The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-24
| RIOTS. GROW
FIERCE IN JAPAN
ners and rxs-wers Hold Monopoly
ca Nations staple Food Tor
Dangerous Drink.
HELD FROM PEOPLE
and SAKE Makers fSSisSa
sNaFUat Profit In liquor {" a'iitu ~
s1aferx Now Being Sent 10 huS~ia'

rha disastrous rice riots ~ Japan
- due 10 unscrupuious rlce broke :
ia epeculators and the sake ma -
SnturerS states stan correspondent
~ New York sun who Is tour
" Japau Hunger has dFiN%" Wv"
ss,,,,are TO RIOT in most OF the lmpoF p
~ c.nters This hunger is not due
any scarcity of rice, but It, oelhs
rnered and 7mouCpoiized by the
nfteering interests Vast QUANTITIES
the s,spl,. Japanese food are stored
The island held away from 'Ae
skmwry people demanding food. III ~
N<- used principally IN the manu-
Sr<srrs OF "s, ke9 the national iAPa
- alcoholic drink.
A A result of the conditions pre-
Salinr In Russia both in relation 10
natives and also The arrival Oh
xxe mum bers of allied soldiers RHe
nske" brewers and distillerS have
1aaf visions Of extraordinary de-
lands for their liquor and Their plans
|Se for rcaping rich profits at th4@
nne. The brokers and SPECTATORS
Soking ahead 10 this unusual demand
I've gone osIt ami bought ny the rice
f0r~ practically and what has not Al
pnffy got into the hands Of the hqnor
manufacturers Ia held by the brokers
Ae conditions surrounding the rice
apply are such as 10 give tn" great 2
opportunity for gambling IN TINS
IA OF the nation,
rhe people are demanding food
- Is their staple and 1t Is for rice
m CRY is now raised violence
rks their efforts Riots are grow
in extent and seriousness conttn-
nj fs apparently without power I'll
present time 10 properly restrain
abuses h. the spectators and the
Ike manufacturers. In kamfky-
a twelve hour journey from To-
the correspondent witnessed riots
ere hundreds Of the populace raid
the city charged upon and wreck
dozens Of rice shops and ware
nses in short order. a mob at
kadanimahi cut all telephone and
eRraph wires. then RACED the rice
IN and warehouses. Troops were
aed into some of the riot points ana
people. instead OF being awed by
armed force, asked Why harm
your countrymen. who only seek
"a because we are straving
Hmilar scenes are reported from
the islands. The riots continue
grow. The mobs are said TO be
81 the hoarders. seeking out the
stores and warehouses and at
king the vast stores held for
nor manufacture while the people
starving.
he cores pondent further states
q there are two reasons for the
n prices and rice shortage The
ut is that the government permits
= brokers, veritable food sharks. 10
oener the available rice supplies
10 second Is that the sake manu-
Scfurers have bought up everything
Bight and in futures for the brew
~ and distilling Of the vile spirit
1T ts the damnation of the japanese
khOring classes and the curse Of ths
kmtng districts.
ss0ake. is brewed and distilled from
~ the best quality of rice. 1t has
SaRerous alcoholic content, The
9ver grades are sold as cheap as / {
1a4S q quart. A half tumoler fui
Nh tntoxicate an ordinary individual
In therefore. seen to he most
&ngerous drink
Ihere are reported two large anti
GDholic societies in japan doing tht
III they can TO overcome the evils
III their progress is said TO be slow
hey finally succeeded after an effor'
ktending over a period Of ten years
ret law prohibiting the sal" OF
AXE" TO minors Prior to that time
was no uncommon thing to Set
0ungsters Of ten and twelve years OF
fe ciutc hing bottles OF the drink anC
aeling about the streets in the con
ested sections.