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fc?\ Read the county ag Su* rlculturist's advice to E9K gardeners, on page OUT-HINDENBURGED! Housewives Are Blamed For Soaring Food Prices WILD RUSH TO LAY IN STOCKS CAUSES JUMP Who is responsible for $90 potatoes? And for several other threatened food price phenomena? You'll never guess—unless you start out, as The Times has done within the last two or three days, to trace the guilty party to his lair. And then you'll find it hard to believe what you discover. Because, from all indications found in Tacoma stores, the trail leads right around in a circle to the people who are indignantly asking the question—the housewives and the bill-payers. In their panic many housewives are trying desperately to cut off their own heads. This very demand for huge quantities of groceries by families who never before bought more than a few days' supply at one time, is very likely to pro duce a real shortage if some excited Tacomans do not come back to earth. The trail of the guilty persons became plain, right here in Tacoma, when the retail grocers began to complain a week ago that their customers were suddenly buying their shelves bare. Housewives who had always bought condensed milk by the can, wanted to buy several cases. Potatoes, which, toward the end of the season, and only a month of so before new potatoes may be expected, are usually bought in small quantities, were demanded by the sack or more. Sugar and flour were so popular that the astonished grocers were in danger of being bankrupted of these staples. As soon as the situation became clear to the grocers, they took measures to protect their stocks by refusing to sell more than a certain amount to any person, and, in the case of some who had been extending credit, by demanding cash. The McLean McMillan Co. on Broadway, for instance, fixed a minimum of one sack of sugar for each person, whether of not that person was an old cus tomer, and has utterly refused to make any large deliveries of groceries to any one. At that, the demand for sugar and other staples is about 50 times as much as usual, according to Peter B. McLean, president of the firm. Acting Manager Henry Buyer of the Hhodes Brow.' grocery department has in structed nil his clorkN 10 ex- I>lhlii to riiKtomerft that they do not know whether price* are going up or down, and to discourage all reckless buy- Ing. The Rhode* grocery store has cut down on (lie amount of sugar, flour and potatoes that it will soil to a cußtomer. J. D. Anderson, manager of the largest grocery store in the Public Market, will not tell more than $1 worth of sugar or three cans of condensed milk to any person. He lm ; turned down hundreds of would-be buyers who wanted to make wholesale purchases of gro ceries. "We have hard work getting these articles from the wholesal ers." lays Anderson, "and any panic in the food market right now is liable to send prices sky high. From all that I can learn, the mnrket in everything except potatoes, tomatoes anu flour • normal today. There is no ex ruß« for the sudden inflation of prices except the excitement of the consumers. No Danger of lUnp. "Why are people buying in such large quantities?" asiked another public market dealer. "This spring and summer will surely bring many things down in price —especially vegetables." The testimony of all retailers Interviewed in Tacoma is to tiie tftMt that Tacoma housewives have been spending husbands' sulartc* and straining their credit to lay in a stock of food, at un precedently high prices, evidently believing it is going to be scarcer and higher soon. And on tho other hand there is just as much proof, and Just as easily obtainable, rtiat there in no danger of a shortage; AND THAT, WHILE THERE 18 DANGER OF HIGHER PRICES, IT IS THE HOUSEWIVES THEMSELVES, IF ANYBODY, WHO WILL CAUSE THEM. line Nice, He Advises. "There is a natural cause for high prices in some commodities," says A. R. Mac Lean, president of the Marl-can Brothers' chain of wholesale. and retail grocery stores. "The potato and tomato crope were away below normal last year. The European war has caused a high price for wheat, and it has aaused flour to go sky-high. A few other food commodities have gone up in a legitimate way. "But the housewives are help ing these prices to keep on soar ing, because they refuse to ab stain from using the very foods that are scarce. If every family - in Tacoma would eat rice two or three times a week instead of po tatoes, it would cut the cost of food dowa