The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-30
RETAIL GROCERS'
POSITION KNOWN
State Association Fights
Increase.
KnanE lAI lAnHh 0llA
TRADE IN HARMONY
Attorney General Norman H. Johnson
States Position of the State AS
ISOLATION and Says Retailers
Appreciate Support Of
J0bbers and Press.

To the Editor: In view of the re-
cent discussion chiefly in the News
and Observer and the Morning Post
relative to the proposed inc ease in
freight rates on less than cur-load
shipments on the prime necessities of
life. viz: Flour. meat, meal, millstuffs
and practically all other necessities, it
is important that due consideration
be given those most vitality affected.
l do not understand that the whole
sale merchants OF our State have ever
oetitioned the Associated Railways
TO make such an increase. in fact,
i am positively sure that they have
never passed any resolution 20 that
effect. The increase as proposed
would be detrimental to their inter-
est for the reasons, viz:
LIST. That the burden of this in
crease would have to be borne by the
retailers. therefore. 1t would place the
smaller merchant who constitute 50
per cent of the retail dealers in ccm-
petition with those merchants who
were able to buy in car load lots. This
would demora'iZe business interest,
because it would invariably lead to
wholesale price cutting; tbs result
of which is easily understood to pro-
duce greater number of failures,
th"ref re-. each failure made by The
bic loss to the wholesaler.
End. The official list Of wholesale
dealers as given out by their assoCia :
ton numbers only ninety-eisht (9S)
members. Some of these are eX-
tremely large dealers, but it can be
positively stated that majority of
these buy the greater bulk of their
products in less than car load lots
therefore, this increase would not only
decrease their profits, but also in
crease the price of their commodities
thus working as a double increase in
the price to their common dependent,
the cons amer. Again it would be
conclusive that the retail trade would
be seriously handicapped by any
method which would raise the price
of the necessities OF life. Now as tbs
manufacturers are largely dependent
upon wholesalers. the wholesaler upou
the retailer, the retailer upon The
consumer, there can be nc question
that all trade interests reciprocal,
therefore, any discrimination made
for the benefit of any particular class
would work lasting hardship upon
the entire trade
The relation of these interests i'll
North Carolina have been more espe-
cially since the organiZa ton of the
North Carolina Association of Retail
Grocers and General Merchants, dis
tinctly harmonious. The very Logic
of the circumstances require it, and
for this reason it is believed that the
greatest good will result by an earn
est protest against the proposed in
crease.
The position OF the North Carolina
Retail Association is hereby stated in
the petition which they have filed
with the Associated Railways, viz:
To the Hon. w. Fl. Fitzgerald, Com
missioner of Associated Railways.
Richmond, Va.
We. the undersigned members of
the Association of Retail Grocers and
General Merchants. a local aSsocid-
tor affiliated with the North Caro-
lima Association of Retail Grocers and
General Merchants, dc respectfully
submit:
That. whereas, we believe the asso-
ciated railroad. to-wit.: the Southern,
Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air
Line. have in contemplation raise in
freight on meats. iloUc, corn. meal.
lard and other staples in less than
car load lots; therefore, be it re-
solved:
81. We believe any raise in freight
on the staples of life at this time.
when the cost of living is SO high,
would lie unjust to u; refill grocrrs.
because the burden would fall almo st
entirely on them as it would be next
to impossible for the retailer to add to
the selling price the additional freight
cost.
''2. That the roads must recognize
the fact that the retail grocers con-