32 



largely of Southern origin and naturally brought with them the 

 traditional relations between the employer and employed to which they 

 were accustomed, although the employed have not been negroes to any 

 considerable extent. The size of their enterprises, sometimes gigantic, 

 the character of the climate and the variety of the population, have 

 tended to maintain these distinctions. There may be several social 

 strata on a single ranch. The relation between farmer and farm hand 

 which has largely existed in northeastern United States does not 

 obtain ordinarily in California. No one can understand the farm 

 labor problem unless he recognizes this important fact. It is both 

 social and economic, and both factors are different from many other, 

 perhaps most other, parts of the United States. The farm labor 

 problem in California is a cross between Mexico and Georgia tradi- 

 tions, supervised in these later days by the New England intellect. 



There are three classes of white farm labor in California. The 

 regular native farm hands, although employed by the day, are regarded 

 as regular employees, being furnished board and lodging. Usually 

 they are teamsters, as few foreigners know how to handle the six and 

 eight horse teams which are the pride of the native California farm 

 hand. The class of labor is satisfactory and reliable. The second 

 class is the transient or hobo, who may or may not be a native 

 American. They are available during harvest and other rush times. 

 This class sleeps in its own blankets wherever circumstances permit, 

 but is usually furnished meals by the ranch. The third class of white 

 labor consists of the foreign immigrant, who has come to this country 

 to make a home of his own. He may be Italian, Russian, Portuguese, 

 Armenian, or of other European nationality. Italians are disposed to 

 work in the wine vineyards and dairies; Portuguese in dairies and on 

 vegetable and deciduous fruit ranches; Russians in the hay field and 

 at grape picking. Italians and Russians prefer contract work, especi- 

 ally in the grape harvest, but may be hired by the day. Nearly all 

 contract laborers care for themselves in camps or other quarters fur- 

 nished by the ranches. Oriental labor consists of Chinese, Japanese, 

 and Hindus, of which the Japanese are at present most abundant. 

 The Japanese and Chinese prefer working by contract or piece work 

 wherever possible. Nearly all the grape crops are harvested in this 

 way. Labor is furnished by an Oriental contractor, who gets his 

 profits from commissions and board. The Japanese and Chinese always 

 lodge and board apart from other nationalities. These races can out- 

 strip any other class of laborers in grape picking and similar forms 

 of work, because of the Oriental habit of "squatting." 



