Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-13
WOMEN URGE JAIL
FOR PROF|TEERS
Criminal Prosecutions Would
Teach Lesson to Offenders,
Says Mrs. Margolis
APPEAL FOR U. S. ACTION

Jail sentences for food prohtecrs,
rather than advice to American house
wives to economize and conserve, is the
true solution Of the food problem in
the opinion of prominent Philadelphia
women who have been studying high
cost OF living conditions.
Mrs. Max Margolis, president Of the
Council of Jewish Women Mrs. Charles
D. Clark, OF the Woman's Land Army {:
!, Mrs. Frederic II. Schoff, president Of
! the National Congress of Mothers: Mrs
A.. w. Harmon, head Of the National
woman's party of the Sixth congres
sional district. and other leading club
women of the city have expressed their
opinion that the government should
vigorously prosecute hoarders OF food;
Club Women to Aid
While many of the active club women
are on summer vacations, those in the
city are planning to aid in the reduc-
tion OF food prices and have offered
their services to food Investigations.
The Emergency Aid is rcorganizing
its force to co.. operate in every way
possible with Director Joseph S. Mac
Iaughlin. chairman Of the market
commission, in the sale Of government
food here.
Zone or two criminal prosecutions
would be excellent things to teach a
lesson to profteers who hoard food un-
til it rots and has to be thrown away
rather than offer IL to the people who
need it to live," said Mrs. Margolis.
IT was very much irritated when I
read the suggestion that the housewives
of America eccnomze in the manage
ment Of their tables. The suggestion
is utterly beside the point. We have
ample food supplies in this country,
and the thing to do is not to urge the
housekeepers to economize further, but
to get our public officials to act in
bringing the boarded supplies on the
market.
Cannot Further Reduce
THE average family is being run on
about as economical basis as it can be
run" continued Mrs. Margolis. ''The
prohibitive price of eggs, meat and
other foodstuffs has made people cut
to the minimum the quantities they
eat. The average family cannot fur
ther reduce the portions it consumes.
During the war we made sacrifices for
purpose. Now we are making them
for no cause at all.
81 cannot understand what is the
matter with the officials in Philadel-
phia," said Mrs. Margolis. "In other
cities effective steps have already been
taken to check profteering, while here
nothing that really counts seems to
have been done. If I were native
Philadelphian I would air my views
more Thoroughly" .-.-
The suggestion that the housewives
economize further was made by julius
: Fl. Barnes, United States wheat di-
rector. He wanted the 10000, 900
housewives of America to return to
wartime economy in the management
of their. tables to reduce the cost of
living.
while I haven't any new theories
to advance on the food situation" said
Mrs. Charles D. Clark, of the Woman s
Land Army, II do know that economy
on the part of the housewives is no
solution to the problem. Housewives
have been economizing since the begin
ming of the war and they are still doing
so. They learned the lesson well and
they are doing all in their power so
far as conserving Is concerned
but that has not lessened the cost
Of living and it will not. The govern
ment or some Of the nations food ex-
perts must hunt out some other way TO
reduce costs. I am confident high