The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-11-24
LABOR URGES
=. FOOD EMBARGO
Federation Convention Adopts
Resolution Urging President
to Keep Wheat on
a This Side.
PRICES ARE TOO HIGH
Declare It Is Rapidly Becoming I'm
possible for Workers to
Buy Enough to
PRICES ARE TOO HIGH

limited Press Leased Wire Service.1
BALTIMORE, Md, Nov. 24.-The
Am erican Federation of Labor conven-
ton today declared itself by unan1-
nous vote for an embargo on the ex-
portation of wheat and other food
until prices are restored to normal
Adoption of the resolution followed
several heated speeches-an favoring
the embargo.
1.-The motto Of the profiteers" shout
ed Delegate Joseph Cannon, of New
York, Seems to be not America first
Ibut @starve America first.''
The resolution as adopted, declared
the American Federation of Labor
urged upon President Wilson and con-
gress the necessity of placing an en-
barge upon the expectation bf wheat
and other food stuffs, as far as our in
ternational legal or treaty rights will
permit, until prices are restored to
normal"
The resolution declared the depart
ment of agriculture estimated the 1916
wheat crop and the surplus from the
1915 crop are barely sufficient to pro-
vide bread for our own people for the
coming year and that it, is alleged
agents of foreign countries have con-
tracted with American grain specu-
lators for two hundred million bushels
of wheat.
Flour is higher now than at any
time since the civil war; the resolu-
ton said, apd all other food staples
are advancing in proportion, so that
it is rapidly becoming impossible for
great portion Of the working people
of this country to obtain SUFFICIENT and
proper food for their families.
Nothing Done.
CHICAGO, Nov 24.-Hope of fed
eraI prosecution of commission and
storage men known to - be holding
vast quantities Of produce here ap-
peared to have been given up by gov
ernment officials today when they ad-
vised city officials to take up the
fight J. Fl. Tally, assistant U. S.
attorney, today conferred with Leon
Horn stein, assistant corporation coun-
sci, and said the commission men
might be punished under the fore
stalling regarding ordinance passed
two years ago, which prohibits the
storing of food to force, prices up.
Penalties of $500 day while food is
held are provided for.
james E. Wetz, by his own admis-
.
Tally said. The egg king will not
be prosecuted under federal statutes
at present, but Tally hinted that if
the city ordinance were enforced
Wetz undoubtedly would try to dis.
pose of his immense store of eggs to
other brokers and they might then
be charged with conspiracy. .. S.
District Attorney Chas. Clyne was in
formed today that two or three men
go from here to Elgin each Saturday
to fix butter prices for the nation.
He said investigators would go to
Elgin tomorrow to look up these
charges.
The only Solution.
MADISON. Wis. Nov. 24.-"The
only solution of the high cost of living
and era of high prices under which
the people are now bending their
backs is, in my judgment, under gov
ernm ent control and distribution and
elimination of eXtravagant consump-
ton"
This was the statement to the
United Press today of President
RaIuh H Hess of the University of