The Washington herald., 1920-03-18
ny q Staff Correspondent.


Lafayette. Ind. March .17.-There
Is always something stirring in In
diana. II Is a restless State. When
they don't write poetry, they keep
busy at politics. II engaged in nei-
hand. II these are lacking, they
invent one, SO there Is always So
cial, political and economic prob
lens on tap from Posey County to
the lake.
Just now the Hoosier farmers are
worrying about a union of the hired
hands. They themselves met the
first onrush of the organizers, but
as rule they have a habit of pass
ing the buck to Indiana's numerous
institutions of learning - Indiana
University, Purdue, Depauw. Notre
Dame, Rose Poly and others. They
had been used to having professors
take up their arguments, so IL was
natural the report should spread
that. with farm hands talking an
eight-hour day, bed springs and run
ming water, someone had been call
ed upon to investigate. Under the
circumstances, Prof. G. 1. Christie,
of the extension division of the ag-
ricultural department at Purdue,
was the logicai man.
Keeps Tabs on Farm Labor Union.
The story circulated that / had
been asked by the government to
investigate and report on the Farm
Laborers' Union being organized in
Vanderburg County may make in
teresting reading, but ii isn't true"
said Prof. Christie, when seen here.
''Of course, we keep track of these
things without orders, but as far as
this particular case Is concerned,
have done nothing. However. the
thing has been discussed among the
farmers and the possible effects
sized up.
The wages mentioned in connec-
tion with the formation of the union
are not prohibitive, as the farmers
are paying the union figure or more
all over the State. Other conditions
are not unreasonable, so the effect
at first would be negligible. but
added conditions might change the
aspect OF the whole thing. If I'M
reasonable demands are made pro-
duction OF food products will be
curtailed to a marked degree and
that will mean higher prices.
The farmer cannot afford to be
gouged. He will quit cultlvating
as soon as expenses overbalance in
comes, and most OF them are going
on a slim margin now. Farmers all
over the State have told me they
expect to increase the grass area
of their farms. Others who have
rented additional land will drop
these. One farmer with 300 pigs
has advertised them for sale be-
cause Of scarcity and high price of
labor.
Pay Married Men More.
81 know of one farmer with a
big sugar grove. Because it is hard
to get four laborers he will not tap
the trees this spring even though he
can get So to $3.50 a gallon for the
syrup. The wages up to this time
have been SO and dinner to single
men and 81 a day to married men.
AS for actuaI farming. grass will
form the staple crop of many a
farmer.
That meat production will be
curtailed is certain. principally for
iack or labor. Corn at $1.40 a
bushel calls for $13 to SIS a hun
dred for hogs. as IL takes between
ten and twelve bushels of corn to
produce 100 pounds OF pork. AS a
matter of fact many farmers claim
they cannot raise hogs at a profit
at those prices.
AS for cattle, that is a serious
problem just now. Our expert
mental farm bought feeders last
September at $10.50 a hundred but,
although no farmer in the State can
fatten his cattle either more eco
nomfcally or scientifically than we
40, don't think we will come out
even at the present market prices
and the s1o.50 was lower than most
farmers paid.
of course there are two sides to
the farming questions. There is a
constant drifting back to the farm
and yet the small country banks
are overloaded with mortgages. This
condition Of affairs shows the own
ers have obligated themselves to
the banks for improvements, ma
cninery, stock, etc, ard have been
unable to pay the money back des-
pite the alleged high prices of the
last few years.
College Men Take 10 Fafms.
Debts to banks do not mean that
the farmer Is In desperate straits
or that his case Is hopeless. In
fact 1t Is the opposite, should we
Judge by the number of students