New Britain herald., 1917-02-20
WOMEN. RIOT OVER
 HIGH FOOD PRICES
Three Known Disturbances in
 Different Sections Of New York PUSHCART MEN ASSAlLED

and Other Vegetables Brings Down
 Wrath of Housewives on Heads Of
 Merchants on East Side.
 New York, Feb. 20.-The city au- thorities today renewed their eHorts to curb the rising cost of food whlch was responsible for riots yesterday in three different places in the tenement districts. Joseph Hartigan coHnlls- sioner of weights and measures ap- pealed to state commissioners or az riculture and state departments or food and. markets throughout the country to cooperate in bringing tood supplies to the New York market.
 The situation resulted from an un- precedented jump in the price or s1a- ples, particularly potatoes ana onlons, variously ascribed to short crops' heavy demand, speculation and rail- way congestion.
 The indignation of housewives m the lower East side of Manhattan ana the Williamsburg and BroWnsVllle dis tricts of Brooklyn oVerf1oWed when the produce peddlers quoted potatoes from five to seven cents a pound ana onions from fifteen to eighteen cents. The police estimated that at least l,- 900 women took part in the rlotlng in Brownsville. Pushcarts were over- turned and set afire and vegetables were doused with kerosene oli.. There were similar scenes elsewhere and the police had their hands full disperslng angry women. lE
 PushcaIt Men Explain.
 In Manhattan the pushcart men met the situation by calling mass meeting last night. They explained to their customers that. onions were costing them as high as $15 bag and potatoes $1O a barrel. Speakers complained that they were unable to buy enough food at the present prices to give their families proper nour:sh- ment. In support of this statement one woman placed her five small chil- dren on the platform. The meeting appointed a committee to call on Mayor Mitchell today and demand that he take drastic action.
 Commissioner Hartigan, in his let ter to the food authorities of the diff ferent states, asked what steps they were taking to organize producers and handlers of foods for the pur- pose of reducing costs. "This lnfor- mation,' he said, lis sought for In the event of any abnormal food con- ditions arising by reason of extra ordinary results accruing from obvi- ous domestic and international situa- tiOns.'
 Charge On City Hall.
 The cries of housewives unable to meet the advancing cost of food was heard in the city's seat of government today when several hundred women from the tenement districts stormed the city hall, screaming we want bread.''
 They came to place their plight be- fore Mayor Mitchell. Many carried ba- bies. They swarmed up the steps and tried to push their way into the build ing. Policemen on guard shut the gates and from the basement, where there is police station, reserves rushed up and restored order. The women were informed that Mayor Mitchell had not yet arrived.
 The leader was Mrs. Ida Harris. president of the Mothers Vigilance league. She and three other women were allowed to enter and await the mayors coming.
 we are starving" Mrs. Harris told the mayors body guard. we want help from the mayor. We will not be responsible for what happens if we don't get it."
 The leaders were told that the mayor would not be at his office to- day but that he would arrange a meeting tomorrow. One of Mrs. liar ris' companions, named Cans, ad- dressed the women from the city hall steps and was arrested, charged with disorderly conduct.
 Police Are Attacked.
 The women continued to shout i've are starving" until mounted police scattered them among the huge crowd of sight seers that had gathered.
 As the police took Mrs. Cans from the city hall station for arraignment in court, 8 group of women attempted to rescue her. They charged the police, scratched their faces and tore their clothing. The police fought around city hall.
 Meanwhile a mob of women gath cred around a produce market on the East side and began to overturn push carts. Three of them were arrested.
 Danbury Short of Horse Feed.
 Danbury, Feb. 2O.-Because of the scarcity of oats and other feed and consequent difficulty in providing proper rations, truckmen and others (Continued on Tenth Page)