Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
CROWD BES|ECES
WALDORF-AST0R|A
New York Housewives CIamor
for Gov. Whitman, Who
Is Not There.
STATE ACTION PROMISED

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. February PA crowd
OF approximately 1000 persons. mostly
women who had attended a mass meet
ing in Madison Square to protest
against the high cost of food, stormed
the Waldorf Hotel late today,
shouting they were starving and de-
rding to see Gov. Whitman. When
rmed the governor was not there.
at another hotel, they refused to
We it and started a demonstration
which necesstated the calling out of
police reserves to dispense them. Sew
eral persons were injured in the dis
order that followed. Four arrests were
made.
One of the speakers at the Madison
Square meeting had asked how many
persons would be willing TO go to the
governors hotel. Several in the crowd
who took this as signal to march
started away and soon an excited
throng was moving up Madison avenue.
At 32d street the marchers turned into
eth avenue. One man. pointing at an
automobile. shouted that no one had
right TO ride in automobiles when
others were starving. The ma chine was
stopped and instantly several persons
jumped on the running board and tried
TO drag the owner from the car. Po-
hcemen drove away his assailants.
Three policemen who tried to turn
the marchers away from the Waldorf
Astoria were swept aside. Although
reinforced soon afterward by num-
Der of porters and other employees of
the hotel. they were unable to quiet
tie crowd.
Cries for the Governor.
Traffic was blocked in all directions
One woman cried
I'VE want TO see the governor. We
want bread, Our babies are starving
The reserves arrived while she was
speaking and formed a line in front of
the hotel entrance They vainly argued
with the crowd and finally were forced
to charge. One woman later was found
unconscious in the street. where it
was said. she had been knocked down.
While the police were dispensing the
crowd in front of the Waldorf-Astoria
committee which had been appointed
at the Madison Square meeting called
on Gov. Whitman at the Hotel st. Re
Els Several hundred of those who.
participated in the demonstration at
the Waldorf-Astoria assembled in front
OF the st. Regis, about a mile farther
up 5th avenue. The governor received
the committee in one of the parlors of
the hotel. and told them that he would
support Mayor Mitchell and the other
city authorities in every way possible
IN relieving the present situation.
State Government Will Help.
You can count on the governor and
1he state legislature to help to their
Hest capacity" he said
II the corporation counsel should draft
phi which would meet your approval
uyl1 Job 30
dre. can YOU tell US how quickly the
would be enabled to use the money
purchase food?' the governor was
sked by one of the committee in refer
zee 10 possible appropriation by the
wine bill would go in Monday night"
replied the governor and ought to come
Wednesday,
The governor told the committee he
was afraid things are too high" adding
higher"
Such a condition" he said. '.probab lv
will prevail as long as there is such a
foreign demand for our victuals. But we
VIII do the best we can in the legislature
TO help the city relieve its needs
Madison Square Meeting Orderly.
There was no music and neither
shouting nor hooting as the marchers
DSoiiHs oiiS a Ic" signs ana banners
touching on the high cost of liaing,
proceeded toward Madison Square in
score of professions.
Nor was there any disorder when the
women reached Madison Square ONLY
few policemen were there, but re
serves were held at nearby stations
The women marched quietly to places
assigned them by those in charge of
the meeting. Occa sionally there was
cheering when the speeches began.
some OF which were in foreign lam
Ruages. One of the first to address the
crowd was Adolph Blumensteiu a thir
teen-year-old schoolboy
We want the high cost of living to
3" down. he said. You can't support
family of five or six children on sl7
week, with potatoes at S cents and
onions at Is cents a pound Some peo-
pie want preparedness. military train
Ing in the schools, too But I ask YOU.
W hat is the use of this if we have moth
not charity
The meeting in Madison Square fol-
, ed many assemblages of house
wives earlier in the day in all parts of
the greater city. Meanwhile the dis
irict attorney and other officials were
Dusty conducting an investigation into
storage house conditions. as we'll as
available railroad facilities for the re-
ceipt and distribution of foodstufYs.
Premium Put on Speculation.
The situation" District Attorney
Swami declared tonight. shows that
there is premium put on speculation
and gambling in the necessities of
life"
He added that he did not propose TO
turn over to the federal authorities the
Information gained by his staff until
he had learned whether New York
county was entitled to any seizures
that might be made. and also if he had
the: authority to prosecute those gam.
bling in foodstufs
Although SeVenty-two carloads Of M
tatoes were in the Yards of one rail
road company here today. only eleven
carloads were unloaded, the district at
forneys investigators reported Similar
conditions, they said, had existed here
Tor several days past.
Agents OF the federal Department of
Justice visited Jersey City TODAY and
Inspected three large cold storage
A0s there. said TO be filled with pro-
visions of all kinds. They also exam