Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-06-10
URBANS AND RURALS
DIVIDED ON REPEAL
Of DAYLIGHT SAVING
FARMERS WANT OLD TIME RE-
STORED WHILE CITY FOLKS
BACK UP NEW SCHEDULE, CAN
VASS SHOWS.

Contemplated action by the federal
congress relative to the daylight saw
ing law is the subject that is now ab
sorbing the attention of both the ru-
raj and the city resident. A canvass
of the business houses, factories and
throughout the country uncover diff
ferent views on the action the federal
lawmakers should take.
Inquiry today of several of the bust
ness men in the city brought out di-
verse views on the repeating of the
law Many of the business men stated
that they were in favor of the law
being made a permanent feature
while, while expressing favorable
opinion, stated that they believed the
farmer was being hard hit and that
in a rural community the old time
should prevail,
On the other hand clerks in the
stores and men working in the fac
tories were not slow in expressing
their opinion which was to the effect
that the law should not be repealed
They argued that they did not mind
arising an hour earlier under the new
time and that it would be an injustice
to take away from them their long
evenings when so much valuable time
could be expended in garden work.
Result Of Canvass.
The sounding of sentiment in this
county results apparently in the same
views as has been expressed in other
communities which can be generally
summed up by stating that through
out the rural districts the farmer
against the law while the workers in
the city are for it,
The views OF farmers are well eX-
pressed by the following article which
has been submitted by a prominent
farmer.
Farmers of La Sale county and
surrounding counties are directly OPP
posed to the federal daylight saving
law and are unanimous in their wish
to have this law repealed at the EARL
est possible moment.
"As evidence of this fact not one
farmer in the large number that have
been interviewed sees any benefit to
the practice of this law for the agri-
cultural population. In fact many
good reasons for complaint are regis
tered which affect nor only farmers,
but other classes of people More
than nine farmers out of every ten 20
by the old time, and when this Is
necessary it is very evident that it Is
very great Inconvenience to change
their plans frequently when business
or pleasure requires them to conform
to the new time, practiced by rail
roads, churches, banks and public
meetings
Reasons All Logical.
THE real reasons of opposition are
not based on prejudice nor an unWill-
ingness to cooperate with other
classes for their greater convenience
The reasons are logical and are
based on natural laws which influence
directly the farmers work The new
time requires the farmer in the early
and later part of the season to use a
lantern more in doing his chores
When a man carries a lantern around
and tries to work his efficiency is re
duced
In tending corn, which is the main
work of the farmer at present, the
new time gets him to the field while
the dew is heavy and he can not do as
good work as he can an hour later.
THE cutting and making of hay, is
Influenced directly by the heat and
light of the sun and this can not be
done at an early hour while the heavy
dew is no.
Harvesting of all small grains
must be done between the morning
and evening dew, and the dew is reg
ulated by the sun.
Threshing Of Grain.
THE threshing of grain can be done
OiiiS Nuth JhV Si"ih 10 biy ii9
again Is influenced by the sun.
'Other less important things could
be mentioned, but the growing and
harvesting of these crops has direct
influence on the food production of
the country. Large areas of agricul-
tural workers are directly influenced
by this law Where hired labor is de
pended upon it is difficult to adhere
strictly TO the old time, which evil
IDENTITY impairs the efficiency of the
workers. The fact is that the eff
cheney of a large per cent of the agri-
cultural workers is reduced and when
the working efficiency of any large
factory or business is cut down, it nee
essarily increases the cost of produc-
ton 1t, therefore. is evident that the
daylight saving law is working in di-
rect opposition to the production and
cost of food stuffs.
''The above reasons should be suffi-
cient for the repeating of the daylight
saving law and the return of the prac-
tice of sun time"