Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-19
TO
BRING DOWN
PRICES URGED
Civic Club President Declares
Something Must Be Done
to Reduce Living

Prices so high that ths average
workingman's family cannot purchase
the plainest of food staples in sufficient
quantities to keep body and soul to-
gether to-day resulted in the begin
ming of a boycott movement in Har-
risburg that may spread through all
classes in the city in an effort to knock
foodstuffs down to reasonable levels.
The good points of a boycott on po-
tatoes were discussed at length this
afternoon at a meeting of the Civic
Club. The discussion was brought up
by Mrs. William Henderson, 25 North
Front street, president of the organi-
zation, who has been probing into con-
ditions here for some time. The Civic
Club recently started the movement
to have housewives purchase bread
by weight as a check on bakers who
were thinking of raising the price.
Converts Dealers
Boycotts on potatoes in other cities
where the prices suddenly jumped up
to $3.50 a bushel-the present high
water mark in this city-resulted in
sudden conversion of dealers il was
said. The dealers, it was pointed out
saw their way clear in face of the
drastic action taken by the women to
knock dollar off the price per
bushel.9
with prices for foodstuffs at pres
ent standards it is simply impossible
for hundreds of families to make ends
meet" said Mrs. Henderson to-day
That is the situation even at a time
when work is as plentiful as it now
is"
:. Why the Children Shivcr
"Only several days ago found chill
dren in one of the city schools who
were shivering in the cold. They were
without Undertaking. On investiga-
ton found that the parents are COM
PEELED to spend every cent for food
and that 1t was impossible to provide
clothing for members of the family.
I'm many of these families the posi-
tion seems to be that the children will
suffer less by going without clothing
than by going without food.
With potatoes at present prices and
even onions at cents piece" con-
tinued Mrs. Henderson. "It is impos-
sible for many families to keep the
necessities of life on the table. My
investigation showed that many of
these children had what they called
coffee soup-a mixture of poor coffee
poured over stale bread-for break.
fast For dinner they had bread and
molasSeS ana not much more than the
coffee soup for supper"
Staples Beyond Reach
Mrs. Henderson in presenting the
matter before club members to-day
said that If something was not done
the city would possibly soon be facing
the necessity of establishing SCUM
kitchens to take care of families virtu-
ally starving.
Prices for foods that ordinarily form
the basis of menu for the average
family have approached famine stand
ards, Investigations to-day showed.
Potatoes, cabbage. onions and beans.
the great stables for workers, are al
most unattainable at the present price
lists.
Potatoes at 45 cents O half peck
make them a luxury for the workman.
onions that last year sold for S,'4
and cents a box now are priced at
from 10 to 20 cents. 6oupbeans are
increased about 800 per cent, over
former prices. while baked beans that
formerly sold at cents a can can sbe
purchased at IS cents for can but
little larger. Ten and IL cents az
pound is the rate demanded for cab
bage.