The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-06-28
FOOD CRISIS
DUE TO SYSTEM
Meyer London Denounces Apathy of
Congress to Workers and
Scores Individualism

The food crisis and starvation
wages for the necessities the masses
must buy are not primarily due to
the speculator, but to the capitalist
principle which permits social ne
cessities to be controlled by a few,
Meyer London, Socialist representa-
tive of New York, told the House to-
day in a vigorous discussion of the
food control bill.
Haunting the House for having re-
fused to assume responsibility for the
high cost of living until the war and
riots blew the members from the
reactionary rut of conservatism. Lon
don strongly condemned the legisla-
tive indifference to the needs of the
masses which permitted the exporta-
ton of food in such quantities until
it is actually sold cheaper in Europe
than in the United States.
With cutting sarcasm, the Social
list representative called attention to
the fact that important features of
the present food control bill were
all found in the mea sure introduced
by him last December, providing for
the appointment of the federal food
commission.
"Jeffersonian Democrats opposed
it then because they saw in it the
menace of Socialism," said London
"Standpatters opposed it because
they saw in it the possibility of col
lective action by representatives Of
the people in a sphere where private
interests ruled undisturbed
Eager for Control Now
To-day, however, they find the
president of the United States and
Reruhliees,s-and Democratic urgffg
the adoption Of food control bill
1T requires war, famine and pes
thence TO get into the heads of Re-
publicans and Democrats in Congress
the necessary amount of sense to
see as the Socialist, who, as a stu
dent Of social problems, sees them
in advance"
Referring to the provision in the
bill limiting its operation to the
duration of the war, London de-
clared the food gambler and the
Spectator are equally as harmful
in times of peace as during the war,
and predicted that the legislation
abolishing their functions during war
times will become permanent pol
icy.
Representative London said: "Down
with the middleman! Lynch the spec
ulator! Hang the sharks! Such seems
TO be the burden of the majority of
speeches delivered in connection with
the food control bill. The original
source of all evils has been detected,
just eliminate the food gambler and
food Spectator, and the world is safe
Member after member solemnly de-
clares war upon the food gambler.
Denounces incompetence
"What helpless incompetence; it re-
quired formal and actual entering
of the United States into the war,
and the rumbling of threatened food
riots, before this Congress awoke to
its responsibility; you cannot call
this three days debate, with monot-
onous speeches delivered before 25 or
30 members, with speeches incorpor-
ated in the Congressional Record for
home consumption, as an intelligent
discussion of problem the impor-
lance of which transcends all other
problems before the people
1--WE have been sowing the wind
and are now reaping the whirlwind.
We have permitted individualism to
run mad. We have permitted the
expectation of food in such large
quantities that food is selling in the
war-stricken countries of Europe
cheaper than it is selling in the Unit
ed States, as the numerous statistical
data furnished by speakers who pre-
coded me and some statistical data
which / intend to incorporate and
make part of my remarks prove
hevnnd anu dO1lht