The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-14
VIII the Farmers Strike

the Albany Argus (Dem.). "the rest Of
us Will have to stop eating And that
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 pos' office
department has just been laid before
the senate postoffice committee. and
about half of them indicate that the
writer's contemplate either leaving their
cultivation"
What are the grievances of the agri-
cElturists? The Wheeling Register
tDem) summarizes them thus:
y. Inability to obtain labor to work
on farms. as hired help and the farm
ers' children have been lured to the
city by higher wages and easier liv-
q. 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"
They blame the labor unions for
most of their troubles" adds the Los
Angeles Times Ind Rep); the unions
nave demanded increased wages and
shorter hours until labor is centralized
in the cities and it is difficult to obtain
competent farm help. It is impossible
to run farm on an eight-hour day
and make any profit" But the Roch-
ester Democrat and Chronicle Rep)
declares that the extra wages are
much more than swallowed up in ex-
ira expense in spite of which the
rush to the cities continues, leaving
the farmer helpless and hopeless, in
the circumstances, the farmer can
hardly be blamed if he feels like Civ
ing up"
The situation is filled with menace
to the future" declares the Spring
field (Ohio) News Dem.), and many
others take a pessimistic view. The
Dertoit Free Press Gnd) finds that
the practical desertion of the youth
of a generation has left the farms ten
anted by elderly men who sec in the
present land values an opportunity to
sell at prices not likely to be soon
duplicated, and they leave no sons to
carry on their work" And while the
Free Press adds that farmers don't
strike" yet st is possible for them TO
follow the example set by Russian mou-
jlks-raise enough to supply their own
needs ard let the non producers look
out for themselves"
"A reduction of the acreage under
cultivation is almost certain" thinks
the Chicago Daily News Gnd) unless
means are found to guarantee agrlcul-
ture the basic industry, fair return. ="
The Hartford Courant (Rep.), while
it takes some comfort from the fact that
the 10000 replies to the QUESTIONABLE
are only a quarter of the total number
of farmers who had an opportunity to
answer and assumes that those who
are most disconnected would be the
first to reply, still believes that even
the complaints already received are
by far too many
THE feud between town and coun-
tTV according IN the SnriDpfipl1 Re-
publican Qnd), sis at present an al
most world phenomenon, in some
countries like Russia and parts of
central Europe reaching at times the
pitch of Civil war with the embattled
| farmer on one side and the hungry
proletariat on the other" And:
Whereas in this country it is for
tunately not eXacerbated by famine, it
| is nevertheless made acute by the high
profiteering in food and by the
| recoil of the new demands of urban
| labor upon farm wages
And While the farmer and the city
| consumer have suffered, and the gov
eminent has been eXerting itself
| against the H. c. of L., we are told
by the Baltimore Sun Qnd. Dem.) that
"middlemen have accumulated vast
profits during the five months of the
governments campaign to reduce prices.
hepOIlS SHOW lldl prices pdll
farmers for principal crops decreased
from 3.4 to ST. per cent each month,
according to the department of agri-
culture, and prices paid by consumers
increased continuously until they
reached the highest point in history in
December, according to the department
of labor.
What is the solution? Incorporation, 3"
confidently asserts the Rocky Mountain
News Qnd), politics won't help much;
specifics will not do, panaceas are use
less. Get rid of the costly middleman "
Sending his products direct to the
consumer, by parcel post" is suggest
ed by the Worcester Telegram (RepD
which believes also that "a farmers
union, run in the right way, might
prove to be of tremendous benefit both
to the farmers and the general public"
| The New York Mail Gnd) agrees that
development of the parcel past 'un-
doubtedly would help" but thinks
much more reaching action is nee
| essary. What is needed, and urgently
needed, is an entire reorganization of
our rural life" The Buffalo Evening
News (Rep) takes up the suggestion
| of a congressman that immigrants be
| required to work on farms for five
years after arriving here, and believes
| it "a reasonable plan and worth try
| ing" The Dallas News tInd. Dem) is
tDIlIublll THAT d way bul Will ne lOuutlr
| especially ''if industry and distribution
| show enough foresight and self-Control."
| The Fargo Courier News (Non-part.
! League) thinks the replies to the ques-
| ti4nnare show that THE missionary
work of the Non Partisan League is
| bearing fruit. Farmers are beginning
to learn the facts. Another four years
and a farm labor ticket will sweep
| the nation.
Many other papers refuse to see a
cause for concern. THE situation can
not be called discouraging, says the
| Nebraska State Journal Ind, RepD,
| for like everything else, agriculture is
| in state of transition from war to
a peace basis "A farmers natural
| impulse when he sees an official ques-
tonnaire,' suggests the New York Eve
ming Post Cnd),4 lis to place on it
all his grievances. His complaint,
believes the New York World CDem.J
is due to the rdiscontent Of prosperit-
and not of injustice" and the Pitts
| burgh Leader prog. RepD holds that
the new secretary Of agriculture, Mr..
Meredith, is following the political dor
in flattering the farmers, and that
/ 1.-THE farmer who tries to turn monopo-
! list is deserving of no more consider
alton at the hands of the rest of the
country than any other manipulation.