Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-22
Must Give Food First Place

CHICAGO. Feb. 21.-President J. F.
Griffin of the Chicago Board of Trade
today telegraphed to the Interstate
Commerce commission and to the presi-
dents of eastern railroads insisting that
unless an immediate embargo were
placed on all products eastbouud out of
Chicago, except fuel and food stuffs,
the country will face the danger OF
anarchy and rioating.
In his telegram to the railroad presi-
dents. Mr.. Griffin says:
Despite all your assurances. no re-
lief has been afforded to move grain
and other food products out Of Chicago
The present scarcity Of supplies Dor
ders on famine in many communities
with the consequent initiation of values
| directly chargeable to the failure OF
railroads TO meet this national emer-
gency.
! u request that instructions be issued
! by you forthwith prohibiting the
movement of any freight at this time
except foodstuffs coal and other com
modities necessary to sustain human
and animal existence.
Unless this is done there is great
danger of riot and anarchy throughout
] this land. THE present situation is
largely caused by railroads giving pref
erence to commodities other than those
necessary to maintain life.
| Failure to meet the situation is
! squarely up to the railroads"
In his telegram to the Interstate
Commerce commission, Mr.. Griffin
gives synopsis of the one sent to the
railroad presidents and says:
None of the cures offered by the
commission or the railroads themselves
have been or can be effective 1t is a
hat Ind 81. 1.
generally are operating at from two e
three hundred per cent above norma
and securing such equipment as need
ed 1t Is very apparent therefore thai
preference is given to freight paying
the greatest revenue.
I'VE are confronted with a nationa
emergency. | request i'm behalf of tn,
people Of this country that the com.
mission forthwith issue an order in lin,
with the requests that / have made o
eastern roads.
Failure to secure such an order a.
indicated is likely to result in stat,
Of riot and anarchy throughout thi.
country, and the consequences of tn,
same will be directly chargeable to tn,
Interstate Commerce commission an,
the railroads"
A meeting of directors of the boart
Of trade lawyers and traffic experts
was held this afternoon to ascertain i
legal means can be found to force thu
railroads and the Interstate Commerce
commission to clear up the situation
particularly as it affects Chicago.
The commission and the railroad
have failed in the crisis,'' said Nj
Griffin. I'VE are trying to ascertain j
the courts offer solution"
In public statement this Afternoon
Mr.. Griffin asserted that in addition [
10,O0O.G00 bushels of grain In Chicag
awaiting shipment, there are from fit
TO seventyfive millions more in coun
try elevators held up because of tn
congestion here.
Il have no hesitancy in declaring tha
both the commission and the railroad
are completely overwhelmed and hay
lost grasp Of the situation" said M
Griffin. "As a matter of fact the inter
vention of the interstate commerce
commission has been harmful rattle
than otherwise and the method Of reli,
insisted upon, or offered by them hs
been fanciful and without any substan
tial results
Inc statement asserts that unless
remedy is found the decentralization wi
extend to all commodities. It cor
cludes:
am willing to predict that with
less than thirty days the commerce
tins country will be Frustrated unles