The Washington herald., 1917-02-24
CAPITAL IN GRIP
OF FOOD FAMINE
Feared Starvation Riots Dupi,
eating Those of New York
May Break Out Here.

Food riots are hourly expected in WASH
ington as a result OF a deplorable situa-
ton which has been revealed through the
police, missions, charity workers and
others coming into contact with. the poor
Of this city
Pitiful cases Of privation are being
brought to the attention of the authori-
ties. Individual appeals for food and as
sistaHee at the missions and other char
liable places are becoming so numerous,
IT was disclosed yesterday, that il is
feared that the result will be the gather
ins Of large mObs who will resort TO some
demonstration to bring the starvation
they are facing to the attention of the
public.
AS an illustration OF the crisis the city
Is facing because of the high cost Of liv-
ing. one family was discovered yesterday
which had existed on oatmeal. bread and
conee Tor nearly two months.
Son Alone Can Work.
The family consists Of an aged mother
and father. son. and two young grand
children. The son is the sole means Of
support. and he has been working al
most night and day to keep his mother
and father and children alive
A striking fact of this case is that the
stricken type. They do not like in an
unfurnished room in some tenement, but
In a neat. comfortable house in a de-
sirable section OF this city.
This appears to illustrate that the high
price OF food is leaving its effects not
only in the extremely poor families but
those of ordinarily moderate circum-
stances as well.
The son in the above mentioned case
is laborer. His average earning capacity
Is sl2 a week. After paying the rent,
hight. fuel and medical attention for his
rather but few dollars are left each week
with which TO buy food.
Potatoes Become LuxurIe..
II was calculated yesterday that there
are hundreds of families In Washington
who no longer buy eggs. butter or po-
tatoes because of the almost prohibftive
prices for these articles
An evidence OF this is that dealers re-
ported Yesterday that sales in these food
stuhs have fallen OF considerably since
prices have advanced to their present
height There are some dealers who no
longer handle potatoes because they have
no demand for them.
Dealers have a better opportunity to
observe the effects OF the high cost OF
living than any other persons. and among
toners of moderate means are now buy
ing the quality Of goods that were sought
by the poor people last fall
II is evident that every family. with
the exception. perhaps. OF the extremely
wealthy, is practirIng the strictest econ
omy. hoping to pull through until sum
mer. when it is hoped prices will be more
reasonable.
More Boycott RumorS
AS was the case in this city some
months ago when the high prices first
became apparent, there were again m
mors Yesterday. Of movements to boycott
certain articles. While these took no
tangible form, 1t is unlikely that such a
course Will be taken. II Is generally un-
derstood that local dealers are not re-
sponsille for high prices. and that boy
colt would have TO be nation wide in or
der to have the proper results
H. W. Kline, superintendent Of the Cos
pei Mission. stated last night:
Missions reflect living conditions as
truly as thermometers tell the weather. and
there is every indication that the food
situation in this city is becoming acute.
If nothing is done to relieve this situation
within the TeNt several days our mission
will be besieged by hundreds OF people
who will be ClamOring for something TO
eat.
Stew and Bread for 10 Cents.
We are now making arrangements to
meet sucn condition by getting ready
to serve a quart OF hot beef stew and
two loaves of bread for 10 cents. We
must otherwise meet the storm when
II breaks"
A. w. CLANCY. bookkeeper and assistant
superintendent at the Central Union Mis-
sion, declared.
The food situation is indeed alarming
here. Evidence of this is that scores
of families are daily appealing to this
mission for food. The person we general
ly aid is the individual. the unfortunate.
But now whole families are unable 70
buy food because of the high prices"
At the Gospel Mission 100 men were
sheltered last night, while les were cared
for at the Central Union Mission. These
are unusually large numbers because OF
the mild weather, and illustrates that IL
is lack Of food rather than weather driv-