Evening star., 1912-01-19
By Frederic J. Haskin.

While thecontroversial fires rage over the
problem Of the cost Of living, many reme-
dies for the condition are proposed.
Among the first Of these is reduction Of
the admittedly large expense Of distri-
button Of the products which go to make
up the items which cost the consumer
money The system Of distribution has
become such that there are a number of
distinct castles in the fabric Of CONNER
cial operation. The consumer must pa
tronize the retailer. 1t Is impossible for
him to induce the wholesaler to sell di-
rectly to him. II the consumer goes to a
wholesale store and tries to buy goods at
wholesale prices, he is met with the an
swer that they can be sold to dealers
only.
1t Is not a question of quantity which
determines whether the buyer shall be en-
titled to the privilege of purchasing at
wholesale. There are many cases on rec
ord where the consumer has approached
the wholesaler, will ng to buy even a
larger quantity than many retailer buys.
yet. without exception, the consumer is
informed that unless he is a retail dealer
he cannot get the advantage Of wholesale
prices.
This refusal to sell direct to the con-
sumer on the part Of the wholesaler is
made without respect to
Without persons. Even a United
p..;,,: States senator. going to a
AAeJ"uA0o' wholesale dealer in the
city of Washington and trying to buy his
provisions at wholesale prices, Is met win
a prompt refusal, as Senator Smoot OF
Utah can bear witness. Last year ne oe-
cided that he would overcome some OF
the high cost of living In Washington Dy
going to the wholesaler for his commooi-
ties. He was informed that there was an
ironclad rule against the wholesaler sell
ing directly to the consumer.
Another instance Of the same sauaoIl s,
occurred to a prominent Washihstoh
newspaper correspondent. He has con
siderable family. and decided tnat ne c
would endeavor to buy his nousenolu
supplies at wholesale. He Went 70 e uie
of the leading grocers OF the CITY, Muo
does both a wholesale and retail nusi-
ness. and asked to buy large nun,Der aI +
of candles He informed the clerk tnat
he wanted to get sumclehl a.;
to enttle him to wholesale quo'".'oiiS. !.
This clerk referred the matter 70 one y,
his superiors. who stated that ne "ouid
be willing to sell the candles a. o. esn.s
a pound wholesale. The coiIeSpouun. -.
had been paying 40 cents AT .,,'.a. Lnn - -.
small quantities. He was not wns "
buy a large amount at such a smai! re-
duction. SO he decided to go oirecuS 10
the Standard OIL Company. Iaele ne
was given a price Of p cents pOunI u. ur
the candles which would have cVss ,senta MN,
~ cents at retail. OF all OF ms a'.enp.s
to buy at wholesale-attempts Mnich
carried him. by correspondence; 20 was ~e the
only one In which he was sucseSsIui III
getting prices most on eSGas Without s M
ent;on he was referred to his nearest
ieaier handling these good goods ,he1e. aac INFORM
d that he could buy them ue tn,. Ltna
Thousands of instances OF TINS hno
might be cited to show the tau.,y sn
ines beyond which the eonsd sar,uar desires
so o' bgy s9 ree Certain brand Of fertilizer and
writes directly to the factory saIoe as % 1nes
which l would be made BY it's agent ,s,diS In the
.erritory in which the fass asa a~.nt Set.
his commission just as much as = ne h,cS ncS
been the instrumentality through "n''n