by a big figure, ami ■till be providing the table with a (Contlmted on Page Two.) TA( lOMA. WAiSIDNtiTON. WEDNESDAY, APKIL 18, 1917, WILSON DEMANDS CONSCRIPTION PASS (I riii.,l Prm I.raurd Wire.) WASHINGTON, April 18. —De- termined to rush his selective con scription bill through connross with all speed, President Wilson today went to the capttol to confer with Chairman Chamberlain of the senate military committee and other leaders. Tlve prettident told Chamber lain the bill must go through at once and without change from the form sufigosted by the armj war college and army general staff "for the welfare of tho nation." "The president merely wanted to know how our committee was progressing," said Chamberlain. "1 told him we probably would re port it to the senate today." Significant Change. Almost at the moment the pres ident and Chamberlaian were con ferring, Rep. James H. Davidson, (Win. l, was beini; named a mem ber of the house military commit tee to fill the only republican va cancy on the hoard. Davidson's selection is of deepest interest be- FARM FREE FOR ASKING A farm for nothing! That is an offer The Times was authorized to make today. A farmer who owns several properties came to the office this morning. He said one of his places consists of 120 acres of land on the Tacoma Eastern rail way, all of it cleared or in pas ture. It has house, barn and out buildings; an orchard; a good well; plow and other equipment; is alt fenced. It is handy to good schools. He wants to turn it over to some couple, rent-free, for one or two years. He even will pay the taxes, provided .h* is assured in advance that his tenants are the right sort, who will keep up tho land. The farm is capable of main taining no head of cattle. All any prospective occupant would re quire, he says, would be cattle, small tools and their household effects. The man is devoting his own time and attention, he explains, to other property and wants to Ai» pone for the present of this farm so that his mind will be free of worry regarding it. He will be at The Times edi torial rooms at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon to meet anybody inter ested in his- novel offer. The Tacoma Times lc A COPY. <'uuso of the fact that before his umjolntinent ■' test vote in com mittee recorded the sentiment as eight to nine against the conscrip tion method .and in favor of the volunteer system. Adminlstrataion leaders now be lieve they can get the conscrip tion measure through the upper body very shortly. The moral ef fect thus created, it is argued, would make pressure on the house strong enough to push it through there soon after. In anticipation of speedy action by congress on the draft bill, the war department this afternoon had nearly completed plans to have the first levy of fiOO.OOO men in training camps by August 1. The first levy would be selected by lot. The great $7,000,000,000 bond issue bill is now virtually a law. The senate, having unanimously passed it with minor amendments last night, the president was ex pected to sign it by this afternoon. War Plans Hampered The senate military committee was to report today the adminis tration bill for volunteers to fill present open gaps in the regular army and national guard, this to be followed by selective draft. As in times past, White House pressure now promises to crumple coiiK'fiSH opposition. If opposition still menaces the bill, the administration will not hesitate to take the names and cases of the revolting straight to the public. That administration authorities are tired of house delays 1b put ting it mildly. In fact, military men say that the success of America in the war is dally jeop ardized liy such procrastination. Once tlffi army measure Is dis posed of, government espionage and other similar war measures will lie taken up. SCULPTOR'S WIFE SLAIN (Halted Prvu I m.r.i Wire.) SEATTLE, April 18. — Mur dered by a blow on the temple, evidently with a stone, the body of Mr«. Florence Wehn, 27, wife of Sculptor James A. Webn, was found on the parking off an un used street, nsar 11th aye. west and Wbeeler St., Queen Anne Hill, by a small boy at 8 o'clock this morning. She had spent Tuesday evening at the home of her parents, Mr. THE ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER IN TACOMA. Here's How U. S. Will Bridge Atlantic A thousand Im,;i|s going to 11 rltaln wit It food—a thousand limits coming hack for more— » thousand bout* loading and unloading in American and Kuro|iean ports! That* the meaning of America's "jitney fleet" that will carry food to our allies in Kuro|«-. Kvery three mile* will see a boat going "l"1 " boat coming, when thin iiuinmioth fleet, this moving pontoon bridge, In completed. From New York to l.iini lis :i,042 mile*. A sixth of a million liimlM*riiien and woodworker)* soon will hew timber for the fleet. Congress has appropriated #rt O,OOO,0lH), und $;{<>o,<H>o,oOo more has in i v recommended. I • • • • • • TACOMA BUILDERS OF WOODEN VESSELS CLEAR THE DECKS FOR QUICK ACTION Clrar the docks for action! 