The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-09

1
crat called upon Mr.. John c. Dueber.
proprietor OF the Dueber Watch Case
Manufacturing company, Thursday
morning, and asked him as to the
truthfulness of the report that he was
at the head of a movement to start an
antitrust grocery in Canton. Mr.. Due
ber talked at some length quite enter
tainingly ON the subject of the grocers'
| trust. He said:
II am glad to see the stand that your
paper has taken. The attitude of the
News-Democrat is exactly right, and
the agitation should be kept up.
II cannot say that intend starting
grocery establishment. but have
been in consultation with B. H. Kroger,
of Cincinnati, who contemplates such a
venture. He has been here trying to
secure a location, and has made an ef-
fort to buy the Ed. Meyer corner on
Tuscarawas street. There seems to be
corner in uptown property. for prices
are SO high that it seems impossible to
buy anything at a fair price.
"Mr. Kroger has had remarkably
successful career as dealer in grocer
les. He has ample capital and buys his
goods all at wholesale. He does not
need to pay the profits Of two or three
middle dealers. He buys
COFFEE BY THE SHIP LOAD
and browns it himself. He is at pres
ent conducting 32 groceries In Cincin-
natl, and II he can secure a location here
and establish a store he will give the
public the benefit of his facilities for
buying and there will be a revolution
in prices and methods.
"The way the grocery business Is
carried ON here is great detriment to
the city and a hardship upon the labor
ing classes. There is, no competition.
The more grocery stores there are the
higher prices have to go. There Is q
certain amount Of trade, and it has to
be divided so as to give each dealer not
less than 81 900 year profit. There
are about 120 grocery stores In the city
and this means that the people pay at
least $12O,0OO year in profits to keep
these people up. OF course some make
over that amount, and that is low es-
innate. figure this simply on business
principles.
IF new dealer starts in business.
instead of adding to the competition and
bringing down prices, the dealers get
together and
RAISE THE RATES HIGHER
instead of making reduction. There
is just SO much trade, and II It Is d.
vided up among greater number the
profits must be greater to keep up the
additional expenses Of the new store
and give proprietor and the other
dealers their 81, 900 or more profit.
IF any one dealer attempts to do
business on an independent basis and
as his judgment dictates, then the other
dealers Immediately commence fighting
him and denounce him for his independ-
ence. The result Is that groceries can
be purchased in Cleveland. Cincinnati
and other large cities cheaper than
they can here.
"The fact Is that I and large num-
ber OF others send away for a great
manysof our goods. There are some
things that you cannot get here. and
many others that you can send away
for and get cheaper. l never saw busi-
ness conducted anywhere like 1t is In
this city among the grocers. Take for
instance the people who work in our
factory. They work ten hours day.
When their days work is done. every
grocery store In town is closed up, ex-
cept on Saturday night. How are they
to buy? They cannot afford to take q
half a day to make some little purchase,
and as result they have found that 1t
is much easier and more convenient to
drop postal card to some outside deal
er and get just what they want
AT "A CHEAPER RATE.
"There Is great effort being made
to secure new industries. / think we
should take care of what we have and
the men WHO work in them. These men
are robbed by grocery dealers, and have
no way to help themselves. Some Of
the grocers invest thousand dollars
and expect to make a thousand dollars
O year on the investment. when accord
ing to the rule Of business their legiti-
mate profit should be $50 year. The
public generally is paying this big in
terest that grocers demand for being In
the trade.
"The grocers' trust is killing the
town. It keeps away industries and is
hardship on the class that can least
stand II. Take for instance the truck
gardeners. There is no better section
for truck gardening than around Cau-
ton, yet because Of the grocers' trust
the men who raise the vegetables are
not allowed to sell them direct to the
consumer, but are compelled to accept
just what the grocers give them, which
IL low price, and then It Is usually
sold to the people In stale condition
| and ct m exorbitant price.
"GRrdcners should be allowed to sell
thsis products directly to the people.