and Sans
are toiling. These figures are the short
and simple annals Of The poor, brother
John. They arc worth reading But you
have to read with your imagination as
well az your eyes, then You viii find
them full Of information