The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-22
Irate Housewives Attack Ped
dlers; Picket Stores.
Officials Investigate to Find il
Amy Are Starving.


continued their demonstrations against
the high cost of living here today.
Police reserves suppressed outbreaks
in various parts of the city. Dozens
| of push carts were overturned, the
contents destroyed and the owners at
Hacked. Two women were arrested
charged with assault and later re-
| lea sed.
| Hundreds of women, some with
| babies in arms, acted as pickets be-
| fore provision stores in an effort to
establish a boycott. Most of the dis
order occurred when would-be pur-
chaser defied the pickets A police
court magistrate in suspending SEN
| tence on one offender, gave warning
that thereafter he would send dis
! turbers to Jail.
II have had a number of you
women before me- he said, land not
one of you has impressed me as tho
you were starving
Heads of city departments asserted
today that a superficial examination
of municipal statistics failed to show
results that might be attributed to
lack of sufficient nourishment. caused
by the high price of food Under in
structions from Mayor Mitchell, they
began, however, a careful investiga-
ton to learn if there was any basis
for complaints voiced a recent mass
meetings and by committees that have
called on the mayor
Records Don't Prove 1t.
At the offices of the board of
health, it was said that the death rate
continued to be lower this year than
last and that statistics of illness ap-
parently did not show lack of nouriSh-
ment had been an increasing cause of
disease. However, acute rise in prices
has been too recent to be reflected in
statistics now available
Public charities officials said that
applications for admission to the poor
house had increased recently. On the
other hand the municipal lodging
house which is a barometer of I'M
employment has of late been shelter
ing only half its capacity.
4 A survey of the city directed by the
mayor will ascertain the prevailing
retail prices of foodstuffs in quarters
where the distress is greatest and dis
cover what stocks CT food are on hand.
The department heads have been ask
ed to report SO that their findings may
be laid before the board of aldermen
at its meeting tomorrow. At that
time the mayor has promised to lay
before the board of estimate a request
of East side housewives that $1,000
600 be appropriated by the city to
buy food for distribution at reason
able prices.
Produce dealers assert that high
prices are due to the natural cause of
} short supply and deny that they are
making huge profits.
Import Brazil Beans.
Commissioner Hartigan of the bu-
reau of weights and measures said that
the scarcity of staple foodstuff ha i
resulted in the appearance in the New
: | FORK market of food seldom seen here.
A shipment of 5000 bags of Brazilian
beans article virtually unknown
here has arrived he said and should
: retail at from to Il cents a pound.
, Ordinary beans are 18 cents a pound.
: Health Commissioner Emerson says
: That he expects to see prices advance
, further and that the situation will have
,, to be met by radical changes in diet.
One Woman Eiioter Injured.
Philadelphia, Feb. 22-Disorderly
scenes occurred in the southeastern
people of foreign birth when bands
Of women made demonstrations
against dealers that have raised food
? prices In a melee between a crowd
= of women and others attr2 cteG to one
! of the streets where stores were be-
ing attacked, a woman was knocked
e down and trampled upon and taken tc
/ a hospital with n broken leg. The
D police then succeeded in dispensing
: the crowd.
e Minor disorder occurred in other
= streets of the foreign quarters. To
t days demonstration s are the result OF
a a meeting of women at which it was
= decided to boycott dealers who had
i increased prices. Women with bot
= ties containing kerosene are alleged &c
e have poured the oil on meats, fish an6
vegetables displayed by the dealers
and to have attacked curb merchant:
t and push cart vendors.
+ Pickets were established and WON
g en- who patroniZed stores where price:
t were raised were attacked and tbs
d articles they purchased taken from
q them.