Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1920 — UNREST AMONG U.S. FARMERS [ARTICLE]

UNREST AMONG U.S. FARMERS

EXISTING ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF COUNTRY MAY BE DISTURBED. . Washington, D. C.—Jan. 30.—Intocations at widespread unrest among the farmers of the country, so threatening as likely to disturb the existing economic structure, is revested in 40,000 repties to a questionnaire sent out by the postoffice department The replies were summarized in a report prepared by Ogorge L. Wood, superintendent of, the division of rural mails, read to the senate postoffice committee today by James L Blakeslee, fourth assistant postmastergeneraL The views of the 40,000 or more farmers were obtained by the broadcastihg of 200,000 eqpie sos a questionnaire throughout the agricultural states asking for suggestions might aid in cutting down the cost of living. The answers show the major complaints of the farmers in nuroeri--esd <wder to '- - - s — j JiMihfltey to tabor to • work the farms,-hired help and the farmers’ ehiidren having '< been lured to the otto by Mgher 'wages and easier HvingHigh profits taken by middlemen for the handling of food S»k of proper agencies of centact between the fanner and the ultimate consumer. ~ Many of the replies, probably as many as 50 per cent, indicate that the writers contemplate either leaving their farms or clurtailing acreage under cultivation because of one or more of the three major grievances and because of the growing feeling against nonproduemg city dwellers. . Commenting taqjght qn the retoies, Assistant Postmaster General Btakslee said: :“Such a condition at a time when .this predominant cry is for more -production, cannot but constitute a grave menace.” » (Before the senate committee he cdmracterized the situation a« qqieting and portentous of disastrous consequences.”- TMs opinion was expressed by Mr. Makeslee 18: ‘lExeerpts from n nssnber .of -tetters, taken at random from the .more than 4&,000 on QJe, showed toe trend of thought among at least a ; considerable proportion ot \ the farmers of New j2ngtaad, toe middle western states, Georgia, mad the eastern agricultural section. ■“The time io very nearj’t wrote a farmer at Erot Chatham, N. Y., “when we farmers will hsv» to curtail production and raise oqly wtad we need for our own usb, And 4et the other fellows look out for selvea. Labor anions are more to blame for the high prices than any * Writing from uMmysa, Me., another farmer said-: “I almost fear a famine, Fam help everywhere is flocking to the city, lured by short hours, high wages And the promise • of a good tone. Some one, I fear, is going to suffer if this condition is not remedied shortly.” Declaring thet toe -whole omb of tiw&gh cost of living rents with toe middleman, another Missouri producer advocated the estaMiahment of municipal markets to bo served by P«tce| post direct