1884.] QUESTIONS. . 127 



taken more risks in going about the purlieus of New York 

 and around Castle Garden to hunt up men, than I ever can 

 among the Indians. Therefore, I feel a deep interest in this 

 question. It is suggested that we pay our men two dollars a 

 day. We may do it a short time in the haying season, but 

 we are speaking of general farm labor. If we agree to pay 

 too high wages, how are we going to pay them ? Where is 

 the money coming from ? I go to the store with a load of 

 potatoes, and say, "Do you want any potatoes to-day?" 

 " Yes." " What are you paying ? " " Sixty cents," or " fifty 

 cents a bushel," whatever it may be. "Well, I can't do any 

 better ; you can have them." " I want to buy some sugar 

 and coffee; how much do you ask for your sugar and coffee ?" 

 He tells me, and I have to pay whatever he asks. We are 

 working for our masters. You cannot put it in any other 

 shape, when you come down to it, for we cannot put a price 

 upon our goods, nor can we make the price of the goods we 

 have to buy. Therefore we must do the best we can, and 

 each individual must be governed by his own circumstances, 

 and by his own business. How is the dairyman, who has a 

 large amount of milk to deliver every day, which involves a 

 great many chores, and a great deal of work, going to make 

 his hours of labor the same as those of the farmer who pays 

 no attention to the dairy? Therefore, the only way for us to 

 do is to do the best we can, and let each and every individual 

 study out the best way to treat his hired help, and get the 

 best help he can. And I guess about as good a rule as you 

 can find would be to " do as you would be done -by." 

 (Applause.) 



Mr. Hyde. I have a single remark to make in regard to 

 the criticism of my friend over on the right (Mr., Sedgwick), 

 that if we paid higher prices we could obtain better men. 

 That is true. But my friend, also on the right TMr. Webb), 

 asks who is to pay them ? It is just as pertinent inside the 

 house as it is out. If we will pay men and pay women 

 enough, we can get such help as we want. I had the pleasure 

 of receiving a little order from the better-half of this gentle- 



