Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-22

Chicago, Feb. 22.-Chicago today is
leading the country in the fight against
the impending food famine. Headed by
President j. B. Griffin of the Chicago
board OF trade, board officials, manu-
facturers, commission men and dis
tributors went into conference to de-
wise some method Of forcing the rail.
roads to suspend transportation Of all
commodities except foodstuffs and coal
until the situation is relieved.
Griffin. during an intermission in
the meeting, took time to fatty deny
the statement said to have been made
by the American Railway association
that the board of trade had called for
only 200 cars a day.
MANY CARS NEEDED.
I'VE need $4,000 cars to move the
grain and other food supplies now on
hand he said. "A maximum of 200
cars day would be wholly inadequate
to relieve the eastern food famine"
Attorneys have been retained to look
into the advisability CT securing a re-
straining order against railroads to
prevent the hauling of commodities
other than fcodstuffs.
Outwardly, Chicago with her 10000
900 bushels Of wheat stored in elevat-
ors and packing industries turning out
meat enough to feed a nation, is not
in the throes of food panics, but In
the tenement districts and the con-
gested factory centers, a spirit of un-
rest Is brewing. So menacing has this
become that officials. fearing an out
burst similar to the one In New York,
dining fhefr ,tr CT to
from rapidly soaring prices before 1t
becomes too late.
RAILROADS cENSURED.
Denouncing railroads and the inter-
state commerce commission for their
hesitancy, board of trade officials are
clamoring for action.
Il have no hesitancy in declaring
that both the railroads and commits
sion are completely overwhelmed and
have lost grasp of the situation"
President Griffin of the board of trade,
said today. "As u matter of fact the
Intervention of the interstate commerce
commission has been harmful rather
than beneficial. Their relief sugges-
tions are fanciful. not practical.
within less than 80 days. unless
some relief comes the commerce of
this country will be Frustrated. A pow
er more influential than the commerce
should be placed in control
of the situation"
FOODS STILL ADVANCING.
Foodstuffs, which have advanced
every day this week, con-
tinued their upward trend today. Po-
tatoes, yesterday selling for 90 cents
per peck, today went to 81. Pork chops,
boosted to S5 cents per pound. also will
advance before night, butchers state
Live hogs sold at 1926 per hundred
pounds, highest ever known. and $3.50
higher than last year.
From Aurora. Ind. the center Of milk
today came the announce /
nent that the Milk Producers assoei- |
alton has voted to raise the price to
$3.50 per hundred for summer milk. 1t
has been $l.s5. This means 1O-cent |,
milk. Ice also will be higher this sum-
mer. Fred Uppham. president of the |
company. announced today.
"Personally-and confidentially--Il
can see absolutely no justification for
any further advance in prices OF .
vice president of one Of Chi
cago's largest packing companies stat
ed today. For obvious rea sons he ask
ed that his name be withheld.
so far as we know, there Is no
scarcity of cattle that would affect the
situation. Demand has increased by
European demand. but the same has
been true with other foodstuffs and
products used by Europe.
America, money mad, and running
imuck amid the deluge of gold from
Europe. is robbing herself to crench
IN Unsuitable greed for profit.
Like I'rankenstein's super man. we
ire creating a being--or class--without
soul. And once created---the inevit- Il
'ble-food riots and social revolu.
ion."