The Washington herald., 1920-03-18
Hoosier Farmers Disarming
Unions of Hired Men" With
Better Liuing Conditions

ments OF colleges back to the farm.
Fully rs per cent of these become
farmers. Many of them go back
because living conditions have been
improved. Some see big profits
where others don't. but the fact re-
mains that students of agriculture
are optimistic of the future.
so are the county agents in re-
ceipt Of from $4,000 to $4,000 a year.
That Is considerable money for the
country, but IL is not enough to
Keep them. One county agent is go
Ing back to his 360-acre farm and
he expects to clear $4,000 a year"
The real big farmer. the bonanza
kind, has no fear of labor unions,
as he figures he can meet compe-
tion in wages, industrial or other
wise. He not only farms on a big
scale. but he has and is taking ad-
vantage of all modern improve
ments." 1t is this kind of farmer
who profits by the sale of a S35,00O
sow and the disposal of $50 head
OF Hereford cattle for close to $780,
600 at a dispersal sale. according
to Professor Christie.
There is not a county and hardly
a township in the State that Prof.
Christie has not visited during the
hfteen years he has been connected
with Purdue University. Conse-
quently. he knows how the farmer
lives. Although he did not say
so outright, Ii could be gathered
from his conversation that the farm
labor union movement would hasten
the day when the standards of liv-
ing on the farm would equal, if not
be superior to. those in the cities.
Tremendous progress is being made,
or rather has been made, during
the last few months. This Is vouched
for through personal observations
of Prof. Christie
Improve Living Conditions.
The schools of the State, the high
er institutions of learning, have for
years dinned into the heads of the
farmers the necessity for improved
standards of living. They are send
ing for catalogs OF bathtubs. clos
cts. electric and gasoline engines,
sinks, automatic washing machines
and other appliances. Things which
were regarded as luxuries last year
are becoming necessities now.
The farmer having become in
quisitiye. several agencies have set
out to satisfy his curiosity. The
Big Four Railroad. in conjunction
with the colleges. has started out
to give the bucolic residences some
courses In sanitation, hygienics, and
the conveniences which go with
these. 1t has rigged up a special
train on which are found the latest
appliances for the farmers home. 1t
all centers around running water"
With this in eration, IL is be-
lieved that the battle Is won.
Running water means an engine
of some kind. An engine means
all kinds of labor-saving devices.
Running water will mean a sink.
toilet facilities, the latter leading
to septic tanks, which will necessi-
tate proper sewage disposal, which
again leads toward more healthful
surroundings. With running water
the housework of the women will be
immeasurably liGhtened and thus
fewer girls will graviate toward
the cities.
Having had the benefit of running
water, Prof Christie, who has taken
an active part in improving living
conditions as well as increasing
crop production. thinks the next
thing will be electric light or acety-
lene gas. The experimental train
Is fully eaaipped with the latest
In lighting. Electricity is encour-
aged for Its many advantages over
all other kinds of artificial light. A
complete outft may now be secured
for about $475. the amount that will
provide a dynamo strong enough to
provide ample light for house and
outbuildings.
Comforts Aimed to Hold Help.
With running water. sewers, elec-
trio light and automatic pumping
facilities. the farmer will naturally
tidy UP around the place, and 10
and behold. a new Utopia; with at
tractive gardens and yards. WELL
trimmed hedges, artistically- painted
houses and barns. neat fences and
sleek cattle. What else would the
soul desire? The city could not du-
plicate it and there would be no
incentive for the boy and girl to
move urbanward, especially while
the twin six was hitting on all
cylinders THUS. the problem of the
farmer is solved.
All this may sound far-fetched
but II Is not. The experiments as
enumerated are being pushed for
ward with yigor all over the State
of Indiana. A revolution in living
enndfffnaS fo h.fne - IN