The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-08
H. {. |. IS FORC|bLY
REDUCED BY RIOTERS
IN IT ALLAN CITIES
PROFiTEERS YIELD
TO DEMONSTRATIONS MADE
by POPULACE

Rome, Friday, July 5.-Riots against
the high cost of living in central Italy
have resulted in forcibly reducing prices,
according to reports received here from
the many places whore disorders have
occurred. Shopkeepers here decided to-
day to reduce their prices without wait
ing to be forced to that course by mob
violence.
"Salus Publica Suprema Lex" Cthe pub
lie welfare is the supreme law, the an
cient motto Of the Romans, is being APP
piled by the Italian government at this
critical moment of the national life OF
Italy.
THE government closed one eye, lin
deed in some eases, both, for so long
that the people took the law in their
hands" said a leading Italian states
man today. They We're aiming at giving
a harsh but deserved lesson to profit.
GERS. 1t was right that the people should
punish those who made millions through
the suffering of the entire population
which for over four years strained every
nerve in the face of the greatest strug.
gle of its history. With pitiless ener-
gy, however, as pitiless as its leniency
heretofore, the government now intends
to repress and attempt to transform a
just protest into something more
serious"
Florence has been occupied by mill
tary forces. The machine guns of the
troops it has been shown to the mobs
and robbers, We're not taken there mere
ly for show. The same thing has happen
ed at other most rebellious centers,
especially at Ancona and Brescia, where
many persons We're wounded.
In Genoa, where the uprising against
the cost of living took a most orderly
form, the people imposed a reduction
in all prices. watched the carrying out
of this order, and prevented any vio-
lence against shopkeepers. They inter.
Vened whenever attempts were made
to ransack shops, putting down the dis
orderly elements with much greater en-
ergy than the police ever used. At Milan
the people have presented an ultimatum.
demanding that the price of all necessi-
ties be materially reduced by Tues
day.
A mob ransacked nearly all the shoe
| shops ut Palermo, the troops being
called too late to prevent pilaging
| When they appeared they We're received
with applause, the crowd shouting to
the soldiers: mo firing, boys; we are
not at the front! Here we are all broth
ers and all are against the vampires who
| have starved u.s."
From all towns where disorders have
| occurred, the same report is coming. A
week ago everything could be bought
at high prices, but now the shops are
closed goods are lacking and nothing
can be found. Entire families in many
places are in despair of finding some.
! thing to eat.
Count Olgiati, prefect of Florence has
been removed from office He was trans
ferred to that city from Milan during
the war, after he had been unable to
prevent a general strike in Milan.
Quiet has been restored in Florence
| and several other cities where disorders
| have marked the food situation. Dem
onstrations against the high cost of
| living and against food profiteers, how
ever, have occurred in Milan, Leghorn.
| Alessandria and Brescia.
Premier Nitti declared to newspaper
men that the sole cause Of the recent
disorders was economic.
The Italian socialist organizations
have decided upon a general strike for
July 20 and q. as u protest against
gary.