The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-05-15
WHEAT GROWERS SET SCALE
OF WAGES FOR HARVEST
AZ Meeting at Hutchinson May 3
Plans Were Made to Form Per-
manent Organization.

Wheat grower delegates represent
ing A Kansas wheat counties and
seven and one-half million acres of
wheat, in conference Saturday, May
3, at Hutchinson voted SOC per hour
or $500 per day harvest wage for
barge men, shockers, pitches, binder
drivers and header drivers. The
wage for stockers was established at
60c per hour or $500 per day, while
cooks were voted $500 per day and
man and team $500 per day.
This action was almost unanimous,
there being 6,S82 votes for this wage
and only 2g7 votes against. Sum-
ner county was the only county vot-
ing for lower wage. In voting on
the harvest wage each county was al
lowed one vote for every thousand
acres of wheat in the county.
The conference was organized by
the election of A. H. Lupfer of Paw
nee County, chairman, and Geo. E.
Piper of Manhattan, secretary.
Miss Lima Brisette, of the Indus
trial Welfare Commission, appeared
before the conference, explained the
ruling of the commission relative to
the employment Of women in mer--
camille establishments, and asked
that the conference express an opin-
ion regarding the necessity of allow
ing women to work an hour later
each Saturday night in the wheat
belt towns during the harvest.
On motion the conference respect
fully requested that the Industrial
Welfare Commission amend their
ruling with respect to the employ
ment of women in mercantile estab-
lishments in the wheat belt, for the
period of the wheat harvest, so that
the women clerks could be employed
till ten p. m. Saturday, provided that
the working day should not exceed
nine-hour standard and that the
women come to work one hour later
. or this day.
The following resolutions and mo-
tions were adopted by the conference
as a whole.
Resolved that the Wheat Belt Har-
vest Labor Conference respectfully
request the Grain Corporation and
the United States Department of
Agriculture to grant wheat produc-
ers the same rate per month, per
bushel storage charges on wheat as
is allowed terminal elevators, mills
and warehouses.
Resolved that the wage be set at
SOC per hour for ten hours, or $500
per day with extra pay for overtime.
this to apply to shockers, barge men,
pitchers and helpers around stack.
Drivers of headers and binders to
receive the same wage as shockers
and pitchers. The wage for men and
team be fixed at zoe per hour or
$500 per day of ten hours with board
and feed. Stackers to receive $500
per day or 6Oc per hour.
1st Amendment. That time be-
gins when the header starts in the
field and time stops when the header
stops in the field, when the harvest
hand is employed by the hour. In
paying for overtime the wage shall
be computed on the same basis as
for the regular day hour.
End Amendment. Moved that the
original resolution be amended so as
to add Board and Lodging"
Resolved that any wheat raiser
who violates the wage fixed by this
association by paying higher one
shall hereafter not be considered by
this association in the employment of
harvest help.
Resolved, that it is the sense of
this body that Congress should repeal
the daylight saving law.
Resolved, by this convention that
we respectfully request the railroad
administration to grant reduced
fare to harvest hands. We believe
in planting the immense wheat crop
that our loyalty to the government
entities US to this consideration,
thereby making it possible to save
the same.
On motion the conference voted
that wages for cooks be three dol
lars per day.
On motion the conference voted to
make this a permanent organization,
which would meet the first Tuesday
in May each year, the 1920 meeting
to be held in Hutchinson.
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