The Washington herald., 1920-03-16
Farm Laborers to Organize
Union to Better Conditions;
WulDemandU Use ofBah Tub

need q bath and in the summer he
can 60 to the creek"
There was many q connrmatory
nod around the room but there was
NO second to the motion"
Called "Newfangled BoIshe vism."
The more progressive farmers ad-
mitted conveniences were lacking on
the farm but claimed the majority
were beginning to see a great light
and that improvements looking to-
ward the comfort of the hired hands
could be looked for. The corn-husk
mattress with the unyieiding stats
underneath, the attic home of the
farm hand. stifiing in summer and
freezing in winter, and the lack of
sanitary comforts of every kind,
came up for discussion. To some of
those present the suggestions made
seemed revolutionary-newf ed
bolshevism. The majority. however,
acknowledged the corn and said
they were not averse to improving
conditions 10 they could afford 1t.
The question of cost having en-
tered, Hohenberger suggested the av-
erage farmer could save enough on
machinery each year to make his
house q modern dwelling.
What Is that to your someone
near the front spoke up with as
perity.
That gave Hohenberser a chance
to give some concrete illustrations
of rusted and decayed machinery
scattered through hills and valleys
He told how one farmer had bought
over $4,000 worth Of sorghum mill
machinery last fan only to leave II
down in the bottoms until the an
nual rampage of the Ohio river was
permitted to ruin 1t.
10 mere Than Local Issue.
The question of hire and fire"
caused heated arguments. The
farmers wanted to know whether it
would be necessary to get the per-
mission of the walking delegate be-
fore they could fire an incompentent
band. Hohenberger explained the
farmer could make as many changes
As he wanted but that the dis
charged employe could appeal to an
arbitration board il he had Criey-
ances. The question OF young boys
working on the farm was raised but
1t was explained this could be COW
cred by special clauses In the agree
ment.
Were no principles involved the
attempt in knight township, Van
derburg county. Indiana, to unIonlze
farm laborers could be dismissed as
. local disturbance" but IL Is i'm
portant because it happens to be a
phase OF the great readjustment
taking place on farms as we'll as in
Industrial centers. In proportion
there Is much restlessness on the
farm as in the city and it is even
more serious in the country than in
urban centers. as it hits directly at
production OF food
Mr.. Hohenberser believes, the ex-
pert opinions of practical farmers
to the contrary, that the formation
OF a strong labor union would be
the salvation OF the farmer. He ar
CUES that Henry Ford's idea OF
combining Industries and farming
could then be realized as, being ali
union men, the workers could be
shifted from factory to farm as con-
ditions demanded. The busy seasons
on farms being usually slack times
in the factories. both sides would
benefit.
Plans to Organize Tenants.
In the meantime. the two forces
are lined up for battle. The hired
hand has the backing Of the Ameri-
can Federation. OF Labor according
to Fred Hohenberger. The farmers
are entrenched within their own or
gSnization. Each is well fortified.
JOBS are waiting for the worker in
the city. The farmer won't
starve. He can seed his fields,
which he Is actually doing. and
await developments. The innocent
bystander may also await his.
The restless and idealistic Mr..
wilkins does not intend to stop with
the organisation OF the hired hands.
He has @lready started to organize
the tenants. II is fertile field. he
claims.
Tenants never have had a square
deal" said Mr.. wilkins. The ay-
erage rented farm 10 run down when
the tenant moves on It. The owner
will do nothing. The houses are
mere 'shacks without any conven-
fences whatsoever. The outbuild.
ings are inadequate. II know a ten
ant who, had to rent two acres of
land at 500 an acre from a neirh-
boring farmer on which to store his
corn. The hired men and the ten
ants are two OF the most abussd
classes OF society,"
Certain sections OF Indiana have
become excited over all this union
talk! This increased when II was
announced that. Professor q. l.
Christie. Of the agricultural depart