Evening star., 1917-03-01
PROPOSALS
HIGH LIVING COSTS
Suggestions Made at Meeting
of District Federation of
Women's Clubs.
CLASH OVER MIXED FLOUR

Suggestions for reducing tho cost OK
living, ranging from the advice OF Cari
vroouan, assistant secretary OF agr1cui-
ture. to cultivate kitchen gardens. to that
OF Representative Henry T. Radney OF
Illinois, who urged that mixing corn
-four with wheat flour viii bring down
the price Of bread, were presented at a
special meeting of the District Of Column
b,a Federation Of Women's Clubs at the
New Ebbitt House yesterday afternoon
Representative Rainey's arraignment OF
bakers for taking part in an alleged con-
eerted effort to raise the price of their
product brought q spirited reply from 7.
r. Erankenbers Of Columbus. Ohio. pub
Ncity agent for the National Association
OF Bakera Mr.. Raineys plea for the
merits Of corn dour elected another reply
from Francis NJ. Phelps, an attorney
representing the MillerS' National red
Grafton. to which Mr.. Rainey later repied
Fulton R Gordon urged what ne termed
o flexible embargo by which q central
federal committee would be empowered
to stop the shipmeNt abroad of products
a. soon as the home demand forced prices
to an abnormally high level
Puts Blame on Dogs.
W. B. Doak of Clifton. Va. gave the
discussion a humorous turn by de-
claring that the dogs in the District
ate 80 much meat that their presence
considerably Influenced the available
supply. and. he added. TT takes 10000
pounds of pork a day to feed the dogs
In Georgia." He also said that he be-
1ieved Providence had brought about
the present stringency to punish meat
~roA,,cars FOR the Dracffca of ehippipg
meat on Sunday.
Mr.. Vrooman suggested the substitu-
tion of corn products, soy beans ana
other cheaper foods for potatoes. To
necessary to go on a rice diet or to
eat hog beans to help feed the food
barons." Mr.. Gordon alse advanced the
theory that THE only way to put
Of detectives. because they produce de-
fsctive children who may get into
power and precipitate war"
People Must Help Selves.
-on all sides we hear Of appeals to
the government to help alleviate the
high prices" said Mr. vrooman. '.The
public Is entitled to the help OF the
federal government on condition that
they leave no stone unturned to help
themselvsa'
Mr.. vrooman contended that this self
help could be accomplished by q wider
cultivation Of back yards and vacant
Lots in cities. He also pointed out that
various sections Of the country. par
ticularly the south, should diversity
dependent either in case of war. with
consequent cutting on of transporta-
Zion facilities, or In the face Of indus
trial disturbances like the recent
threatened railroad strike
In his arraignment of bakers Mr..
6Ainey charged that wheat has sold
et 81 bushel before. but that bread. in
loaves of fifteen and sixteen ounces.
when to ss Gents devices
Axve made the baking Of bread cheaper
than ever before, the price is being
raised" he continued. To-day in the
selling cheaper than 1t is here. Cotton
prices don't cut much figure in the
price Of cotton goods. The price of
hour hitherto has never materially af-
fected the price Of bread
Says Explanation Is Plain.
Tho reason for the advance Is no
mystery. At the convention Of the
Association Of Master Bakers, In Salt
Lake City last August. the president
0e that body announced that a concert
ID movement was about to be under
taken to increase the cost of bread to
consumers, and he announced this
would cost money for publicity cam
paign.
s-fhen the rises commenced They
came first IN Chicago. These were
widely advertised. and whenever other
bakers raised prices the fact was her
aided throughout the country"
Mr.. Rainey explained the proposal
embodied In his measure for the mixing
Of corn -four and wheat flour. He
charged that the bakers opposed the
measure because wheat bread gets stale
moro quickly and that the wheat pro-
2ucers opposed it because 1t would give
. weapon to bakers by which they
could substitute a cheaper product
when the price Of wheat went too high.
MI. Phelps. in replying to this por-