Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-02
TO LEAD OPPOSITION
70 MOVEMENT PROPOSED
az CONGRESS.
SPEAKER CLARK ALSO
TO FIGHT PROPOSAL
President Believes Embargo Would
Prove Costly to Nation--Refers to
Experience Of Nation During Jeffer-
sons Administrator Century Ago
Plan to Be Urged by Consumers.

Washington, Dec. president
Wilson Is opposed to legis-
lation imposing an embargo upon the
expectation OF foodstuffs. such as has
been proposed for the purpose OF
checking the rising cost Of living and
of retaliating upon England for dIsre-
gard of American rights. 4
Administration officials to whom the
president has communicated his opin-
ion are using their influence to dis
courage the embargo movement i'll con-
gress. Mr. Wilson feels not only that
the adoption Of an embargo poics
would be unwise but that a prolonged
discussion of the matter In the ap-
preaching short session OF congress
would crowd out more important BUSH
ness and stir up unnecessary anlmos-
ity.
Clark and Mann Oppose.
Speaker Clark has declared himself
opposed to an embargo and Minority
Leader Mann pronounced 1t VICIOUS
scheme to regulate prices by govern
ment."
With SO much opposition ~ int'usn-
tai quarters. it would seem that the
enactment of embargo legislation is
remote possibility. Representative
Fitzgerald and other advocates OF the
measure, however. express confidence
that they will obtain the passage Of a
bill limiting. If not prohibiting. the eX-
portaticn Of foodstuffs.
Believes Embargo Error.
Mr.. Wilson believes that an embargo
at this time would prove no less Costly
t, the nation than that imposed Cur
ing the Napoleonic wars a century ago.
,Jefferson's embargo paralyzed shipping
and industry and altogether hurt the
nation more than it helped it.
The embargo proposition has been
discussed at number Of cabinet meet
ings lately and the upshot or the as
cussion was the opinion of the presi-
dent and the majority of his advisers
taat the move would be extremely
dangerous 1t was pointed out that 10
nit the embargo to foodstuffs would
place the United States in the light Oh
exempting it's thriving trade in war
munitions from any curtailment and
thereby increase anti-American feeling
among the central powers.
Urged by Consumers.
The food embargo movement is be-
ing promoted by the representatives OF
large urban constituencies OF factory
workers who. as consumers Of food
stuffs believe the result would be
beneficial reduction in the cost OF nv
ing. The agrarian' constituencies are
preparing to retaliate by proposing an
extension of any proposed embargo to
war munitions and their component
materials in the belief that q prospect
lie closing of factories Will dampen ur-
ban ardor for the measure.
Representative Borland of Kansas
City arrived in the capital today full Of
the idea that the food trust with
which he identifies the Chicago meat
packers and the cold storage ware
houses is to blame for the soaring
prices OF the necessities Of life. He
said he would demand a congressional
investigation Of the food trust
"Control All Food Prices"
There can be no question that one
of the most critical phases which the
tountry faces today is the shortage Of
food" he said. This condition is
caused III part NY the wal al" ''e W.
season which has prevailed in the
western states but the most pronounc-
ed feature is the fact that the cold
storage plants of the country have cor
nered food products and are manipu-
ating prices
Not only have the packing houses
IN Chicago gained control of the prices
In meat, poultry. butter. eggs, fruits,
and vegetables. but they also control
the wheat market Of the country.
1--WE have tried embargoes before
and they have never been successful
At best they are only temporarily ex-
pedient. The inevitable effect OF an
embargo is to cut off production. And.
above ali things, production must be
encouraged"