1h I lie word tliat liiiN gone down Hit- line (o shipbuilders of Tacoina nnd the North Pa cific today. And the builders of wooden yes nels in Tacoma are clearing the decks In response^ft the govern ment's call. Telegrams received here by the Seaborn yards, Babare Bros, and the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Co. from Washington indicated that the government intends to start construction of the great fleet of "sea Jitneys" at once. The telegrams advised the ship builders to prepare to expand for extensive work and to increase their facilities to the limit. Ualmre I'lims bight. Acting on the advice, Nicholas Haliare of Babaro Bros., with the aid of H. N. Tinker, of the Puget Sound bank. Is out in search of Determined Members Join Drive to Bring Y.M. C. A. Back To Life Tlio membership of (lie Y. M. C. A., including some of ii- IUI--I active leaders, is iniiiiii'i today to bring about a iciiiciiiiizniioii of the innii ii^riiK-m In Kuril a way us to make it » live community in stitution—one tbat will again luvvo ihf < tmiiihmi of tlin 'I'm om.i public. Tliey arp looking to the board of directors to call a meeting im mediately to hear the complaints of the members and to make such changes in the management as to remedy the deadening influence that has been running through the Institution. Club May Consider It. If the board Tails to act, the members will take matters in their own hands, call.a member- ship meeting and demand a reor-' 'ganization that will bring back life. Meanwhile, it Is probable that the Y. M. C. A. situation, as out lined by City Controller Shoemak er, in an aricle written for The Times, will be brought before the members' council of the Commer cial club. F. C. Brewer, president of the council, gave the opinion today that the growth of the Y. M. C. A. was a question which vitally con and Mrs. Paul F. Hauliris, 610 Sixteenth ay. north, and left there at 10 p. m. in happy spfrits. They had been giving a birthday party to a little niece. A deep gash was across the young woman's forehead. ■ The body was In a sitting posture, and evidently had been placed that way by the murderer. A bottle of milk, package of shrubbery, a purse containing one cent and some cakes were scat tered about. She had left her parents' home carrying the arti cles. Wehn, the young husband, col lapsed at the scene of the murder this morning. He had been work ing at the state university last night, and did not accompany his wife. They had no children. Robbery is not believed by the police to have been the motive of the murder. Paul Hauhrls, the woman's fa ther, is a potloe telephone opera tor at central station. a new site to expand his plant. Bahare Bros, are preparing to build three way* at their present location to accommodate the con struction of 3,000-ton vessels of the type required by the govern ment, and to immediately arrange for at least five additional ways at the new site as soon as it is selected. Seven For Pacific Immediately on receiving word from the government, .1. H. Hyde of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Co., announced that work is be ing rushed on the plant, which will be increased to full capacity for extra orders. The company's bid for seven vessels, he said, has been accepted by the government. Th necessary machinery and timber has been ordered. "There is room for 10 ways on our site," said Hyde Wednesday, "and wp are«going to use all of cerned not only the Commercial club members, but the entire com munity. An effort will be made to get men who are directly in touch with the affairs of the Institution to explain the situation and tell what the public can do to remedy it. The Times has already received statements and communications from a number of Y. M. C. A. members, complaining against the mismanagement and expressing a determination to stand back of every effort to put the association on its feet. Here is a sample, from one of the leaders: lii-01'K.