Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-03-18
The Farmers convention.

Inc Iorty-nlnth Farmers Convention met
at Sandy Spring on Wednesday, March 9th,
and was called to order at lO:45 A. M. bv
the president, VIM. J. Thomas. After the
reading OF the minutes of the last conven-
tlon and OF the meeting of the joint COM
mlttee, President Thomas appointed as
committee on resolutions. J. W. Jones,
Douglass Riggs and VIM. E. Brown.
Inc various committees to report at this
convention did not appear at this time to
have any members present and the reports
were deferred to a later hour.
The first question on the program was
taken up, "A survey Of the labor situation
in Montgomery county" and was opened
by Tarlton Brooke, who read the resolu-
tons which had been prepared by the
Labor Committee of the Farm Bureau,
and asked the approval of the convention
for the same, The committee of the Farm
Bureau has decided to recommend but
three definite steps at this time. They
are as follows:
First. That all day labor shall be paid
by the hour and paid only for the time
actually made. This, we believe, will bet
ter distribute the labor cost of production,
Offering encouragement in the way of fair
compensation to the laborer who is willing
to come early and stay late, and placing
a discount on the one who trims his day.
Second. That all day labor on the farms
shall board themselves whenever possible,
bringing their MONDAY meal, as is done
by labor employed in other industries.
This we believe to be only fair, relieving
our wives and daughters of the added
drudsery to household work. and will do
much to help keep the young people on
the farm.
Third. That the price paid for able
bodied farm labor for the coming season.
or from April LIST. 1921. to December LIST.
1921, shall be. without board. not in excess
Of rs cents per hour for regular farm work.
and not in excess of 80 cents per hour for
wheat harvesting, haying, threshing. bal
ing, cutting corn. ice harvesting and ditch
ing. and that when it becomes necessary
to furnish board rs cents per meal shall
be deducted from the prices above named.
After careful consideration. we further
ask that all other employers of unskilled
labor. such asState and county road super
visors. contractors, builders and all employ
ers Of similar industries whose work is more
or less dependent on the farmers for support.
cooperate with us in putting this schedule
into effect. feeling that the determination
of fair and uniform wage scale will be
Of mutual advantage to us all.
Mr.. Allan Farquhar read a clipping from
the Sun giving an account of the meeting
Of the colored labor Of Kent county and it
seemed to be practically the same as the
resolutions Of the Farm Bureau.
Mr.. Frank Snowden said that there must
be decline in labor prices to enable a
farmer to come out even. if he made no
profit.
Mr.. W. II. McCeney made few remarks
as to conditions in his neighbOrhood.
Prices are still up. but there seems to be
a willingness to come down.
Mr.. Ellington Bell said in his district
already they were paying below this maxi
mum. but as every one else set prices he
thought farmers should begin to try little
price setting too.
Mr.. J. W. Jones approved the plan OF
paying by the hour. as it is getting diff
cult to make the laborer come early, espe-
cially if he boards himself when paid by
the day.
Mr.. W. j. Williams. OF Poolesville. said
it was a great problem. which is compli-
Gated by the fact that the man who is
most unwilling to work is the one who
wants the most money for his time. Other
business has little difficulty in determin-
ing the cost of production. but it is hard
to get at the cost Of farm products, and
with the uncertainty of crop yield, high
priced labor reduces profits to nothing. He
approved the adoption Of day-wage scale.
but thought the year hand by the month
should be matter of arrangement be-
tween him and his employer.
Mr.. J. N. Barnsley said that ii would be
very hard to establish a ascent rate for
men on the farm when the State Road
Commission rate is 80 cents in the same
section. with transportation thrown in in
most cases.
Mr.. G A. T. Snouffer. of Frederick coun-
ty, said conditions there were as bad as
in Montgomery and that they would back
the farmers of this county in their efforts
to get to a basis Of wage that will leave
the farmer something besides the bill to
pay. He commended the spirit that had
investigated the matter so fairly before
making any move. and said organization.
close knit and well stuck to. is absolutely
necessary for continued prosperity of the
farming community.
Mr.. M. J. Grove. of the Frederick Coun-
ty Farmers Association. recommended that
II farmers do not have time to attend to
the matter Of getting what belongs to them