Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1920-01-31
SCORES THREATEN
TO QUIT RANCHES
OR CUT ACREAGE
INABILITY To OBTAIN LAIOI,
ONE CAUSE az PREVAILING
SPIRIT on UNREST
M|DDLEMEN GIVEN BLAME
More Than 10000 Replies Received
by rtSi Oificc Department To
Qucstionaircs Sent lirDau-
east Recently

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3O.---lndica
lions OF a widespread spirit of unrest
and dissatisfaction amung the farm
els OF the country, 80 threatening as
likely 10 disturb the existing econ.
Omic structure. Is considered by gov
eminent officials To bc revealed 10
more than 10000 replies to ques-
tionnaire recently sent out by ths
postofiice department The replies.
as thus far digesled. were summar-
iAed In a report prepared by George
l.. Wood, superintendent OF the post
office Department. division of rural
mails. and read To the senate pos,
office committee today by James l.
Blakslee. fourth assistant postmasl-
er general. The views Of the 40 900
or more farmers were obtained by
the broad casting OF 20O.OO0 copies
Of questionable throughout the
agricultural states asking Tor sug
gesiions. whereby the posioffice de-
partment might aid IN cutting down
the cost of living.
CHIEF Complaints
Answers tn the qursiionnaircs ~
summarized by officials. show The
major complaints OF the farmers IN
numerical order TO be-:
inability ca obtain labor 10
work the farms. hired help and
the farmers children ha,i
svn lurcd Ca the cit, b, high
er wages and easier living:
High profits taken b, m:.dlc.
men Tor foo,i prO'iGciS, aud.
lack of proper ag' ncieS of
contact between the farmer aud
the ultimate consumer.
Many Of the replies. said one OF
fetal who had looked over them.
probably as many as fifty per ccui.
indicates that the writers cuntcm-
template either leaving their farm
or curlailing acreage under cnlliya-
ton. because of one or more of TIL
three major grievances aud becaus,
of growing feeling against non-pro
ducing city jewellers.
Comments On Replies
Commenting tonight ON the re
plies. Assistant Postmaster General
Blakslee SAFE:
'Such a condition NJ time whom
the predominant cry is for proluc-
ton aud still more production can
not but constitute grave menace"
Excerpts from a number OF letters.
taken at random from the more than
10000 already on file AT the post
office. showed the trend through
cut among al least a considerable
proportion of the farmers of New
England, the middle western states.
!, Georgia. and eastern agricultural
; section.
Tho time is very near" wrote a
farmer at East Chatham. \. Y.
when We farmers will have to cur
tail production and raise only what
We need for our own use. and let
the other fellows look out for them
selves. Labor unions are more 10
blame Tor the hirN prices than any
one else. People are tryine to ret
pay for what they don't earn"
Rests With Middicman
Declaring that the whole onus OF
the high cost OF living rests with the
middlcman. Missouri producer al
vocated the establishment OF muni
cipal markets 10 be served by parcel
post direct
~ sell butter to the dealer Tor o.
cents a pound his letter said. "and
the same butter sells to the consumer
tor NJ cents u pound. In the disiri-
button We lose nearly half and We
lose money on the butter at the Crit
price. Such conditions are causing
the farmers to leave the farms hy
the thousands. We have reached q
crisis. You may ash what We would
do with the middlemnn. I viii suy
Eesi that u be- arranged for them 10
eo on the farm aud help produce
things. I understand that they might
not relish working fourteen hours
. day"