Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-08-22
PRESIDENT TO PROBE
HIGH FOOD PRICES
WILL DETERMINE If EUROPEAN
WAR is USED AS PRETEXT.
President Asks il There Are Laws
That Apply in Case There Is No
Cause for Advancement

Standardization Wilson has
set the machinery of the federal gov
eminent in motion 10 determine
whether the cost OF living is being
increased upon the pretcXt of the
conditions existing in Europe" He
calls upon Attorney General Nc
Reynolds to report if criminal prose
cutions are warranted and if any new
laws are necessary.
"Ccrtainly the country ought TO be
defended the president wrote 10 the
attorney general. III possible against
men who would take advantage of
such circumstances to increase the
living"
Attorney General NcRcyuolds AZ
once set at work the bureau OF in
vestieation of the department of JUS
tice with hundreds OF agents through
out the country. Agents Of IN, de
partment of commerce also were start
ed upon the inquiry and Secretary
Redfield conferred with Secretary
Houston of the department of agri
culture.
Within a few hours from the time
the PRECEDENT acted three OF the cXecu-
tive departments of the government
wer' moyIno 90 learn the cause of the
soaring prices Of food throughout the
country.
Some officials who believe the great
proposition OF price increases have no
. connection whatever with The Euro
pean war, but are the result Of ma
nipulatiOns. attempts at corners of in
dividual efforts Of the dealers. con
tend that the conspiracy section of
tho Sherman law covers the stua-
ton Attorney General McReynolds
however. will give an opinion on that
feature to the president later.
Congressman who already have in
PRODUCED resolutions to investigate
the rise in prices and others who are
preparing similar measures view the
action of the administration with sat
isfactiOn. They pointed out that while
flour particularly has taken great
jump in prices, wheat exports prac-
tically are minimized and millions OF
bushels are piled up in elevators or
in freight cars strung across the con-
tinent.
Secretary Redfield wrote Chairman
Adamson of the house commerce com
mittee suggesting an appropriation of
$4,000 for his part of the investiga-
ton.
IF the present temporary stOppage
OF trade with foreign countries is
made the basis for an attempt in this
country to put up prices artificially."
said the secretary, 'ft is unpatriotic;
l may say. even damnable"
The president sent the following let
ter to the attorney general:
THE rapid and unwarranted in
creases in the prices of foodstuffs in
this country on the pretext of condi-
tons existing in Europe is so serious
and vital a matter that take the lib
erty OF calling your attention to it.
81 would be very much obliged II
you would advise me whether there
is, under existing law. any action
which the department of Justice could
take, either by way of investigation
or legal process. and what federal leg
islation, if any, would, in your judy
ment, be justifiable and warrantable
In the circumstances.
81 feel that this is a matter which
we can not let pass by without trying
to serve the country. Certainly the
country ought to be defended. if pos
sible. against men who would take
advantage OF such circumstances to
increase the price Of food and the diff
ficulties of living. Faithfully yours,
Woodrow Wilson"