The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-29
FITZGERALD HAS CRAvEFEARS OF
 FAMINE IN U, $.
Believes That Food Supply Question Will Take
 Time of Congress

Washington, Nov. 29.-According to letters received by Representative John J. Fitzgerald of New York from firms and individuals there is likely to be a food famine in this country. MT. Fitzgerald announced last week that he intended to initiate legislation for placing an embargo on the export of foodstuffs in the hope, that by so do- ing, the cost of living would be re- duced. His announcement, he says, has met with an enthusiastic response.
 One man living in the great corn belt of the Middle West wrote to MT. Fitzgerald that sufficient corn to feed the stock this Winter could not be obtained. Many other similar co1n- munications carried out the idea that foodstuffs are becoming scarce even in the regions where they are pro- duced.
 ''The fight for an embargo has not yet begun" said Representative Fitz- gerald recently. 'It will commence in earnest when Congress convenes. The more the question is discussed the greater support it will have. have been flooded with letters of approval from every part of the country. From
  been possible am inclined to believe that before the session, which begins on Monday next, ends that the ques- tion of prices will have been subordin- ated to the discussion of adequate sup ply of food stuffs.
 Among the communications sent to me is the following excerpt in reply to an order from a wholesale grocery house: Although we are packing 100000 cans of pork and beans, red kidney beans, soaked lima beans and red beans per day our entire output for November and December is sold.'
 "A distinguished Senator is quoted as saying that there is no support in Congress for an embargo. There may not be now, but there will be as soon as Congress awakens to the support the movement has throughout the country.
 '"The innumerable Investigations proposed will accomplish nothing. The effective remedy against existing con- ditions is an embargo. I have not undertaken to speak of the Admins tration in this matter, and my propos-. ed action is not in any manner inirni cal to the President. I am actuated by desire to afford the people some relief from intolerant conditions, and I believe that it will soon be apparent that the only effective remedy will be- the proposed embargo
 Senator Gallinger of New Hamp- shire and Senator Shoot of Utah, both Republicans, recently expressed op- position to the Fitzgerald food embar- go proposed Mr. Gallinger said the idea was un-American.
 ''If it were extended to foodstuffs," he said, cit might just as we'll be ex- tended to manufactured articles. We tried an embargo on American goods in the early days of the republic, but it did not prove popular and was drop ped soon."
 Senator Shoot said that he did not believe that the sentiment for food stuffs embargo would be strong. It would not be popular with the far mers, he said, and in his view it would hot be fair to place an embargo on farm products while the Government continued to permit exportation of articles which the far mers required. He expressed himself as in favor of extending the embargo to other articles if a foodstuffs embar- go was placed in operation.