Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01
Boycott as Protest Against
Excessive Prices and Spec
uIatIon Rapidly Assumes
Nationwide Proportions

(6y A80po182Dd Ere9sJ
NEW YORK. Nov. so.-What was de-
clared 20 be one OF the most remarkable
food satuations IN the history OF the
nations great feast day developed here
today.
On one hand there was . ssmi-panic
among dealers IN the Thanksgiving
turkey market as q result Of the pub
mandsd, 70 was announced By Joseph
Hartigan. commissioners OF weights and
measures
On the other hand. Q call for q con-
certed public uprising against the high
cost OF living was issued here by Mayor
Cornelius F. Burns. Of Troy, who advo-
Gated proclamations by the governors
OF all the cities OF the country to be
published broadcast and read IN the
schools and churches setting days for
= series OF boycotts against high-priced
rooda.
Mr.. Hartigan said an Investigation
into the poultry markets showed that
large quantities Of turkeys, chickens
and geese had been shipped here from
the west By the raisers In the expeota-
don OF high prices.
PUBLIC SCARED OFF.
But the public Is being 5cared OF
by the excessive price OF the last few
days." he said. THE price of ss cents
TO As cents is so high that retailers
state the public indicates It will not
buy"
The dealers are finding. he said.
their stock on their hands in cold stor-
age and in their stalls.
The egg boycott. he said. has pro-
duced less buying. and "the dealers
have been obliged to reduce the price
TO induce purchases"
The fact that 1000 more barrels OF
potatoes were received this year than
last during the two days before Thanks
giving and that potatoes are now selling
for $3.50 and IS barrel as against the
recent price Of 81. indicates, he said, a
recession OF potato buying by the public
and that the top price has been passed.
"It is significant that last year when
we had a bumper crop of potatoes"
said Mr.. Hartigan,, there were less
potatoes shipped here at this time than
his year, when there is an alleged
shortage"
FIGHT is URGED.
Mayor Burns, president of the New
York State Conference of Mayors, in
addition to proclamations by state and
municipal executives, advocated the CO.
operation of housewives leagues, NOV
ing picture houses and labor organiza-
lions in the attack on the high cost Of
living,
THE greatest power in this country
IS the people, and Ii is up to them to
exercise that power in releasing them
selves from the greed and oppression
of the monopolists and manipulators,"
ne said. THE simplest, most effective
and direct way of accomplishing a
breaking down of extortionate prices
Is through abstaining for a period from
the uses of those articles of food on
which the prices are exorbitant. There
should be a state and nationwide
movement to this end
He also suggested the cooperation of
the press and notice Of the movement by
business houses OF all kinds, "by per-
hitting all workers to cease activities
from 1855 a m to IL noon on the FIRST
Monday OF the campaign" For work
on the national lines, he suggested petit
tioning congressman to take action in
dorsing the movement and the enlist
ment Of encouragement from the presi-
dent, $50 that from Washington may be
sent broadcast throughout the country
the suggestion that the governors Of all
states and the mayors of all cities may
issue proclamations and take similar 40
ton and the movement made effective by
the nation as a whole"
He said II was planned to start the
state boycott on butter and eggs next
Wednesday. He received, he said, tele-
gram from John McGlynn. president OF
the New York State Hotel Mems aSso-