The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-15
There Is Some Talk of Labor
Unions Holding Mass Meet
ings and MemoriaIizing the
u. S. Congress.
THINK IT IS DUTY OF -
GOVERNMENT TO STOP IT
While Prices Have Gone Soar
ing, 1t Is Contended, the
Working Mans Wages Still
Remain Same.
(SpeeiaI CORRESPONDENT

(SPeCtot SortS0p0O090t.J
Indianapolis. April 15.-This city is
worked up over the present outrage
Gus price Of flour. caused by the high
price Of wheat. and there is some talk
of the labor unions holding meetings
and memorializing congress and other
branches of the government for re-
lief. Some Of the labor leaders insist
that it is the duty of the government
to take such steps as will prevent the
manipulation of the wheat market
that has sent the price of wheat soar
ing far above the heads of the average
consumer Of bread.
Several bakers said yesterday that
unless the price of flour goes down
soon they will be compelled to either
reduce tho size of the loaf they make
or else increase the price one cent a
loaf
Arouses the People.
1t is this prospect that has aroused
the people of this city to q realization
of what this means. Some few of the
bakers have made slight reductions in
the sizes of their loaves since the bull
movement in the wheat market began,
but the reductions were scarcely MOTTO
cable, but now that q general reduc-
ton is to be made the complaint is
general.
Cash wheat sold in the indianapolis
market yesterday for $1.3S. the high
est price for years, and there was ev-
cry indication that the price would go
higher before the present movement
is stopped.
One labor leader said yesterday that
it was possible meeting of the Off
GERS Of the State Federation of Labor
will be called to consider means of
bringing the matter before the gov
eminent authorities in the hope that
something can be done to stop the
rise In price.
Wages Don't Go Up.
Wages have not gone up," he said,
but the price of flour is advancing
all the time, and this will mean q ser.
ious advance in the prise of bread or
reduction in the size of the loaf
which will mean the same thing in the
end. Not only has flour gone up, but
lard has advanced in price until II
costs now much more than II did q
few months ago. It is SO all along the
line. The cost of living IL advancing
constantly while wages remain the
same, with many men out OF work
1t is situation that demands the best
careful thought Of organised labor
! and I believe a meeting will be called
to consider it,
II organized labor undertakes to ask
the government to interfere and stop
the manipulation of the wheat market
according to this man, labor leaders
in all OF the cities Of the state will be
called upon to assist. They will prob.
ably be asked to communicate with
their congressman and senators "A
we'll al with the officials Of the justice
department Of the government with a
request that something be done at
once. II anything ia possible to be
done.
The bakers of the state are excited
over the situation. Word from Terre
Haute, where the Indiana Master Bak
ers association 10 In session this week
says that the high price Of flour il
all the talk and that many of the bak
| ers talk Of following the example OF
Ward. the big Pittsburg baker, who
yesterday wired Secretary Of State
Knox calling his attention to the sit
uatioo and asking the government to
do something to put an end to the ex
orbitant price and the manipulation OF
the market. In attendance at this con
ventfon are bakers from all over the
state.