The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-08-20
WILSON ORDERS FOOD BOOST.
ERS PUNISHED.
President Instructs Attorney General
to Take Action If Law Permits.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 13.-Pres-
ident Wilson directed Attorney Gen
eral McReynolds to investigate the
recent increase in prices of food
stuffs and to take up the question if
any persons can be prosecuted.
The president sent the following
letter to the attorney general:
''The rapid and unwarranted in
crease in the price of foodstuffs in
this country on the pretext of the
conditions existing in Europe is so
serious and vital 4 matter that take
the liberty of calling your attention
to it.
81 would be very much obliged if
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 le-
gal process, and what federal legis-
lation, if any. would, in your judg-
ment, be justifiablc and warrcntablc
in the circumstances.
81 feel that this is matter which
we cannot 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"
The president took up the question
of increasing prices the first thing
today and was impressed by the pres
sure of the situation. He at once
decided that legal action should be
taken if possible, and that if there
were no law covering the question
new legislation should be passed.
Officials said the president consid-
cred that in many cases the increas-
es were wholly unjustifable. When
he returned from Mrs. Wilson S
burial at Rome, Ca, resolutions al
ready had been introduced in the
house calling on the departments of
commerce and justice to report what
action they were taking. President
Wilson's interest in the situation was
wholly apart from that, end he prob
ably would have taken action before
had it not been for the death in the
White House
Attorney General McReynolds at
once replied to the president as fol-
lows:
''The head of our special agents
hes been instructed to give direc-
tons to his men throughout the cOun-
try to begin investigation in order
to ascertain the real facts. I am
sending various district attorneys
similar instruction. This should
enable us to secure definite informa-
ton in respect to true conditions.
"May l take the liberty of suggest
ing that perhaps the agents of the
department of commerce could rem
der valuable assistance along the line
indicated?
"When we have become somewhat
more familiar with the exact situa-
ton, hope to make you some sug-
gestion in respect to legal proceed
ings. or appropriate legislation.
"The department has, for some
time, been making Investigations in
various directions concerning the
price of foodstuffs."
The president at once instructed
Secretary Redfield to have his agents
begin similar in vestigation.
Special agents Of the department
of justice throughout the country and
investigators of the department of
commerce are available to collect evil
dence for any action the attorney
general may think warranted. The
department of labor also has a corps
which has become very expert in
evidence of the increased
cost of living.