Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-31
ARE TIRED OF BEING MuLCTED.
Ohio GrOcers Are Preparing n Cruz
sade on Dishonest Purchasers.
Che Grocery WOrl(

All over the country the retail grocers
are waking up to the necessity OF securing
greater protection for themselves. Du-
ring the last few days very important
campaign has been commenced in the
State OF Ohio. being started by the Retail
Grocers' Association OF Columbus.
The campaign is to compel the various
employees in the various Offices OF the
State TO pay their grocery bills or 10 get
oft OF the public service. 1t seems that the
grOcers of Ohio are bitterly troubled by
the thievery of clerks and other public
employees who contract grocery bills and
refuse 10 pay them. These men. as
rule, have but little real estate, although
in possession of usually good salaries. II
this condition existed In Illinois, where
there is "a new garnishment law, the re-
taller would be protected, but in Ohio. no
matter how good Il salary man may
draw, the grocers are not benefited, be-
cause 1t cannot be attached.
The grocers of Ohio, particularly OF the
Columbus Association, have made up their
minds that this thing must stop. Either
public officials will pay their grocery bills
or else they must stop living from the
public crib. The campaign has been
started upon one particular case. A clerk
I'm the office Of the State Commissioner OF
Railways and TelegraDhs several years
ago contracted with a member OF the
Columbus Association a bill OF $50 for
groceries, and for several years has neg
lected TO pay 1t. The clerk is a we'll
known politician, and actually got Of
Tended because the grocer to whom he
owed this bin seemed anxious TO collect
IT. All efforts on the part Of the grocer
and the association Of which he is
member to interest the head OF the de-
partment I'm which the clerk Is employed
and the Governor, in the matter have so
far failed so that the association has now
taken the matter up In dinerent way.
They are now taking it up from n polit-
cal standpoint.
Governor Bushnell OF Ohio. who has
been made convorsant with the shysting
of this clerk. and with the shystlng or
others in the service OF the state, has
entirely neglected 20 do anything in the
matter. An attempt will now be made to
reach him through the medium of poll
tics. At a special meeting OF the Column
bus Association. held few days ago.
motion was put that the secretary be di-
rected TO correspond with all the retail
grocers' associations In Ohio for the pur-
pose of ousting dead-beats from the State
service, or making them pay their bills.
Another motion was carried that Il state
ment OF the case OF the aforesaid clerk
be printed and sent to every retail grocer
in the State OF Ohio, so that the entire
trade will be on their guard against him.
Accompanying the report Of this meeting,
and the statement Of the case under dis
cussion. which will be sent TO all Ohio
associations. will be suggestion that
some action be taken upon IL by every
y ssociation at once, either in the way or
resolutions or a protest 10 be sent TO the
Governor and the head of the dishonest
clerks department. SO. that into the
State House of Ohio will probably soon
pour bushels Of official protests against
shysting and thievery on the part Of
public clerks and officials supported at
the pullic exDpnge