The San Francisco call., 1910-01-26

iet and for laws against the free and
life."-Mrs. j. w. Felt, president Rich
mond womens club.
The creation of a free market, the
elimination of the middleman and an
appeal to congress and the state legis-
league formed the principal pIanks in
the platform adopted yesterday by the
Richmond womens club in its cam
paign against the high price of food
Seventy-five members of the organiza-
tion gathered in Richmond Masonic
temple at First avenue and Clement
street in answer to the call of Mrs J.
W. Felt, the president. Called prima-
rily to protest against the advance in
the cost of meats, the meeting broad
ened in scope, ending in unanimous
declaration to carry on the crusade
against exorbitant charges for house
hold commodities.
Not only is the price of meat beyond
reason said Mrs. Felt in her opening
address. but the price of vegetables,
Of coal and of all food products is
equally abnormal. Flour is unusually
high and we pay more fo- sugar in
California than in any other part of
the United States
PRACTICAL BOYCOTT
The speaker suggested that the coal
problem could be solved by heavy pur-
chases in summer when prices fall.
| Thus, with enough in storage to last
for the entire year, she urged that
practical boycott could be declared
against the coal trust during the
winter.
Mrs. E. H. oDonnelI objected partic-
ularly to the practice of dumping ex-
cess shipments into the bay in order to
hold up prices.
Vegetables and fruits by the carload
are dumped into the bay every month
to keep up the market price," she said.
we pay 10 cents pound for grapes
when tons and tons are rotting on the
ground because it won't pay to pick
them. Why? It isn't the fault of the
retailer. nor of the producer 1t is the
/ fault of he middleman."
After discussion of some length by
| the club members, Mrs. Felt advised
that drastic action be suspended until
investigating committees could be sent
out to gather a comprehensive idea of
the local conditions entering into the
situation.
INVESTIGATION ADVISED
we must find the root of the evil
said Mrs. Felt Then we can make
the situation public and begin an agi-
| tation for a free market and for laws
against the free and easy gambling
with the necessities of life. We will ap-
peal to congress. We will have repre-
sentation in the legislature and when
we find out the truth of this matter we
intend to deal with the miscreants
without mercy. Not only are there
gross injustices in the matter of prices,
but the weights and measures usd will
also bear investigation"
This movement can not be success
| full in day nor in a year. 1t is big
undertaking. 1t will require time,
great deal of time. We must be per-
sistent. We must not allow ourselves
to be misled."
The following investigating commit
tees were appointed:
Fruit vegetables and coal-Mrs S.
NJ. Smith, Mrs. f. Menu, Mrs E. G. Ely.
Meats-Mrs e. H. oDonneIl. Mrs
j. w Felt.
Cold storage-Mrs weems, Mrs. E.
H. O'DonneIl. Mrs. J. w. Felt
Food Prices Receding
NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-Milk, eggs and
butter led the procession of receding
prices in food products here today
Nation wide agitation aided by potent
local influences have brought about the
drop. Meat, too, is on the decline, fol-
lowing a greatly reduced consumption
State antismonopoIy laws are to be
invoked in the movement to combat the
trusts that have advanced food prices.
A special grand jury. whose office 1t
will be to consider the effect of COM
binations among dealers in foodstuffs,
was sworn in today. 1t is expected to
deal first with the alleged milk COM
bine.
Milk is down cent quart already
on two big dealers routes; butter in
the best qualities has been cut s cents
pound and eggs are off 5 cents a
dozen in local markets. Storage eggs
that have been selling as strictly