The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-09
GRANGE OPPOSES WAGES AND
HOURS BILL

The National Grange Is the Oldest, larg-
est and most conservative farmers organ
ization in the United States. 1t is COM
posed of q larger proportion of dirt farm
ers and fewer political farmers than any
other organizations Of tillers of the soil.
The North Carolina Grange is opposed to
the enactment of the Black-COnnery wages
and hours bill Ten thousand North Caro-
lima Changers, speaking through their Of
fetal representatives, have sought to in
form this States Senators and Congress
men of their views of this piece of legisla-
ton and these views are summarized in
the following paragraphs: .....'
The North Carolina State Grange at our recent
session In Wnston-Salem, with farmer delegates
present from every section of the state, adopted
a resolution opposing the passage of this legisa-
ton.
"The State Grange believes that it is in the in
tereSt of the national welfare for labor to receive
fair wages. but we cannot see how the passage OF
this bill will be of permanent benefit TO the work
ing man. There seems to be nothing in the bill
that will guarantee the individual job. It is our
opinion that the passage of legislation of this kind
will encourage the use Of more labCr-saving de-
viduals not finding permanent employment.
Much has been said relative to the need of new
farm legislation. Congress is now considering leg
islation that is intended to aid agriculture in Sc
curing parity of income and equality of opportun-
ity The passage of the Black-Connery wage bill
will have the tendency to widen further the gap
between agricultural income and other income,
and this in effect, will nullify efforts to secure
parity Of income for farmers.
Eve are Of the opinion that the passage of this
bill would result in increased prices for everything
that the farmer must buy and in increased process
ing costs for the products the farmers produce
without giving the farmer any protection or bene-
fit
I'VE look upon this bill as price-tixing bill,
since it establishes board with the authority to
regulate hours Of employment and rate of pay. 1t
would certainly be the height of folly to pass iegs-
aton Of this kind without passing sufficient tariff
legislation to safeguard adequately industries
from competition of similar industries in countries
where minimum labor standards similar TO those
proposed in the Black-Connery bill have not been
established by law.
1--WE understand that the proponents of this bill
advocate its passage because it is intended TO give
better wages to the low income groups. A careful
study of the whole problem will reveal that the
lowest paid LABOR III America IS 10 DC toond on the
farms Of America and until a solution TO the farm
problem can be found, it does not seem wise TO
pass this legislation. There is doubt but that
farmers will find it more difficult TO secure needed
labor should this bill become a law. We all realize
that the standards set by the relief agencies in
many instances made it practically impossible for
the farmer to secure help when he needed it. We
believe that the passage of this bill will have the
same effect"
1t is thought that nine of eleven North
Carolina congressman are opposed to the
Black-Connery bill. Bulwinkle and UNI
stead signed the petition to get the bill out
of committee for consideration on the floor
of Congress. For this reason they are be-
ing counted as favoring it. They may or
may not be supporters of the measure
What they signed was only petition to
get the measure out of committee. The
other nine congressman from this State de-
clined. to sign the petition. Congressman
Clark, a member of the rules committee,
strongly opposed the reporting of the bill
to the floor. sf-'"a
Senator Bailey is opposing the bill and
Senator REYNOLDS fayors it.