Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-20
BOYCOTT AS WEAPON
AntJ-Food Trust League Plan
ming to Expand.
BRANCH IN DELAWARE
Believed That Maryland and Penn
sylvania Will Follow.
WAGING WAR ON HIGH PRICES
Circular Being Distributed to Meet
Calls for Information Tells of
Experience in Germany.

AN incident which occurred in Ger
many some years ago will illustrate the
general plan upon which the league is
founded" says the circular being circu-
lated by the Ami-Food Trust League. A
combination Of capitalists bought up all
the available coffee of the empire. and
then forced the prices up to an extor-
tomato degree. Thereupon some vagrant
genius in parliament conceived the bril-
liant idea of calling upon the German
people through the press to discontinue
the use of coffee on a specified day. The
idea spread through the empire like
whirlwind. and on the appointed day
there was general ,discontinuance of
the use Of coffee Four days later the
combine collapsed. with heavy losses.
But more important advantage than
the cheapening of coffee was gained. for
since that time no other combination has
ventured to test the patience. endurance
and temper of the German people. In
the same way, we propose to unite the
consumers of the United States.
Interest Widespread.
DR.. Emil L. Scharf, founder of the
league. who was elected it's first presi-
dent, announced today that he had re-
cieved HUNDREDS of letters from all parts
of the country, in which requests were
made for information concerning the
methods of organization of the league
and a statement of it's exact purposes.
DR.. Scharf had printed today a circular
descriptive of the movement. and these
will be distributed with lavish hand.
Delaware will be the first state to have
IA branch of the league. Following a
request from citizens of Wilmington, Del.
DIR. Scharf will go to that city this even
ing. and at meeting at the Hotel Clay
ton will appoint a state director for Del
aware and will supervise the organlza-
ton of a branch league which Will con-
troll the movement in the state. Similar
branches will probably be formed In
Maryland and Pennsylvania. with head
quarters, respectively, in baltimore and
Philadelphia.
Appeal to Householders.
The circular descriptive of the move
ment is written under the caption of
1.-The Anti-Food Trust Leag." CDr. Scharf
is an advocate of phonetic spelling and
he insists that "Leag" spells League"
Also he argues that. since he is teach
ing economy. the work can have no bet
ter beginning than In an economy Of let
ters)
1t is addressed to the "Householders
of America" and In substance 1t reads as
follows:
1.-THE object OF this league is to restrict
the demand for any particular food pro-
duct by the simultaneous discontinuance
by the members of the league and their
friends of the use of such product for
given time, not definitely stated in the
interdict, thus creating the only effective
means through which lower prices can
be secured and unfair prices prevented in
the future.
Remedy for High Prices.
High prices are caused legitimately by
the demand. illegitimately by the mach
nations OF copfederated greed Decrease
the demand 10 per cent and the prices
will fall 10 per cent. Decrease the de-
mand 80 per cent and prices will fall 30
per cent. Fillthe streets of your citl with
gold; If no one wants it. If there is no
use for it. the authorities will have to re-
move it as rubbish. High prices in your
city will be impossible If all the house
holders belong to this league.
Food is the original product of the
farmer, but the farmer is not organized
against the consumer, and receives only
a fair measure of profit for his products
4N0ilucF iS ILLS Icd6uc organized against
the farmer. 1t has no grievance against
him. We do not fight the cents he gets
at the present time for pork, but we shall
fight the speculative prices from cents
to 30 cents q pound.
There will be state and local city and
town directors in every state of the
Union. They will be required to furnish
to the national secretary monthly reports
of food prices in their sections When it
appears that extortionate prices are
charged in any section of the country the
proper national officers shall advise the
members of the league to discontinue the
use of such food article until further
notice.
Housewives the Authorities.
I'VE have for our guidance the most
| reliable of all authorities on high prices
the consensus OF opinion Of the house
wives of the country. They have no
! need TO read long and tiresome reports
| OF investigation about high prices They
| have before them the grocer's bill, and
that tells the tale far more emphaticalIy
| and clearly than official reports Of gov
| eminent or congressional experts, who
| probably do not know the market price.
H. 9t