The San Francisco call., 1909-04-27
LOCAL. GROCfRS
PLEDGE SUPPORT
Committee OF Raisin Day Boost
ers on Tour of the
Bay Cities
Stores in Fresno to Close, but
No General Celebration
Will Be Held

FRESH impetus was locally given to
the Raisin day movement yesterday.
when committee of Raisin day work
ers from Fresno, where the idea origi-
mated, came to San Francisco. con-
ferred during the forenoon with the
wholesale grocers of the city, made
WhirlWind campaign by automobile
among the leading groceries of the
north of Market district during the
AFTERNOON and wound up a strenuous
uay py appearing in the evening at
tue monthly meeting of the Associated
retail Grocers' association. which lat
ter organization enthusiastically adopt
ed resolutions pledEing its members.
collectively and individually, to do
everything in their power to boost
aIohs the Raisin day idea. Today the
fresnoites will continue their cam.
paisn In the south of Market district
tomorrow will be devoted to Oakland.
Alameda and Berkeley and the fol-
lowing day the committee will return
10 FRESNO in order to be on hand for
the big doings of Raisin day in the
home of the raisin.
eIhe experiences of the committee
Yesterday fully satisfied its members
that San Francisco may be relied upon
".
has been officially designated as Raisin
day throughout the length and breadth
or America. On every hand they re-
ce1ved assurance and were supplied
with evidence that the grocers of San
francisco, big and little, are doing
their utmost to make Raisin dav the
biggest kind OF a success If the
people of San Francisco do not break
all records in the raisin consuming line
Friday. it will not be for lack of per-
sistent advertising or want of induce
ment In the way of low prices
The visiting boosters from Fresno in
Guided Henry Gundlefinger. r. C. Dor
sey, l.. r. Eccleston aHd III. Grafr. all
prominent businessmen of the Raisin
CITY Joe Steiner of Haas Brothers. p
j. Kennedy OF J. H. Newbauer & Co
j. p. Bradley of William Clunr COMPANY
L. F. Ward of Wellman- company.
e W. Wright, representing Frank b.
Peterson; Jack Ward of TiIlmann &
Bende+ Milton Bernstein of Getz Bros
& Co. and J. L. Gooday of Sussman &
mittee and did yeoman service in facili-
tating its flying tour OF the retail es-
Henry Gundlefinger acted as spokes-
man for the committee and explained
that its object in coming here was to
get IN direct touch with the retailer for
the purpose of inducing him to make
attractive displays of rsisins during the
next few days, with special induce
ments in the way of prices that will
stimulate universal buying. 1t was
stated that the per capita consumption
of raisinS in America is only half a
pound anniallys as against about six
and a half pounds per capita in Great
1oi hot ha
present campaign had been entered into
as much for the purpose of educating
the masses to eat more raisins regular
ly as for the sake of cleaning up the
overstock in the hands of theA Fresno
growers. Gundlehnger claimed that if
the per capita consumption could be
increased to one pound there would
never be a surplus left in the hands of
the growers. and that if the consump-
ton should reach one and a half
pounds, California could not produce
enough to meet the demand.
without exception all the store keep
ers with whom the committee talked
assured them of their hearty sympathy
with the movement. In most cases at
-ractive displays of raisins at bargain
prices attested the interest which they
had already taken. and many an
bounced their intention of redoubling
heir efforts to help the cause along.
Fresno Stores to Close
Special Dispatch TO The Call
FRESNO, April 2s-With but three
lays remaining before California Raj
sin day, the Raisin day committee is
up its work in the campaign.
There will be no general celebration.
however although one was contem-
plated. Several large fraternal orders
are planning picnics for that day and
1t the fair grounds a series of fast
auto races will take place Friday and
Word was received at the Raisin day
headquarters this morning that it
would be impossible for the telegraph
to make 10 cent rate for
Raisin day kilograms, as it would be
Illegal and against the rulings of the
Interstate commerce commission.