Evening star., 1914-08-21

who have had much experience In buy
ing and are familiar with the tricks to
which some INSCRIPTIONS wholesale deal
ers resort to work off inferior goods at
exorbitant prices, in which they are sue
cessful when dealing with the amateur
buyerr and 1t is due to him, the small re-
taller, and to the great competition in
this line, that the wholesale dealers are
not able to charge just what they please
for the goods which pass through their
hands.
Such a system of buying from the
wholesale dealer as Is recommended by
the superintendent of weights. measures
and markets will put the retailer out of
business and thereby destroy the compe-
tition which is the greatest factor in
keeping the prices within the reach OF
those whom the gentleman means to aid,
and to whom aid Is necessary. and leave
him entirely at the mercy OF few men
who are financially able to keep the
goods in their warehouses Unless they
get the prices which they ask. We must
remember that it is far easier for the
dozen or two wholesale dealers to organ
ize for cooperative selling than it Is for
Washington's 10000 consumers to organ
ize for cooperative buying.
Not a Produce Dealer.
am not produce dealer, nor have 1
ever been engaged in this business. On
the contrary, I have spent the larger
part of my life on a farm, and 1 find that
the problem Of the producer and the
problem of the consumer are Identical
that Is. to eliminate as far as possible
the middleman and bring the prices paid
by the consumer and the prices paid to
the producer closer together. And to ac-
complish this end the farmers Of almost
the entire country are endeavoring to or
ganize in each community produce
IN ha fYc 1f
their produce. Many Of these have been
successfully organized and are being sue
cessfully operated.
But each one that has proved success
who had previously proved his ability to
conduct with success a business of this
character. They have practically elimt-
mated the commission merchants in COM
munites where they prevail. Now why
not let the consumers organization for
cooperative buying meet them half way?
II they would through their organized
efforts eliminate the little groceryman,
why not go step farther and instead OF
buying from the wholesale dealers buy
direct from the farmer or the produce
exchange, which represents him and of
which he is member?
Must Have Buyer.
When your clubs have been organized
you will find that the biggest problem is
yet to be solved. for unless you are rep
resented by some one familiar with this
class Of buying and acquainted with the
wholesale trade you need not expect to
get the class Of goods you have been
accustomed to. and the prices may be
expected to be higher than you have
paid. or II the prices are the same the
goods are likely to be inferior. It is go
ing to be impossible to find the right
person to do your buying without paying
fair salary for the services thus rem
dered. and when you have paid that
you have paid the equivalent Of the re-
tailer's profit. thus having nothing as a
net gain for the trouble Of organizing
your club.
Please let me say in conclusion that II
is not my purpose to criticise the plan
of the superintendent of weights. meas
ures and markets to form cooperative
buying clubs. but. on the contrary. to
urge the consumers of Washington to
go one step farther-eliminate the middle
man. unite with the farmer and make
the price paid by the consumer and that
paid to the producer one and the same
H. E. CAMERON.