Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-20
HOUSEWNES|NR|OT
over COST OF FOOD
Several Hundred Storm New
York City Hall Screaming
1--WE Want Bread" LIZ
MANY WITH BABES IN ARMS

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. February 20.-The cry
of housewives unable TO meet the ad-
vancing cost of food was heard in the
city's seat OF government today when
several hundred women from the tenc-
ment districts stormed the city hall.
screaming: I'VE want bread They
came TO place their plight before Mayor
John p. Mitchell Many carried babies
They swarmed up the steps and tried
to push their way into the building.
Policemen on guard shut the gates. and
from the basement, where there is q
police station, reserves rushed up and
restored order. The women were in
formed that Mayor Mitchell had not yet
arrived
The leader was Mrs. Ida Harris presi-
dent of the Mothers Nigilant Lea que
She and three other women we're allowed
to enter and await the mayors coming
we are starving" Mrs. Harris told
the mayors bodyguard- We demand
help from the mayor. We will not be
responsible for what happens il We
don't get it,
Are Told Mayor Will Give Hearing.
The leaders were told that the mayor
would not be at his Office today, but
would arrange meeting later
Sweet Marie" Cans. one of Mrs Harris
companions, addressed the women from
the city hall steps, and was arrested.
| charged with disorderly conduct
When the police took her from the city
hall station for arraignment in court a
group of women attempted to rescue her.
They charged the police. scratched their
faces and tore their clothing. The police
fought them off and guard was thrown
| around the city hall
The women remaining near the spot con-
tinued to shout. We are starving" un-
| til mounted police scattered them
Meanwhile mob of women gathered
around produce market on the East
Side and began to overturn push carts
Three Of them were arrested.
Three Riots Yesterday.
NEW YORK, February 20.-The city
| authorities today renewed their efforts
to curb the rising cost of food. which
was responsible for riots yesterday in
| three different places in the tenement
districts. Joseph Hartigan, commits
sioner of weights and measures, ap-
pealed to state commissioners Of agri-
culture and state departments of food
and markets throughout the country
| to cooperate in bringing food supplies
| to the New York market.
The situation resulted from an un-
| precedented jump in the price OF sd
pies, particularly potatoes and onions,
yariously ascribed to short crops, heavy
demand, speculation and railway con-
gestion.
Housewives Become Violent.
| The Indignation of housewives in the
lower East Side of Manhattan and the
Williamsburg and Brownsville dis
tricts of Brooklyn overlooked when the
produce peddlers quoted potatoes from
| 5 to cents a pound and onions from
| Is to Is cents. The police estima ed
that at least 1000 women took part in
| the riot in Brownsville. Push carts
were overturned and set afire and vege-
tables were doused with kerosene oil
There were similar scenes elsewh here
and the police had their hands full
dispensing the angry women.
In Manhattan the push-cart men met
the situation by calling mass meeting
last night. They explained to their Gus
toners that onions were costing them
/ as high as S15 bag and potatoes $40
a barrel. The crowd was kept a a high
pitch of excitement by speakers who
complained that they were unable to
buy enough food at the present prices
to give their families proper nourish-
ment In support of this statement one
woman placed her five small children
on the platform. The meeting appoint
ed a committee to call on Mayor Mitchell
today and demand that he take drastic
action.
Commissioners Inquiry.
Commissioner Hartigan in his letter
to the food authorities of the different
states asked what steps they were TAX
ing to organize producers and handlers
of foods for the purpose of reducing
costs This information he said. lis
sought for in the event of any abnormal
food conditions arising by reason OF
extraordinary results accruing from the
obvious domestic and international sit
uation.
The commissioner asserted that New
York was the greatest logical food
market in the world. and added: 1T Is
evident, therefore, that much benefit
can be given to producers, growers and
shippers in your state who may find the
New York city market a convenient
and profitable outlet for their products.
Dealers said that within year the
wholesale price of potatoes had risen
from 1925 to So for a sack of l65
pounds, and the price of onions since
december /. 1916. from SO to $3.50 for
100 pounds.