-ini/.utitin Needed. "Editor The Times: Talk o' the Times <.irelinks, how many meat less days have you declared? Speaking of the "matchless Associated Press, which one of the afternoon papers occasionally re fers to, did you notice that on the big news of the German U-boat off the Atlantic coast yesterday, the A. P. was left at its matchless post, and that The Times extra, with a complete United Press story of the Destroyer Smith's brush with the intruder, was on the streets a half hour sooner? People who live In glaft* honMea shouldn't cry "Slack er." Billy Sunday, Theodore Roose velt and John I). Rockefeller, Jr., had luncheon together Monday. We don't know when the Ringling brothers ate. Miss I liittlKlh Wood, vims the Musical l.mil.r, ban "a ctaar-mlntled brain." Kvl dentl) she la all rifkt In the head. J. Ogden Armour, the king of the packers, advocates meatiest ■lays. Thanks to Mr. Armour, ■■'is of people hare been lc A COPY. OL. XIV. NO. 102. them. We expect to mart with four and to expand tlie plant rs we can get the skilled labor to operate them. Wo have already made arrangements to get this labor from Great Lakes cities." SenlxM-n Alert. It was announced at the Sea born (shipyards that the capacity of the plant will be Increased as soon us it is known definitely how many vessels the government will require. The company now has three ways In operation. Shipbuilders nay they are un able to learn whether the govern ment intends to deal directly in ships or to co-operate with private interests. An announcement Is expected soon, however, as Theodore Brent, vice chairman of the federal ship ping board, who has just complet ed a trip through the Northwest, is now on his way east with a de tailed report. "As a member of the Y. M. C. A. 1 appreciate your efforts thru your paper to put the institution on its feet. With the equipment that the Y. M. C. A. possesses we should have one of the most active and influential organizations in the Northwest. At. present it is not what it should lie and falls far short of what is expected by the people of this city. "The present officials have had a chance to show what they can do. We gee the effects of their administration. I for one do not like the sample. Reorganization is what is needed, and the sooner we get It the sooner will the city reap the benefits, that such an In stitution can give It. "Good luck to your efforts." having meatless days quite frr-1 quently for the past five or six By the way, the annual report of Armour & (.'o.. Just out, shows it earned 20 per cent on Us stock. Reform of the Prussian diet! and liberation of our entire political life are especially dear to my heart. — From Kaiser j HOMK | William's fitatement. !:<'< i lilting will be alow un til ili«- (irrmann begin lo en courage it, as they did fn England. They practically built the British army. HEARD OX STREET (AH "Well, you know what Kitchen ■aid. He said ltd last three years." "What did he know about It any more'n anybody else?" "Pretty smart guy." "Oh, I don't know. He messed things up pretty bud at the Dar nellen." "Where'a that?" "Down by the Oaf pipoli penin sula." NIGHT EDITION l^fca, WEATHER ISSjK? Taronia: I'luwttled, prob- bM^^B \\ a-liiii|ii<>ii Hanie Mreati 1 » fair i-m-i ; Hiclit front eaoU GERMAN HOLD ON FRANCE IS MENACED NOW (Vnllrd >•.■■» I raard WIrO WITH THE KHKNCH Al{- HIIIS IN TIIK FUELD, April 18.—All of (iermunv's hold (111 I l: ll.is IlieillK'Oil to (la) lij ili«- ivorld's liiovt tltjniic (iffeiiNive. It In a between yon Hlntolbtirg and the niiiMir strntepisis of thp Franco-Hritii-li staffH, on a battle scale un dreamed of before. France's part in tho greatest of all drives was preceded by the preatest bombardment in Its hi - tory. The French marksmanship was so deadly that German prisoners declare of their companies of 2. rio men the average that survived won only 80. Tin? nMm Franco-Hi iti'h drive shuttered Germany's hopes to avoid a spring offensive by rp trent. KXI-Mlle itMiiir Tho Frenrli onsltuinht now gatlierinK Itk prratcst momen tum, comtilnpd witli advames lie- Kiin by the Hritisli, makes a con tinuous liattle line from Dlxpuide tO TlllPtlllß. It, Is (he battle of a 100-mile front. Today the French advance !>e tWMn Rhelnm and Solgsons men aces the pntlre Gorman line, cou pled with thp Tlrltish attack on St. Quentin and flip adiance of j Hate's troops toward OMlbnl and i.enfs. In one attack France *mM one of the Germans' strongest de letißivo [losltlons from the enemy. The position consisted of a vil lage purroiiiidinn a precipitous ra vine. The dank was lioneycomfed with caves liewn out of WIM stone; in trencheroilßly dux quarries and shafts. Radrrlc (Jninans. Tlie Germans had stationed HEAVY FIRING OFF COAST REPORTED (I llHril Pi— l.caxrrt Wlrr.) HUSTON April IK.