The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-31
PROTESTS
AGAINST PR0nTEERS

Washington. July a0.-Charginp
that 'conscsenceiess prohteering' has
produced a rpirit Of unrest among the
working classes who no longer ca
provide adequate food and shelter for
their families. the entire advisory
board of the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Engineers. headed by their chief.
Warren s. stone, called on President
Wiisoa today and asked him to take
action.
There were sixteen men In the dele
CATION OF men who visited the white
house and th%i~ mission practically
chronicles n rev era in the industrial
life of the ,atlon- Briefly, what they
said. was this:
Mr.. President, we do not want an
other increase - wages. for another
Increase viii SIN My that higher
prices-higher correspondingly than
whatever increase we might receive
Will follow for the necessities OF life.
" hat we do want is a deer. ase in the
cost of living"
The president was deeply impressed
ny tire plea OF the men. $40 earlie~
IN the day mad conferred With Walker
D Hi-es t'rector general # railroads
on the same subject,
was 8fticAA1&SA "a IA IN lIVu1V
after they lad presented their memo-
randnm thai any action by the gov
q remedy the situation wouil
have the presidents very serious con-
~sideration. Other developments in
the fght against the high cost OF liv-
ZIG today were as follows:
Representative Igoe, democrat OF
Missouri, introduced two resolutions
N the house-one asking thet the fed
G-al trade commission be ijrected 10
begin Immediately an investigation of
price increases In shoes, sugar, cloth
ing and coffee and the other seeking
ar inquiry by the house ways anc
coinnlittee into rental prohteers
whereby such persons would be penal
lied foi their greed by a heavy taxa
ticn program.
Representative Igoe attempted to
obtain from Majority Leader Mondell
this afternoon immediate considera-
ton of his two resolutions aimed at
the high cost OF living, but was re-
fused permission. He said tonight
that he would attempt to call up both
resolutions Friday in an effort TO
force the hands of the Republicans.
BY far the largest blast against
profiteers today was emitted by Mi.
O'Malley, of New York city, He
said that unless the present intoler-
able situation We're remedied irane-
diately the internal situation OF the
country would be of extremely grav-
ity.
His views were shared by Mr.. stat
ford and Mr.. Wilson. The former de-
clared:
Its time to find out whether this
government is a government of the
people or hat the big packers con-
titute the government and we. the
people. are their subjects"
In discussing the 5000, 600, 900 worth
Of surplus foodstuffs held by the war
department, Mr.. O'Malley declared
that a syndicate of meri-
cans made plans for a s65, 0oo,o 600 cor
p~oration n week or so 6 at the hotel
Biltmore in New York to obtain the
greater part OF the foodstuffs. If pos
sibie to sell to the German people.
New York men believe that the
food administration should be re-
stored Immediately and given the
same powers 1t possessed during the
war. They also want the war de-
partment to consigt its surplus sup
plies Of foodstuffs to their cities and
other cities throughout the country,
designating mayors as its representa-
tives, and allowing thirty days for a
return of the purchase price.