Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 210, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1914 — 31 ARE INDICTED FOR PRICE FIXING [ARTICLE]

31 ARE INDICTED FOR PRICE FIXING

Washington Food Price Boosters > Arraigned—Alleged to Have Used War as Pretext.

Washington, Sept. 4.—Thirty-one food dealers were indicted here today by a federal grand jury under the Sherman law on counts charging price fixing. It was the first big development in the investigation the, department of justice'is conducting at the direction of President Wilson, against f<sod dealers who are alleged to have seized upon the European war as a pretext to increase the cost of living. AIJL the indicted men are local product dealers or commission merchants. No nationally known person was indicted. At the department of justice it was said that government agents working in many states, for evidence of price fixing were expected to make reports the basis of other indictments. Attorney General Gregory has this to say: “Under conditions now existing throughout the world, capitalization of misfortune and oppression of our ojvn people by the arbitrary increase of the prices of foodstuffs are so peculiarly reprehensible that whenever conviction can be obtained the government will insist upon sentences of imprisonmentno fine or no civil remedy will be deemed adequate.”