New-York tribune., 1920-01-31
+ ar11lers Near
Revolt Against
Price Gouggers
May Quit Lands or Curtail
Production Because of
High Profits of Middle
men, QuestionnairesShow


WASHINGTON, Jan. Indications
of widespread spirit of unrest and
Dissatisfaction among the farmers of
the country, so threatening as likely
to disturb the existing economic struc-
ture. is considered by government of
hcials to be revealed in more than
10000 replies to a questionnaire re-
Gently sent out by the Postoifice De-
partment.
The replies as thus far digested were
summarized in report prepared by
George l.. Wood, supe perintendent of the
Postoffice Departments division of
rural mails, and read to the Senate
Postoffice Committee today by James
|. Blakslee, Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General. The views Of the 10000
or more farmers were obtained by the
broadcasting of 100000 copies of q
questionnaire throughout the agricul-
tural states asking for suggestions
whereby the Postofice Department
might aid in cutting down the cost of
living.
Three Chief Complaints
Answers to the questonnaires have
been coming in since the middle of De-
cember at the rate of thousand II
day. and, rs summarized by officials,
show the major complaints of the
farmers, in numerical order, to be:
Inability to obtain labor to work
the farms, as hired help and the
farmers children have been lured to
the city BY higher wages and easier
living.
High profits taken by middlemen
for the. mere handling of food
products; and,
Lack Of proper agencies Of CON
tact between the farmer and the
ultimate consumer.
Many of the replies, said one official
who had looked over them, probably
as many as so per cent, indicate that
the writer's contemplate either leaving
their farms or curtalling acreage under
cultivation because of one or more of
the three MAJ or grievances, and be
cause of the growing feeling against
non producing city dwcllers.
Commenting tonight on the replies,
Assistant Postmaster General Blaks-
lee said:
"Such a condition at a time when the
predominant cry is for production and
still more production cannot but CON
sttute a grave menace
Complaint was made in a majority
Of the replies the report said. of the
high prices paid by consumers as COM
pared with the low return to the farm
er, indicating an entirely dispropor-
tionate prof. for the middleman. Many
farmers, the report said, drew compari-
sons between "the hours of labor re-
qulred Of the farmer and his compen-
satlon with those of the urbanite, Of
which the farmer bitterly compla ms,
setting 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 prcfiteer
and the short hours, high wage man
Situation Declared Serious
member of the committee remarked
that the replies seemed to be "mostiy
from bunch of Bolsheviki,' which
prompted Mr.. Blakslee to say that in
his opinion the situation was extreme
ly serious.
The high cost of wearing apparel,
of staples not produced on the farm,
OF farm implements and fertilizers, all
OF which seem to have filled the far
mer's mind with discouragement and
resentment, is certain to result in the
curtaiment of food production - the re-
port said.
MIR. Blaksee said the report and all
othcr data bearing on the matter had
been submitted to Postmaster General
Burleson. Extension Of the rural par
eel post service to make it easier Tor
the farmer to sell his products direct
to the city consumer, was advocated
by MIR. Blakslee. as one step toward
correcting the condition Indicated
Figures made public to-day by the
Department of Commerce showed thar
foodstutfs imports in December
amounted to nearly double the value
brought in during December, 1918
while exports of foodstuifs were $30,-
100000 below the total for the same
month year ago
Foodstutfs imported in December
were valued at sS4.94l OPT, compared
with SAB, ,136.449 in December. 1918
while exports were SLIP SOC, ,261 j.,
against S2O3, ,9S3.316 III December
year ago. Imports of foodstufs IN
1919 amounted to sl.loO,979 .028, com
pared with s743. .S06 in 1918, and
exports for 1919 totalled S2641, 1885,
953, against $l,953 ,255.312 for the
previous wear