The Washington herald., 1910-01-06

That the retail grocers Of Washington
have combined or formed trust to keep
prices of groceries and produce high was
denied last night by members OF the
Washington Retail Grocers Protective
Association at their eighth annual meet
ing in the Hutchins Building.
The occasion was the annual election
OF officers. While no other business was
transacted, the charge against the gro
GERS was Informally discussed and denied
at the close o2 the business session.
1T is hard to believe that sane man
could make the statement that has been
given publicity" said NJ. ]. Whelan. a
member OF the association. doing business
al Third and c streets southwest that
the retail grocers of Washington have
formed combine or trust TO advance
prices in a greedy desire TO increase prof
its. There Is absolutely no truth in the
statement. It IS q well-knOwn fact that
upon no business proposition effecting
the retail grocers' trade Of this city you
could not find any two members of the
trade that would agree upon a plan.
That the retailers have formed combine
is ridiculous It would be an impossi-
bnity
Retailers Not RespOnsible.
The retailers are not responsible for
the high prices of produce That respon-
sibillty lies with the wholesalers to large
extent. The public is misled by the whole
sale quotations published in the papers
Of what produce and provisions can be
purchased for in the open market. We
retailers would like to buy supplies In the
wholesale market at the prices quoted
When we go to the market for our sup
plies we have TO pay from to s cents
more for what we want than are named
in the quotations.
II asked a wholesaler yesterday why Il
was that the published quotations were at
a lower figure than the actual prices
charged. and here is what he told me:
When we are approached for market quo
tations. said the wholesaler. 1t is usually
by kid reporter, who does not know the
difference between strictly fresh stock
eggs and six months old storage stock,
and when we are confronted by such al
legged seekers for information, the quickest
way 10 get rid OF such people is the best
THAT explanation did not satisfy me.
I am sure that the prices are wrongly
quoted for a purpose. first to deceive the
farmer and country merchant. that the
supplies may be purchased by the whole
saler as low as possible. and second, 10
deceive the public and make the con-
sumner believe the retailers charge an
Unreasonable profit for their goods. and
make ii appear that the retailers are
responsible for the high prices. I have
bills from day to day for supplies pur-
chase IN the washington wholesale mar
ket, and every article VIII show that the
prices 1 pay are from three TO five cents
above the current quotation OF the day
the purchase is made"
VIII Fix Responsibility,
z. Z. Fisher, another member Of the
association; F. A Dodge. its president;
Perry p. Patrick, secretary. and others.
made statements similar 10 those made
by Mr.. Whelan. II was stated by officers
Of the association that at an early day
the association will take this matter UP
and plan a campaign that will show the
consumers that the retailers are not re-
sponsible for high prices. and fixing the
responsibility where 1t belongs. A boy
colt against the wholesalers responsible for
false quotations and mistating of the
fact was intimated as a drastic measure.
These officers were elected for the cur
rent calendar year: F. A. Dodge, presi-
dent; J. II, Goodrich, first vice president;
! George z. Bohannon, second vice presi-
dent; Z. z. Fisher. treasurer: Perry P.
Patrick, secretary; Charles +. Diggs, at
torney, and these trustees: ]. H. Good
rich. Z Z. Fisher, ]. T. Fowler. II. S.
Haight, r. E. Smith. L. F. Lusby. H. c.
Rothery, George E. Bohannon, c. V.
Sparrow, J. Brayshaw, jr., F. A Dodge,
| r. z. W Schmidt. II. T. Cover, ]. ID.
| Rollins. and p. A. Newman.