The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-14
SENATE ATTACKS
FOOD GAMBLERS
"PlRATES" AND ROBBERS" ARE
TERMS APPLIED TO GRAIN
sPEcuLAToRs. ,la
SESSION STORMY ONE
Hanging in the Streets If Guilty is
Hinted At-Btter Adjectives Are
Applied and Unprecedented Ian
guage Used.

JbaSS SSSN'
Washington May -Unrestrancd
wrath Of the senate was poured down
upon food gamblers and spectators
today in one Of the most remarkable
scenes In the history OF the chamber
Pirates and robbers were terms
frequently applied to those who profit
by speculation in food in the hour Of
the nations need. The likelihood Of
food Spectators being hanged to lamp
posts was limited at
The storm broke when Senator
I Thomas, Democrat, of Colorado, pro-
posed as an amendment to the admin.
istration espionage bill, provision
to suspend for the duration of the war,
all boards of trade, stock exchanges,
or chambers of commerce which per-
nit speculation in futures in food.
Senators who opposed II did so on
the ground that the object should be
accomplished in another way, and
some thought it would stife COM
merCe. The great majority of opinion
expressed in terms which, for force
and range of adjectives had seldom
been heard in the senate chamber
favored drastic action to stop food
gambling and speculation which makes
artificial prices and threatens the ma.
tion with the pinch Of hunger.
Senator Lewis, Democrat, said ne
thought legislation such as proposed
by Senator Thomas, would work i'll
jury to many, and should not be passed
without deliberatlon.
| Sees HUNGER and Gloom
81 think" said Senator Reed Demo
crat, of Missouri, that means ought to
be taken to stop speculation in food
stuffs within the limits of the powers
of congress But II is wonder to
me today that we do not have 81 wheat
and accent cotton and S. or SO pota.
toes and beef fifty or sixty cents a
pound. There never has been in the
history Of the world an agitation that
parallels the present one We are
practically told that the United States
is on the verge OF starvation and that
the world without is starving, and we
are informed that when next winter
comes the wolf Of hunger will be howl
ing at the door of eyery human being
In the world.
"lf plan had been conceived TO
make them mount, the one adopted
could not have been improved upon by
the ingenuity Of man or the devil him.
self.
Can't Starve America.
"The thing to teach American peo.
pie now, Is that America will not be
starved that she can't be starved,
and the consequence will be to lessen
the conditions that confront us and
poster us"
Food spectators were denounced as
robbers by Senator Kenyon of Iowa,
who recommended, however that the
fbod speculation measures be held
over to be considered with the food
bill
I'VE should blot out this specu,a-
tion In food" said he, "but we should
do II with adequate consideration. "If
congress can't stop this robbery-and
that Is mild term for 1.-THE people
will find some way II they have to
make use OF lamp posts"
Senator Kirby Of Arkansas, support.
ing the Thomas amendment. said:
I'VE have wasted action In discus.
sion when we ought to have acted.
The gambler In grain Is parasite.
The time is ripe for some legislation Of
this kind"
| Immediate Action Is Urged.
Immediate action to check specula.
tion was urged by Senator Vardaman
Of Mississippi. 81 never understood" /"
| he said, "hOw the people stand for be.
ing despoiled by lot Of gamblers IN
whose interests the exchanges are
run" He said he favored. but would
not propose, extending the Thomas
amendment to suspend cotton as well
as foodstuiis from speculation.
Senator Smith, Of Georgia, thought
the senate would take up food con.
troll legislation after Il dlsposes OF
the espionage bill and believed II bet.
ter TO wait until then and have full
consideration.
Senator Thomas declared he did no.
doubt there was plenty of food In the
country but that the pressing question
was legislation to enable the ordinary
man to get his share.
"You may form an army to beat
the enemy he said. "but there may
be domestic questions OF far more i'm
portance. You can't accustom the
people TO starvation" He said he want.
ed to curb the spectators who would
"coin the hunger OF women and chill.
dren into dirty dollars"
ondon rrtnnts.. a.. e..iL.