The San Francisco call., 1908-09-16
FUTURES ARE CURSE
TO RETAIL GROC[RS
Delegates to Annual Convention
Assert That Gambling Is
Prevalent Among Trade
Manufacturers Say Iniudicious
Buying Is Alone to Blame
for Many Failures

Wholesale grocery dealers and tnelr
methods OF selling futures" or prom
ised goods to retailers was the OBJ
jectixe point at which the guns of
criticism were directed last night IN
q debate between the retail grocery
men, assembled in annual convention,
and representatives OF various manu-
featuring concerns. It also developed
during the course OF argument that
methods of gambling similar to those
pursued In the stock market are car
ried on in the grocery trade
N. c Bronkin. a local retail grocery
man. declared that future price fixing
as carried on by 5obbers and manu-
facturers in this state was not only
gambling but "einch" for the whole
saler. He called attention TO recent
failures IN business as an indication
that future buying was harmful TO
the retailers interests. George n.
Bentley. who argued in favor OF
futures.S declared that injudicious buy
ing and overbuying caused the fall
ures and not future buying. Nany
others spoke upon the question G
Mottaz OF Los Angeles was strongest
In his Criticism when he called future
buying "a curse 10 the retailers of
Southern California"
That government civil service en-
ployes are liable to discharge for non
convention last night when message
from Attorney General Charles J. Bona
parte was read II follows:
National Association Of Retail GrocerE-Sirs;
receipt OF the joint resolution Of the Denver:
Colo. s1d the District OF Columbia Grocers.
protective association and 10 say that IL would
be Inappropriate for the different departments
10 act a collection agency for bad debts. II.
however, any OF the suboriinates Of the re-
specrive executive Departments are found 10
~s1.1 4r-s- lwv-- --~xf ~rT%f ff@rrr
sufficient excuse. that IS regarded 9 reason
for their separation from the service Yours re-
spectfrlly, CHARLES J. B0SAPARTE,
Attorney General.
Differences OF opinion as TO whether
politics should enter into association
work were evident during the morning
session. Discussion on the subiec;
was brought about by the statement OF
Clarence Edwords OF the California
Promotion committee. who. IN the open-
ing speech of the day, declared that
politics should not enter into a COM
mercial organizations work
The statement was refuted by ]. r.
Newberry. vice president OF the Pa
ciflc coast retail grocers' association
who made the statement that politics
should play an important part in the
securing Of legislation favorable TO the
grocers-
Incidentally, the subject OF graft was
broached by Edwords and he explained
that IN San Francisco graft is brought
TO the surface Continuing, he said:
IF other cities were to do as San Fran
cisco has done in the matter Of weed
ing out the grafters, this city would
have no cause TO blush.
The somewhat startling statement
was made By Newberry during his ad-
dress that II per cent OF the retail
grocers In the state fail in business
because of dishonest manufacturers and
dishonest fellow retailers. He<parucu-
larly dwelt upon the robber methods
of the Standard oil company, declaring
that retail grocers' losses on STANDARD
oil products are per cent.
Echoes Of the days when the Cali
fornia safe deposit and trust company
succumbed visited the convention dur
ing the afternoon. when Joseph King
q prominent San Francisco grocer
made q successful motion TO reimburse
the associations treasurer with 5000
which had been lost through the fail
ure OF the bank
The parcels post bill found q good
friend IN Newberry IN the face OF the
general opposition 10 the. measure
which developed on the opening day.
Newberry claimed that the parcels post
bill favored the small dealer and was a
step toward government ownership OF
the public service utilities. He termed
the express ompanies ''the bigges;
trust in the world
Retail trade abuses, needed legisla-
ton and price cutting formed topics
for committee reports and general dis
cussion late in the afternoon Depart
ment store methods OF alleged price
cutting were condemned by several
speakers. Unfinished business and q
trip TO the beach IN chartered cars will
comprise today's session The conven-
ton will close tonight with & ban.
ouet in the Bismarck cafe.