Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-31
nr MORNING Journal specIal Leased Wlrel

tBY MOrDlng JOurhuA
Washington, Jan. 30.-Decreased
farm production next year and q
consequent increase in the cost Of
living due to the dissatisfaction Of
farmers, was predicted before the
senate postoffice committee today
by James I, Blakslee, fourth as
sistant postmaster general.
More than 0,000 answers to
100000 Questionnaires sent TO farm
ers, he said. indicate a condition
"disquietng and portentious of dis
astrouS consequences.
A report summarizing the con-
tents Of the farmers answers pre-
pared by George J.. Wood, superln-
tendent Of the division of the rural
mills, was read by Mr.. Blakslee,
Declaring that the farmers were
tired of receiving low returns for
long, hard periods of toll while city
dWellers lived in lease and COM
fort with high wages and short
hours, the report said that the re-
plies received indicated that hum
dreds Of farmers had resolved eth
en- to quit the farm entirely or
greatly decrease production.
Complaint was made in n ma
iority of the replies, the report SAID,
of the high prices paid by consum-
ers as compared with the low re-
turn TO the farmer, indicating an
entirely disproportionate profit for
the middle man.
Many farmers, the report said
drew comparisons between the
"hours of labor required of the
farmers and his compensation with
those Of the urbanite of which the
farmer bitterly complains, settine
forth the soft and luxurious living
of the latter, as compared with the
hard and bare living of the farmer
who is no longer willing TO toll and
produce for the striker the profit
eer and the short hours. high wage
manufacturer"
A number of the committee re-
marked that replies seemed to be
mostly from bunch of bolshe'
visits" which prompted Mr., Blalis'
lee to say that in his opinion the
situation wasextremely serious.
Inability to obtain farm labor
was another complaint of the
farmers. Declaring that the short
re Of farm labor was "causint
great antagonism on the part o
| the producer toward the city
| dwellcr, "the report said that tn
great demand in the cities for Ia
Dor with high pay and short hours
/ H.. hfInd haln
the farmers boys and girls TO TN
| city
| THE high cost of wearing ap
parel, or staples not produced ol
| the farm, of farm implements ant
fertilizers, all of which seem T.
have filled the farmers mind will
encouragement and resentment,
certain TO result in the curtailmen
of food production" the repor
said.
In submitting the report, super
intendent Wood said:
Attached hereto are numbe
of questionnaires from farmers u
various parts of the country, con
tanning views herein outlined an
as the matter is one so disquletin
and so portentious of disastrou
consequences to the country's wei
fare, call it to your attention TO
such action as you may deem nee
essary."
Mr.. Biakslee said the report an
all other data bearing on the mat
ter had been submitted to Postmas
ter General Burleson. Extension o
the rural parcel post service t
make 1t easier for the farmer to Sc
his products direct to the cit
consumer, was advocated by MI
Blakslee as one step toward cor
recting the condition indicated.
Accompanying the questionnalr
to farmers was letter urging then
to take advantage of the rural par
eel post system.
Production could be greatly in
creased, the letter said. and IN
shortage of labor complained OF
partially remedied. II farmer
would ship their produce by parce
post and not devote their own val
liable time to the service of thel
teams and vehicles to hauling FOOD
stuffs to market.
Commenting tonight on the re
plies, Assistant Postmaster Genera
Blakeslee said:
such a condition at um
when the predominant cry is 10
production and still more produc
ton, cannot but constitute q gray
menace"
Before the senate committee n
characterized the situation as dis
Quieting and portentious of disas
trous consequences. This opinio
was expressed by Mr.. Blakesle'
after a member of the senate CON
mittee had remarked that the re
plies seemed to have come "mostl
from a bunch of bolshevists.
Excerpts from number OF lei
ters. taken at random from IN
more than 10000 already on file
the postoffice department. Shove
the trend OF thought among at lea'
q considerable proportion of IN
farmers of New England. the mic
die western states, Georgia, an
the eastern agricultural section.
THE time Is very near wrol
q farmer at East Chatham, n. Y
when we farmers will have
curtail production and raise on
what We need for our own use an
let the other fellows look out ft
| themselves. Labor unions al