The New York herald., 1920-01-31
FARMERS DECLARE
NATION FACE FAMINE
CONTINUED from Page One.)

at East Chatham, y. ". when we farm
ers will have to curtail production and
raise only what we need for our own use
and let the other fellows look out for
themselves. Labor unions are more to
blame for the high prices than any one
else. People are trying to get pay Tor
what they don't earn
Writing from Palmyra, No, another
farmer said
II almost fear a famine. Farm help
everywhere is floching to the city, lured
by short hours, high wages and the prom
se of a good time. Some one, | fear. Is
going to suffer if this condition is not
remedied shortly"
Biames Middle Man.
Declaring that the whole onus of
the high cost of ling rests with the
middle man, another Missouri producer
advocated the establishment OF muni-
cipal markets, to be served by parcel
post direct.
"I sell butter to the dealer FOR forty
five cent a pound, 'this letter said, "and
the same butter sells to the consumer
for eighty cents pound. In the dis
Itribution we lose nearly half and we
lose money on the butter at the first
Erice. Such conditions are causing the
farmers to leave the farm by the thou
sands. We have reached q crisis. You
may ask what we would do with the
middle man. / would suggest that it
be arranged for them to go on the farm
and help produce things. I understand
that they might not relich working
fourteen hours u day, but If we get by
the near future there will have to be
some useful work done by everyone"
Declaring that he worked u 240 acre
farm without help and that hundreds
OF other farmers are doing the same, a
Revere, Missouri. man declared that
. l.,- sss. .rf 60. lou 4 he.
OF living is to cut the wages in the city.
which have called our farm help there.
We need them on the farm to help in
crease production and then VIC can cut
the cost OF living.
Earned Dollar n Day.
His return for last year averaged one
dollar a day for himself, a White Water,
Mo-, man said:-"I hope soon to the
farmer and consumer going hand in hand.
IL not then I'm quitting. for one. Work
fourteen hours day for 81 and let the
middleman get the biggest part of it? Not
me-"
~ have Just finished figuring up what
the eggs. poultry and cream that I sold
last year brought me-" another farmer
said, "and | will not be in the business
next year
The tendency away from the farm to the
city was blamed by another Middle West
ern farmer for the high cost of living.
II attribute it a great deal" he wrote.
"to the good times in the cities The young
men can 60 to the city and set big pay
for eight hours work, while farmers have
to work II to l6 hours day at hard man
ual labor. All Of the young men of this
vicinity of any account so to the city, and
there are only a few old men left to farm
Declaring that while the farmer has to
take what the commission man and re-
taller will pay him for his product, he is
compelled to pay whatever the dealer asks
for his clothes, farm machinery and other
necessities, another farmer said
Work IL to 1G Hours Day.
Farmers work from twelve to sixteen
hours a day. City labor works 'srN TO
eight hours day. The city man makes
two or three times as much as the farmer.
The farmer labors and produces. but gets
a smaller return than any other class
The time is coming. il not here.
another letter declared. when tho con-
tuner and the farmer will absolutely have
to deal direct with one another. The mid
dlcmen want larger profit than We are
getting. while at the same time the farmer
does the hard work.
Declaring that great avils confront us
today and hypocricy is in full sway" a
letter from a IIagerstown. Nd, farmer
lread:-"To reduce the cost of my food
stuffs 90 the consumer you must first
furnish men with first class labor at rea-
sonablo wayes, and. second. you must
eliminate thousands of middlemen, who
are robbing dha people Wholesale
"The price of everything the farmer has
to buy Is still going up. and the quantity
we can raise and put on the market is
steadily going down" Missouri farmer
wrote. 4 am small farmer and don't
know much else. We are all loyal citizens.
but there is an awful uneasiness."
''If you would reduce the cost OF living,
another farmer said 'curtail the possibili-
ties which are now afforded capital to
hoard and profiteer under faek legislation.
Then efforts will produce results.