The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-12
FARMERS MAY QUIT
UNLESS CONDITIONS
UNDERGO CHANGES

WASHINGTON. Feb. 12.-"If the
farmers stop working" says the Al
bany Argus. Democrat. the rest Of US
Will have to stop eating. And that it
just what many of them threaten to
do"
This is no imaginary danger" the
Argus goes on; "a summary OF more
than 10000 replies from farmers to a
questionable sent out by the postof-
flee department has just been laid be-
fore the senate postoffice committee,
and about half of them indicate that
the writer's contemplate either leaving
their farms or curtailing the acreage
uuder cultivation"
What are the grievances Of the agri-
culturists: The Wheeling Register,
Democrat, summarizes them thus:
Il. Inability to obtain labor to
work on farms, as hired help and the
farmers children have been lured to
the city by higher wages and easier
living.
"2. High profits taken by middle
men for the mere handling Of food,
"3. Lack of proper agencies of con-
tact between the farmer and the ulti-
mate consumer"
What is the solution? "Co-opera-
tion," confidently asserts the Rocky
Mountain News Und.). Politics won't
help much; specifics will not do: pam
aceaS are useless. Get rid of the
costly middleman." Sending his pro-
ducts direct to the consumer by par
Gel post" is suggested by the Roch-
ester Telegram CRep). which believes
also that "a farmers union, run in the
right way. might prove to be of tire
| mendous benefit both to the farmers
| and the general public" The New
York Mail Cnd), agrees that devel-
opment of the parcel post "undoubt-
eddy would help" but thinks much
! more far-reaching action is necessary.
| What is needed, and urgently needed.
is an entire reorganization of our
rural life" The Buffalo Evening
News (Rep), takes up the suggestion
that immigrants be required to work
on farms five years after arriving
here, and believes it is "a reasonable
plan and worth trying" The Dallas
News (Ind. DEM is confident that a
way out will be found, especially IF
industry and distribution show enough
foresight and self control" The Fargo
Courier-News Comparison League)
thinks the replies to the QUESTIONABLE
show that the missionary work of
the Nonpartisan League is bearing
fruit. Farmers are beginning to learn
the facts. Another four years and a
farm labor ticket will sweep the ma
ton"
| Many other papers refuse to see a
cause for concern. THE situation can
not be called discouraging," says the
Nebraska State Journal, Und. Rep)
for ''like everything else, agriculture
is In state of transition" from a wal
to a peace basis. "a farmers natur
al impulse when he sees an official
QUESTIONABLE" suggests the New
York evening Post Und.), is to place
on it all his grievances" "His com
plant, believes the New York World
Dem.), is due to the "discontent OF
prosperity, and not of injustice" and
the Pittsburg Leader (Prog.- Dem.)
holds that the new secretary of agri'
culture, Mr.. Meredith, is following
| the political dope in flattering the
farmers" and that the farmer who
tries to turn monopolist is deserving
of no more consideration at the hands
of the rest of the country than any
other manipulation"