The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 16, 1920, Page 7

fa 19 It Pays to Tréat the Hired Man White - Some Impressions of a Man Who Investigated Conditions The following contribution is written by an Iowa edu- eator who evidently is a sympathetic student of social con- ditions in the farm districts. The Leader is certain that League farmers, without regard to whether they are ten- ants, working their own farms or landlords, will Be glad to notice the friendly interest of the author. 5 BY E. V. LAUGHLIN ECENTLY I spent a day with a farmer who owns six quarter sections of land. - man with family. In addition there were a half dozen or more single hired men. Learning these facts. I decided _that here was a splendid opportunity to obtain first- hand facts as to the relations existing between em- ployer and hired men. Seizing a favorable oppor- tunity I hobnobbed with the men. A couple of hours Lwas sufficient to give me their estimate of their em- ployer. In like manner I wormed out of the farmera his estimate of his men. I found the latter sus- picious of those who did his work, skeptical as to . their worth, ready at a moment’s notice to dismiss -~ any one of them. The men, on the other hand, tolerated the farmer merely because he paid well and promptly. In other words, the mutual bond of sympathy that should exist between a farmer and his hired men was entirely lacking. It will pay us to note some of the reasons. B - FEach of the gquarter sections possessed a tenant home. Four of these were the original homes erected by previous owners and from appearances had once been attractive and convenient. Now no ajtempt was made to make them cheerful and honielike. - Shade trees were lacking and culti- vated fields came to within 4 few feet of the- doors. The kitchens were minus sinks or drains. Unsightly and ill-smelling privies stood conspicu- ously in the back yards. As far as paint and shingles are concerned the houses were in good re- pair. There was no attempt, however, 1o provide any of the things that male a home more than a closed-in box to keep out rain and cold. The houses that had been erected on the two remaining quarter l » , LATEST -NEWS FROM THE BATTLE FRONT ‘ Each quarter was operated by a hired — . on Farms in Iowa sections were equally as cheerless. Boxlike affairs with rubberoid roofs, without sign -of porch or dormers, they looked monotonous and desolate in- deed. It was with' difficulty that I refrained from voicing my sentiments as I viewed these evidences - of landlordal ‘niggardliness. It was plainly evident that this particular farmer was enfirely indifferent as to the homes he furnished his tenants. I determined I would learn the mental attitude of the man who.so far forgot his duty to mankind. My chance came, I asked him point blank why he did not provide more cheerful homes for his tenants. Well do I remember his reply. “These houses are good enough for cattle of their kind,” he said. “In fact they are a whole lot better than the pioneer homes our fathers lived in. Besides, it would break a man up to provide those fellows with everything they’d ask for. They would be asking for furnaces, water systems and indoor toilets. -If my hired men do not like what I furnish they can move. They know when they work for me that no frills and fancies are tolerated. I hire them for just one thing—to work. And I expect them to work so damn hard they will have no time to lie in the shade.” INDIFFERENCE OF EMPLOYER MEANS CARELESS WORKER I said nothing. Presently, with a sneer, the man continued: “These dirty, lazy louts can’t be trusted anyway—what’s the use of doing anything for them. They’re so clumsy they’d break everything a person would fix for them. I don’t intend to blow any of my good money providing pretties for such worthless stuff.” At : While the farmer was thus delivering himself I did a lot of thinking. I recalled how I had seen one _of the men carelessly break a fork, indifferently re- marking: “Just charge this uo to the boss—it won’t hurt him to pay for it seeing one of the men run the mower into a stump and noticing how indifferent he appeared over the damage and loss of time. In fact I now realized Reports from'every sector show League enemies being defeated. In North Dakota it is admitted that the I. Also, I thought of - how heedless the men on these farms were of the real interests of their employer and how little they cared if things went wrong. I suspected that the most of them were merely staying by the job unti! they could get a sufficient start. Their employer, 1 knew, was accounted an important citizen of the community. He wore a Masonic emblem and be- longed to the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. I knew that he was reputed to be a liberal giver to church and charity, and that he had bought far more than his quota of Liberty bonds. In spite of all this I feel that he is an alien enemy, for he stirs up strife and breeds discontent. The good that . he does is far outweighed by the harm to society that emanates from his stinginess, Frankly, he does more harm than many a suspected “red.” Very different from the above case is that of another that I observed a few weeks later. Thir farmer owns 2,000 acres of land and employs ove: 20 men. There are eight tenant houses—three orig- inal and five especially built., Each home har furnace and running water. There are inside toilets and kitchen sinks. Around each house is an amplc lawn with shade trees. Such privies as exist are sanitary and inconspicuous. Fruit of every kingd it provided and the garden space is ample. In every respect the homes of the tenants are as‘comfortable as that of the landlord himself. “Why do you give your men such nice homes?” I askéd. The farmer seemed embarrassed. “Why, T hardly know,” he replied diffidently, “unless it’s be- cause I want all my men to be well treated. The hired man, you know;, has feelings just like the rest of us. Besides when he has a good home he’s better contented. It pays to treat the hired man white.’ Everything on this large farm indicated the truth of this statement. The men were careful, thoughtful, considerate of their employer’s inter- ests, contented, happy at their work. They were cleaner and neater too. I caught, then, what the Master meant when he said: “Do unto others a: you would that they should do unto you.” Lo " THE REPORT THRT THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE - IS DEAD — 1S GREATLY EXAGGERATEp ! [ AT N SRR LY RLVRN T DAY MoN’TfiNQ LONYALTY LEAGUE Tomae " — ST ¥k 7 * —Drawn expressly for the Leader by W. C. Morris. V. A. campaign of misrepresentation of North Dakota taxes has failed. In Minnesota the Burnquist-Lindquist political machine has broken down and the Patterson anti-League organization has been thrown on the s sctap heap. In Montana the copper trust interests have just lost, by decision of the supreme court, their figfltt to, ~ keep the people of the state from-voting. to save their primary law. PAGE SEVEN