Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-21
RIOTING FEARED IF
FOOD is NOT SENT EAST
[Continued From First Pagel

II request that instructions be is
sued by you forthwith prohibiting the
movement of any freight at this time
except foodstuffs, coal and other COM
modities necessary to sustain human
and animal existence.
Unless this is done there is great
danger of riot and anarchy through
out this land. The present situation
is largely caused by railroads giving
preference to commodities other than
those necessary to maintain life.
Failure to meet the situation is
squarely up to the railroads"
In his telegram to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, Mr.. Griffin
gives synopsis of the one sent to the
railroad presidents.
Policemen guarding the City Hall
prevented to-day another demonstra-
tion by East Side women intent upon
personally calling to Mayor Mitchers
attention the increased cost of food.
ABOUT zoo of the women approached
the building to find that patrolmen
blocked their progress at every en-
trance. Reserves went among them in
forming them that IL they dispersed
quietly the mayor would later talk with
committee. The women scattered
some of them weeping.
Earlier in the day groups of women
attempted to gather in an East Side
pubic square, but the police forced
them to move on. They assembled lat
er, however, near City Hall, led by
Marie CAM, member of the Industrial
Workers of the World. Miss CAM was
arrested yesterday for addressing the
hundreds of housewives who made the
frst demonstration at City Hall. She
was released on her plea that she urged
n IN H-fn
Mayor Mitchell before seeing the COM
mittee. said he was not certain just
what the city administration could do
to relieve the food situation but would
be glad to have the women present any
plan.
The mayor declared ne favored the
establishment of state markets but that
this plan had been blocked by legis-
lation.
One of the widest protest meetings
the city has ever known broke up
early to-day after making arrange
ments for great parade of women
and children to march all day through
Wall street and at night through Fifth
avenue.
An appeal was sent to President Will
son and a committee was appointed
to demand that the city appropriate
S1,000,000 to be used Immediately for
buying and distributing food among
1iAS pOOI at COSl. pdSSlOneu speak
ers called upon the poor of the East
Side to organize and pledged the finan-
cial support of the Hebrew Trades
| Union. The capitalists were blamed
for the high cost of food on the ground
that they were amasing wealth by
sending it to Europe.
Mass meetings and demonstrations
continued to-day. The police were on
the alert to prevent fresh outbreak
of rioting such as put many push
cart vendors out of business on Mon
day and Tuesday. Mayor Mitchell,
who was absent when several hundred
women tried to force their way into
his office yesterday, promised to re-
| ceive a committee to-day if it came
quietly.
A thousand or more women attend
| ed last nights mass meeting and at
least 5000 more fought to get into the
hall. Two hours elapsed before there
was order enough for the transaction
| of business. The following appeal to
the President was carried with a
shout:
I'VE, housewives of the city of New
York, mothers and wives of workmen.
desire to call your attention, Mr..
President. to the fact that, in. the
midst of plenty, we and our families
are facing starvation.