Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-13
WILSON ORDERS FOOD
BOOSTERS PUNISHED.
-"s
PRESIDENT INsTP ATroRs
NEy GENERA TAKE Ac.
TioN " IS RERMsT.
IF NO LAW EXISTS,
LEoisLATIoN IS DEMANDED
Wilson Takes Up Question ef Raising
Prices For Necessities as First ousi.
ness After Returning From WNSs
FuneraI-says War 10 No Rsassn
For Present Advances.

Washington. Aug. 13-President Will
son today directed Attorney General
McReynolds to investigate the recent
increase in prices Of foodstufys and to
take up the question II any persons can
be prosecuted.
The president sent the following let
ter to the attorney general:
"The rapid and unwarranted In
rease in the price Of foodstuff In
this country on tho pretext Of the
conditions existing In Europe IL 30
serious and vital q matter that
I take the liberty OF calling your
attention to It
Il would be very much obliged
if you would advise me whether
there Is under existing law any ac-
ton which the department OF jus
tice could take either by way Of tn
vestigation or legal process, and
what federal legislation. II any.
would, In your Judgment. be justi-
fable and warrantable In the CIR
cumstAnceA
81 feel that this IL q matter which
we can not let pass by without try
ing to serve the country. Certainly
the country ought to be defended Il
possible against men who would
take advantage Of such circum-
stances to increase tho prizes OF
food and the difficulties OF living.
| -F,aithfully yours.
WOODROW WH1ON.s
| Prosecution Or LsSlsiatisM
The president took up tbs questios
| Of increasing prices the FIRST thing to-
day and was impressed by the pres
sure of the situation. He at once de-
cided that legal action should be taken
If possible. and that II there were no
law covering the question, new legis-
lation should be passed.
Officials said the president consid-
cred that in many cases the increases
were wholly unjustifable. When he
returned from Mrs Wilson's burial at
Rome. Ca, resolutions already had been
introduced In the house calling on the
departments OF commerce and justice
to report what action they were TAX
ing. President Wilson'S interest In the
situation was wholly apart from that.
and he probably would have taken ac
ton before had 1t not been for the
death in the White House.
Investigations Started.
Attorney General McReynolds at
once replied to the president as fol-
lows:
The head OF our special agents has
teen instructed to give directions to
his mer thruout the country to begin
investigation in order to ascertain the
real facts. and l am sending the vari-
Gus district attorneys similar instruc-
ton. This should enable Us to secure
true conditions.
May I take the liberty OF suggest
ing that perhaps the agents Of the de-
partment of commerce could render
valua BILE assistance along the line indi-
Gated?
when we have become somewhat
more familiar with the exact situation.
I hope to make you some suggestion
in respect TO legal proceedings. or sp-
propriate legislation.
The department has. for some time.
been making Investigations in various
directions concerning the price Of food
stuffs.'
RedfieId Told 70 Get Busy.
The president at once instructed
Secretary Redfield to have his agents
begin similar investigation.
Special agents of the department. oe
Justice thruout the country and inves-
tigators OF the department of com
merce are available to collect evidence
for any action the attorney general.