The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-23
Farmer and Stoeraiser )
llit By Shorter Work-day
An Services Upon Which They Depend
Would Come Under New Law, Cut
! ting Hours of Operation and Forcing
Increase In Their Prices

HLENA-While the proposed con-
s6tutional amendment that seeks to
establish a shorter work-day in Mon
tana specifically exempts farming and
s~tock-raising from its provisions, it
nevertheless would seriously handicap
both those industries. That is the con-
sensus of representatives of these groups
who have made a close study of the
~far-reaching and drastic measure. It
accounts for the decided opposition to
the proposal that is manifest through
out rural Montana.
The proposed amendment reads as
follows: Section 4. A period of eight
hours shall constitute a days work in
ali industries, occupations, undertake
ings and employments, except farming
and stock raising; provided, however,
that the Legislative Assembly may by
law reduce the number of hours con-
stituting a days work whenever in its
opinion a reduction will better promote
the general welfare, but it shall have
no authority to increase the number of
hours constituting a days work beyond
that herein provided"
Higher Costs to Farmer
The limitations upon AL industries,
occupations, undertakings, and employ
ments" would hit directly many with
which farmers and stockmen deal, it is
explained. For example, country stores
and stores in towns of less than $500
population, to which present labor stat
utes do not apply, would come under
the provisions of the amendment. They
would be forced to go on an eight-hour
basis, or six hours if the Legislature so
decreed. They would either have to
hire extra help to keep open their
present hours, or else close up when
the short day was over to the decided
Inconvenience of rural patrons. In
either case, there would be a consider
able increase in the cost of operation,
which would have to be passed on to
their customers in higher prices. That
condition would apply also to black
smith shops, garages, filling stations,
rural hotels and restaurants and all of
the other establishments upon which
farmers and stockmen depend either
supplies.
Smaller Return from Products
Nor is it only because of the certain
increased cost of everything they must
buy, and their personal inconvenience
in getting goods or service, that farm
ers and stockmen oppose the amend
ment. They foresee a smaller return to
themselves from the products they sell,
because the cost of handling will be SO
much greater. If an eight-hour Cor six
hour) day is imposed upon elevator
men and millers and other persons
having to do with the processing and
marketing of grain, their cost of doing
business will be greater, their charges
will be higher, and the farmer newt
ably will receive less. Increased trans
portation costs arising from a shorter
working day for railroad employees and
truckers will be reflected in higher
rates to be paid by the shippers.
Citing these and other d~eleterious
effects of the amendment, the Montana
Wool Growers Association condemns it
In nc uncertain terms. "The executive
committee of the Montana Wool Crow
ers Association have given careful
consideration to this proposed consti-
tutional amendment it says. 1--WE un-
qualifiedly recommend to the members
that they and their friends and all
citizens of Montana interested in its
welfare vote NO on election day.
Supt. c. D. Adams of the Holly
Sugar Corporation, which is eX'
pending a million and a half DOL
lars in the construction of a sugal
factory at Hardin, was in Hardin
the first of the week. He statet
that if the proposed constitutional
amendment, which seeks to es
tablish a shorter work-day II
Montana-which already has al
8-hour day-should carry at tn
election Nov. 8, it would max;
necessary the employment of al
additional shift in the factory ant
consequent lowering of the prIc'
of sugar beets paid the farme
in order that the professor nigh
nrorafo of q rrofif