—Meilt. Kiln. <•. Makwtafj r. h. n., <'<iiiniiiiMii-Hiion offio'r <>r Mm Firnt District al <'lntrli-» touil Illtvy Mini. aliliniiiH.il today «li'" heavy firing RM reported off Province! own, Ma*>N., by ilirt-i- different MM) KUHi'ri st.ilimis (lii-< inornlnK. The flrnt report was received ;it 9:15 from conHt guard patrol sta tion 32, located at Provim etown bay. This station reported that 15 shots from heavy sunn were first heard and after on interval of II minutAß, continuous heavy firinn was heard. They reported the firing M due norlli. The Hccond report arrived at 9:.10 from roait guard station II at Knee, Point and told of hearing shotx from five or six guns and continuous firing after an Interval of II minuutcs. They cliaiacier lzed the firiiiß as heavy and oc curring in rapid tmccesalon. The third report «m r<-reivpd ; at 9:3."i from station 34 at Peaked ;Bars hill, which gave the direction as northwest by north and stated that the firing wan heavy and con tinuous and seemed to be from three gung. It was aIHO reported that heavy firing waa heard at in tervals since the first shots. None of the stations gave any indication as to the time the first shots were heard. That the firing must have in- BOYS! Buys, do you want a baseball? Burp you do. Then turn to page 6. their machine guns there— strongly fortified In the rock, Which i'renili urtillery could not pien c. From the impregnable position below ilim villitKP the German In fantry waited confidentlj the ex perted frontal attack. Two columns of French infan tv\ luddcnly began an encinling movement from the right and from the loft. Every movement of these forces was visible to thfl naked eye. The soldiers advanced at almost a strolling pare along the summit of two converging ridges. Their bOdlM were dearly silhouetted against the sky. Neither a veritable CiOtld Of fOirapni'l which sung tow over their heads, nor high explobiv* btmiMi Ill)l' iis shells hindered ili*» slow, measured advance of these forces lor ;i sinj<!o iiiMant. Oiit-Hiii<lonliiiruotl. Not until liotti tliesn columns simultaneously approached tb« outskirts of the villano did th* Germans liidden in tho quarry— still awaiting that frontal attack realize thut thfy hud been "out- Hindcnburged." Instantly they rushed out tholr mtiohiiif nuns in a desperate at tempt to rover a retreat. Hut (hey were too late. The French converging coliiinns nipt behind thfl Villas*, They rut off all n> treat. The r;orm«ns «li<l not relish .in attempt to cut their h.i) through. They linrrlerfly rf tiirtird to the pro!<■< lion of Ilic io<K cn\os. \n«l the li<'ii<li column*. ignoring their MdaMSM mill le;«vlnx their iiltiimite iiNpo'-itinn to other troop*, vuept on to the nifct from the vlllaßf, immip- Ir.'itiim at evi-rv >l«-p <l«*»|K'r Into the OnWM line. dicated Home kind of conflict wa» dedurued from the statement of • navnl official that the Run firing could scarcely have been a salute. Inasmuch us no salute can be fired during win time. si hi; i:\o\cjii U.BOAT llnllril rr<-»» l.rnaril \\ lr*.» WAIHINQTON, April iX. — All doubt that a submarine actually iit>'(l at the r. s. dMtroyar smith |was swept aside today when a ro port direct from the Smith nald ths officer* on watch actnnlly saw a periscope 400 yard* from the v»»- ON UIVKR HI XT (I'nllril I'rru IrmH \Vlr».> ' WASHINGTON. April 18. — Somewhere in the Atlantic today the nuvy is trying to round tip the skulking Qerman submarine which ,ypHtprtla.v flvpd the frist shot of tlin v,;ir .it the V. S. destroyer Smith. The warning to shipping to be waro of this new Inrkinß peril will be lifted only when the submarine has lippn destroyed or raptured, or when it Is reasonaHy sure that she Is streaking homeward. ARGENTINE TAKES OVER TEUT. SHIPS (1 nllril l'rr«. I ri.nl \Vlr».) BUBNOfI AIRKS, April 18. — Argentina formally took all Ger man Interned ships "Into custody" ■ today. Tlio official explanation was the action to prevent German crewa dam-aging tlielr vessels. A formal statement i ■ !;-<i today pointed out that all casualties In Saturday's rioting were foreigners except the policeman killed. GERMANY'S ALLIES STILL WANT PEACE LONDON', April 18.—Reports perMMed here today that Austria, Bulgaria und Turkey were all angling for separate peace agree ments with the entente through secret emissaries.