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Show IK)N'T MONKEY WITH IT, The Sjibur- Hoot Industry Mt V.jfficTjQfc Alono, 8oir!nti(th vnlue ot the sugar beet tpTUneJlHglhayVaUey could be ob. Try. j tnined by those uowspaper that haVo sneered nt It in connection with the Cuban Tariff tlght.it ft were possible.' to .necertnlu the amount ol wages alono ihatas;Mhg-rMlwrrlwMelrrer the fields this summer.' ."large number num-ber ot boya and g'rls aud young women aie making far better wages at tho work than thev could hope to get in other kinds of employment. 80 attractive aro the beet fields to young women that it is difllcult to induce domestic help to come to the cities girls can make enough in the summer to keep them nt home comfortably through tho wlnten in many cases, and therefore are natur ally disinclined to ncctpt the nioro irksome irk-some work of city kitchens with its isolation mid lunger hours, To glvo some idea of the wages that aro being paid,- a "Courier-Herald" correspondent at Merrill is quoted in the following paragraph ; "Two girls named Laing, both under 13 years of age, when paid off by Archie McLeod for seven day's work In weeding weed-ing sugar beets received $13.80 apiece." When young girls under 13 can make wages like that it is not to bo wondered nl that their older sisters decline to come to town to tell in factories, hotels and households at much less remuneration. remunera-tion. And we must say tkat we can't blame them. Hut what wo wish to potut out la that In this one item alone, among many nioie importfwt, may bo found an inkling ink-ling of the rca.on the agricultural interest in-terest ot this section ot the Elate stands so solidly ngntust anything proposed al Washington, and adTccated in Detroit newspapers, tint beats any menace to the beet sugar Industry; aud also why Congressman Fordney last fall had the good will ot the people of the country districts of the Klghlh Congiesstoiul District without regard to their party connections. The sugar beet has been a potent and large factor In the prosperity ot this section ot Michigan. And any one who approaches it around here with intent to minimize Its influence will run up against trouble. Saginaw "Oourler-Herald." |
