The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-10-25


cry Of Pargny. 8-1talians hoisting
ana IT'S allies snow no dlsposltlon 70
yield to the pleas of the so.called neu-
trail nations that have been supplying
Germany with food and other nate
rails. According to reports received in
Washington, the food situation in Ger
many is growing acute. The weekly
ration there amounts approximately
to four and half pounds of bread,
half peck of potatoes, a cupful of
beans, peas, or oatmeal; Il half pound
OF meat, twelve cubes Of sugar, six
individual patties of butter and an
equal amount of other lats. The caloric
value Of these foods in the aggregate,
Is less than half the amount estimated
by the American food administration
as sufficient for person in sedentary
occupation.
Coal Strike Makes Trouble.
The coal situation. especially in 1li-
nois, caused the administration great
deal Of trouble. Strikes, unauthorized
by the union, stepped production and
the operators declared they could not
pay the wages demanded unless they
were allowed to charge the general
public 80 cents more ton. Coal Ad-
ministrat0r Garfield was swamped with
appeals and protests, and sent out q
message to the effect that unless min
Ing was resumed the federal govern
ment would seize the mines. The whole
affair has the appearance Of greed fos-
tered by underhanded pro-German in
duences.
Food Administrator Hoover has
been brought to realization Of the
fact that the retail grocers of the coun-
try are rObbing the ultimate consum-
ers, and he proposes to 20 as far as his
powers permit in stopping the extor-
ton. In a statement issued Thursday
Mr.. Hoover said that though neither
the food administration nor the gov
eminent has authority to regulate the
retailer as 1t does the wholesaler, he
would, beginning November !. expose
the former each week by publishing
the wholesale prices of all commodities
In every section. Thus the purchaser
will know how much the retailer is
paying and hew much undue profit he
is eXact;n=. M. Hoover cites particu-
'arly the retail price Of flour. which is
o;lt of all propurton to the Wholesale.
price fixed by the government. and all
so the recent unwnrranted advances
in the retail price of sugar.
Unless the retailer grocer behaves,
the food administrator hints. congress
may be asked for legislation giving the
government power to regulate him. Mr..
Hoover asserts that the corner has
been turned in high prices and that if
the farmer and retailer cooperate with
him, the essential commodities one af-
ter another should continue to show re-
auctions between now and the end Of
the year.
The war department issued orders
Thursday for the entertainment of the
final quotas Of the first draft from the
northwest states and the entire mobili-
cation Of the $1,000 men of the first
army is expected to be complete by
the middle of November. The call for
the second draft is not expected be.
fore the first Of the year, but arrange
ments for 1t are under way and it may
be that the remaining 100000 eligi-
bles will be examined in advance so as
to establish waiting list. Prepare
tons for the winter in the training
camps are being made rapidly and
there is reason to believe that there
will be no shortage Of warm clothing.
arms and all other necessary supplies.
The Liberty bond campaign went
with a rush last week, despite the dis
loyal opposition displayed in some To-
calities. The government has taken
steps to punish the prof German work.
ers who have fostered this hostile sem
timent, and Secretary McAdoo has ask
ed banks to report the names of those
who have sought to intimidate bank
ers by threats to withdraw their de-
pOsits.
The senatorial committee investigat.
ing Senator La Follette's loyalty held
several sessions but was temporarily
foiled by the willy fellows demand that
he be given the opportunity to cross
examine those who had contradicted
his assertion regarding Bryan's state
ment to President Wilson anent the
Lusitania. AS the committee cannot
well summon the president or Mr..
Bryan, it adjourned to think the case
over.
Former Senator Pettigrew of South
p:kota is emulating the record of La
i'.'iette and defying the government
I" lave him indicted. His utterances
are II anything more reprehensible
than those Of the Wisconsin man. but
he himself is much more negligible.
II I'LL their readers and hearers were
persons Of sound sense. neither one
would m worth the nOyRfCr II would