When half a million mothers
in the richest city
in the richest country in the world
feel the pinch of hunger
as they are feeling it here now
nothing can prevent trouble.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Saturday February 24, 1917
New York, New York – Mothers Demand Food as Children Starve
While the nation’s kept press continues to report on the food rioting taking place in New York City and Philadelphia, they continuously emphasis the foreign birth of many of the demonstrators, some of which have indeed rioted. Seems they believe that those of foreign birth should be willing to starve and perish in a quiet and orderly manner once they come to America.
The kept press mostly ignores the deep suffering of those who have been driven to such desperate measure in order to find relief. In fact, within just the past two months of January and February, the price of staples has risen dramatically. The cost of potatoes has risen 100 percent, onions are up by 366 percent and cabbage by 212 percent. Without being able to afford meat, mothers rely on beans to nourish their growing children and that staple has increased by 100 percent.
The Day Book of Chicago is an exception to this callous coverage of human suffering, pointing out that people are actually starving in New York City. The Day Book reports on attempts at relief:
STARVING CONTINUE TO RIOT
IN NEW YORK-ACTIONNew York, Feb. 23.-Food riots continued sporadically in city today as heighth of Sabbath food buying among Jewish people was reached.
Mass meeting tonight, Rutgers sq., following which women will march to meeting of Board Estimate, where Mayor Mitchell is expected to make move to relieve conditions.
Demands will be made on city authorities for appropriation of $1,000,000 to open municipal stores and another $1,000,000 for school lunches. Strong demand that steps be taken to have government take over railway systems for food transportation.
Jos. Hartigan, comm’r of weights and measures, has made public figures which show that more food is now in storage in New York city than ever before.
Albany.-Gov. Whitman has approved bill to create a food dictator for the state. Tammany has countered with bill which would appropriate $25,000,000 for public market terminals in cities.
Minneapolis.-40 cars loaded with flour being rushed in “relief special” over Chi. & Great Western to Chicago and eastern cities. Minneapolis mills, largest in country, preparing for another special tonight. Through unseen influence, reported federal, Minneapolis millers today were assured that 400 cars would be sent them with express understanding that cars be loaded for New England points.
Washington.-New England is suffering more for lack of food than any other section of country. West has secured some measure of relief. Railroads have been ordered to give preference to food stuff shipments. Distribution of cars problem believed well in hand.
Washington.-President expected to take definite steps to force appropriation for investigation of prices through this session of congress. Regardless of fact that fight for such, funds has been lost in house committee, appropriations will be sought in senate; if it fails there, it will be taken to floor of house, says Sec’y Houston. Officials scoffed at reports of possible embargo on food shipments.
While the food situation threatens drastic disturbances in the east, the gas coal shortage is no less serious in the west.
Congress expected to take definite action on the situation before adjourning. Representative Meyer London [Socialist Party], New York, has introduced a bill asking for an appropriation of $5,000,000 with which to buy food to be resold at “reasonable prices” to the poor; and a combination of senators is meeting in secret, preparatory to asking for $100,000,000 for the same purpose.
The car tie-u-p, in the opinion of the interstate commerce com’n and railroads was at the breaking point today. Railroads took advantage of the holiday yesterday and clearing weather to rush great strings of empty freight cars west at express train speed.
St. Louis, Mo.-Fearing food riots similar to those in New York and Philadelphia, St Louis police today closed the headquarters of the “Feed America, First” propagandists, which was opened during the night. R. J. Jonas, former Presbyterian minister in New York, was in charge of the movement.
Washington.-A final attempt to force a food embargo through congress was made in the senate today when Sen. Martine, New Jersey, offered a resolution prohibiting the exportation of staple food products.
St Louis.-People here being urged to turn every backyard and vacant lot into a garden.
[Photograph added.]
From The Washington Post of February 23, 1917:
ATACK FOOD BUYERS
—–New York Rioters Destroy Goods
Purchased by Housewives.
—–
MOBS SURROUND MARKETS
—–[…..]
New York, Feb. 22.-Riots, including attacks on butcher shops, destruction of push cars and boycotts on high-priced foods were continued by women in many quarters of Greater New York today.
Housewives who attempted to buy chicken, fish, onions or potatoes were attacked and their purchases destroyed. Butcher shops and fish markets were surrounded by angry crowds who dared the owners to come out. Fifty arrests were made, according to the women’s anti-high price committee, while would-be buyers and policemen were badly mauled…
“Mother” Jones on Scene.
“Mother” Jones, the labor agitator, arrived in New York today [*] prepared to do all possible to aid the movement. The police said she would not be interfered with unless she incited riots….
Women Upset Food Displays.
Philadelphia, Feb. 22.-Shouting protests against high food prices, thousands of women in the southern section of this city, where the residents are largely of foreign birth, today paraded in unorganized fashion, upsetting food displays and overturning pushcarts. Stores were entered and damaged in some instances.
A crowd of women rushed a fish store and upset a tank of live carp. Kerosene was poured on other fish and the store fixtures were badly damaged. The police forced back the crowd and arrested three women…
[Photograph added.]
*Note: according to the New York Tribune of February 22nd, Mother arrived in New York on Wednesday February 21st.
SOURCES
History of the Labor Movement in the United States, Volume 6
Philip S Foner
International Publishers, 1982
https://books.google.com/books?id=5TDyAAAAMAAJ
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Feb 23, 1917
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1917-02-23/ed-1/seq-4/
The Washington Post
(Washington, District of Columbia)
-Feb 23, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/28932512/
IMAGES
New York Food Riots, Lt Digest, Mar 3, 1917
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=dHxAAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA533
Meyer London, ab 1916, Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer_London
NYC Food Riots, Mothers & Babies, ISR April 1917
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA584