Denver labor bulletin., 1917-04-14
TRADES ASSEMBLY COM.
MITTEE CONFERS WITH
GOVERNOR GUNTER.
No Shortage of Supplies. and In.
sist that Prompt Steps Be
Taken to Prohibit Exploi-
tation Because of War
Against Germany.

Unless the state and municipal au-
thorities take prompt steps TO protect
the people from extortionate and un-
Justifiable prices being charged for
food supplies, the labor organizations
Of Denver will undertake TO supply all
families of trade and labor unionists
with farm and packing house products
at actual cost. A carload of potatoes
and other vegetables has already been
contracted for and will probably be
shipped from ranch in Routt county
next week.
The Trades and Labor Assembly has
created "A special committee TO look
after distribution Of these products,
and orders for same have been pouring
into The Bulletin Office this week In
order that distribution Of the first
shipment may reach as many working
mems families as possible, orders for
only 100 pounds Of potatoes and like
limitation Of other vegetables are be-
ing taken. The Assembly committee
in charge Of this food supply campaign
consists Of James c. Bulger Of the
Plumbers Union, chairman; A. G, Potts
Of the Painters Union and James ].
Torpey Of Press Assistants Union.
Discussed in the Assembly.
When the rush was made on the
grocery stores last week the price of
sugar was promptly advanced 75 cents
per hundred. A similar rise was made
in -four. as stocks in stores were de-
pletcd. The Bulletin was informed
from an authoritative source this
week that the Great Western Sugar
company has over 1000 900 pounds of
sugar in Denver warehouses at pres
cnt and is shipping at the rate Of ten
cars per day.
The high cost of food supplies was
discussed at last Sundays meeting Of
the Denver Trades and Labor Assem-
bly,. Many delegates report that un-
less some relief was Immediately forth
coming there would be much suffer
ing among the working people of Dem
yer and that food riots may cvcntuatc.
Following the declaration of war by
congress Friday morning of last week
there was mad rush of buyers in the
food markets Of this city. Many re-
tail grocers sold out their entire stock
of -four, sugar and canned goods.
Prices jumped over night on table
neccssaries from Is to 80 per cent.
More groceries were sold by the prin-
cipal downtown markets Friday and
Saturday than could be delivered dur
ing the entire week.
Vigorous protests have been regis
tered with the governor and mayor,
urging AllAN hA'HS w
TO protect the wage earning citizens OF
this city who are compelled TO buy
their food supplies from day TO day
and week 10 week, not being able to
purchase in large quantities as were
those who rushed the markets last Fri
day and Saturday. Every food essen
tial, other than meat, is selling higher
in Denver today than in London, Eng
land. ms shown by printed reports of
the London Board of Trade, yet there
In no such shortness of food products
in Colorado as in England.
Visit Governor and Mayor.
The Trades Assembly Sunday adopt
ed two sets of resolutions calling upon
the governor and mayor to take imme-
diate steps in this matter. These res
olutions were placed in the hands of
the Public Institutions Committee of
the Assembly with instructions to pre-
sent them personally to the governor
and mayor. This was done Tuesday
morning and the committee accompan-
led the resolution with the following
letter:
Denver, Colo, April 8, 1917.
Hon julius C. Gunter, Governor State
Of Colorado. and Hon. Robert w.
Specr, Mayor Of Denver:
Gentlemen: At n meeting Of the
Denver Trades and Labor Assembly
held Sunday. April 8, the inclosed res
olutions were unanimously adopted,
and the committee on public institu-
tions instructed to present same to
you, urging your most serious consid-
Grafton of this important matter. The
working people feel that something
should be done quickly to protect them
and their families from exploitcrs
who are taking advantage Of the pres
ent war crisis to boost prices charged
for food supplies.
There is no shortage of food prod
ucts in Colorado, such ms to call for