The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1932-09-16
DRIVEN BY HUNGER
Red Cross Tells Jobless 1t
Has no Funds for the
General Relief
MERCHANT FROTHS
Solid Front VIII Be Thrown
Against Bosses if They
Try to Prosecute
MERCHANT FROTHs
(BY IvER MOE

Hungry, half starved men, women
and children of Anacortes, staged
a militant struggle against star
vatiOn Saturday, Sept. 8.
The struggle was the spontane,
GUS action of hunger-driven people
after being refused relief by the
Red Cross.
Five demands were placed be-
fore the Red Cross in hope that
some solution might be reached to
alleviate starvation in Anacortes.
The Red Cross declaration, they
had no funds for general relief
brought the people to the realiza-
ton that something bod to be done.
Women, -strivken with the horror
Of returning to empty cupboards
and crying pale-faced children,
tearfully pleaded with the group to
do something anything.
FACE STARVATION
It was real tragic drama of pri-
vatiOn and need. The participants
In the demonstration realized that
they stood face to face with star
walton an so the cries of "Let's
30 get food" 1--WE must get some
thing for my babies" started the
militant citizens toward Skaggs
Safeway Store.
The demonstrators now calm but
determined entered Skaggs' store
after a march of two blocks. Here
the hungry people filled their arms
with staple foods, such as lard
sugar, bacon, etc. Several mer
took charge of the clerks. Two Of
the four clerks offered some re
sistance but later gave in anC
listened to reason. The police were
summoned and upon arrival they
failed to get the situation in hand
People were orderly, going about
their shopping" little disturbed b.
the presence of the law.
Two deputies happened to driv
past and took notice of the larg
crowd, but since such orderlines
prevailed, they believed it to be
sale and drove on without investi
eating.
MERCHANT NEARLY STARTS
RIOT
Paul Lavera, private merch
ant, a full block away from tn
SkaggS store, rushed to the plac
u action. He almost threw tn
crowd into a panic by shout
ing something incOheTently in
malt crazed manner about machin
guns, 1t was necessary to shoy
MN outside in order to prever
nOtmg. The truth was finally a
rived at when Luvera admitted h.
rear Of being the next victim
A riot was narrowly escaped
lew minutes later due to the calr
intelligent action Of some men
ne demonstration. The manage
otthe store made a move to los
Lae door in hopes of preventir
NE people from getting out wit
NE groceries, He succeeded j
getslng the door locked but it br
such a series of protests from Il
crowd that he was forced by 90
Ud men to open the door. IT
people immediately cooled. dov
and continued. to SHOP
GET SOMETHING TO EAT
Two small girls, about ten yea
u age, happened to pass by t
%ore. ensing what was TAXI
pace, one said to the ether 'sHur
Money, let's get something we ha
aOs had anything fit to est for
month" They dashed in and to
small amount of groceries q
Appeared. Ten year old your
sfs such as these small girl
nng such an opportunity ga
ven a casual onlooker a que
Snokng feeling in the throat.
he policemen stood by duri
entire demonstration and tx
ae names Of several of the wo
@ bot those listed viii be bacI
y thousands Of militant, prote
~ farmers and workers IL .
'Ou't action ensues. The PEG