The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-29
Pittsburg Boycott Smashes the
Profits of Spectators.
Forced to Throw Stocks Of
Birds to Mercy of Public.
EGGS ROT IN STORAGE
Chicago Investigators UnyeiI
High Price BarOns.
SO Million i'm One StOrehOuse3
Probe Wetz Corner.

Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 29.-Live tur-
key went down to cents a pound
under the boycotts hammer at Nom
ongahela wharf today.
One big dealer who bought thou
sands of the birds, announced that he
would sell out at whatever price he
could get. With reports that another
boat load was coming, housewives
flocked to the wharf.
Panic seized the group of specula-
tors that had bought many thousands
of the birds at high prices from Ohio
West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennes-
see farmers. Yesterday the crates
piled up, while hundreds of house,
keepers hammered the price down
from 35 to 80 cents asked to Is cents
asked-and would not buy.
Spectators Lose Heavily.
This morning the buyers threw
their stocks to the mercy of bidders.
Three cents caused a rush. Then
cents was asked. Buying was brisk at
that price and it quickly went up 20
cents. There is remained from S:30
to 8 O'Clock, the sellers checking
loss of 20 cents a pound net against
themselves as they weighed and hand
ed out the birds.
Some buyers who declared they
i would 'ship them back before they
would sell at Sucn a loss, put their
price at s cents a pound and decided
to hold out for that. They were doing
no business except on very choice
birds.
Find Millions of Eggs Stored.
Chicago, Nov. 29.-City, state and
federal officials, together with num-
bers of civic, women and other organi-
cations, were working today in an at.
tempt to find a solution to the high
cost of foodstuffs. 1t was announced
that municipal inspectors had discov-
cred in storage about 5000 eggs of
questionable quality which were
/ tagged for examination by city chem.
lists. while. more than 2,ooo.0 900 eggs
were found in six cold storage houses
awaiting an increase in prices. In ad
dition, government inspectors found
| 36,000,000 eggs stored in another
/ warehouse, the owner or which has
not been located.
| Charles F. Clyne, United States dis
trict attorney began an inquiry into
the charges that James E. Wetz is the
| holder of 72,000,000 eggs in Chicago
| and to learn, if Mr.. Wetz is not the
actual owner. who is backing him in
| the alleged attempted corner.
Force Price Down in Boston.
Boston, Mass, Nov. 29.-The price
| of turkeys and the faces of Boston re-
| tailers fell lower early today than at
any time since the boycott on the
| blTuS ny I1uD housewives DeRan-
Thirty-five cents a pound, the lowest
| figure touched this year, was quoted
| The battle will continue thruout to-
| day, with consumers urged to hold off
until tonight before buying their to-
morrow's dinner and 30-cent turkey is
! predicted.
| Turkey Panic in Chicago.
Chicago, Nov. 29-Dealers who stocked
| up on Thanksgiving turkeys expecting to
blackmail the turkey-day appetite are in
! Wholesale turkeys have dropped from u
/ to 27 cents and the price is expected TO
slump still yet. Retail prices dropped
/ from IS to 81 cents and housewives are
grimly determined In many cases to force
the price still lower or cook something be-
| sides turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Drop From 48 Cents in PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 29.-The turkey
market here was afflicted with nervous
prostration today. Early prices were
quoted at 45 cents a pound. The maximum
| here now is 3S cents a pound and 35 cents
is predicted.
Boycott Smashes Prices.
New York, Nov. 29-Turkey and egg
prices brought under the guns of a bcycofx
! movement started by the National House
wives league, have begun a fall in New
York.
! Eggs, wholesale, the storage and low
grade fresh varieties had slump of a
cent a dozen
Turkeys which were selling at wholesale
Monday for 30 cents now begging fog
/ buyers at &c cents retail