Evening star., 1914-08-22
CITIZENS |NDORSE
WHOLESALE PLAN
Clubs Formed for Purchase of
Market Supplies for the
Households.
METHOD FOR REDUCING
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Department of Justice to Continue
Probe Of High Prices-Gratify-
ing Reports Received.

Wholesale buying clubs were in evil
dence on the municipal fish and produce
markets today. Reports received at the
District building indicated that scores
of citizens had adopted the suggestion
of the weights, measures and markets
department, and organized community
leagues for the purpose of obtaining food
supplies at wholesale prices.
That the plan. which is designed to af-
ford temporary relief for high-price
food sufferers. may be considered 20
have had successful inauguration was
the statement this afternoon of John H.
Sherman, superintendent of weights,
measures and markets.
According to this official. dealers al
the two municipal markets showed nc
disposition to discriminate against pur-
chasers buying In wholesale lots and, in
many instances agreed to deliver produce
to the headquarters of leagues
Lectures on Community Method.
AS the community league method be-
comes more generally understood through
the thrice-a-week lectures to be delivered
at the District building by Mr.. Sherman.
greater quantities of foodstuffs will be
bought at wholesale by consumers, and
it is anticipated that by another week the
plan will be in fun operation.
Regret was expressed again today by
Mr.. Sherman that the organization OF
community leagues will work hardship
upon retailers who. he states, cannot be
blamed Tor the high cost of living.
1t is for this reason he hopes that the
leagues will disappear as soon as the
present food crisis is passed. In place OF
them, he urges. there should be organized,
under direction of the federal authori-
ties, a comprehensive market plan, in
which there will be use for the middle
man.
Mr.. Sherman's next lecture TO house
keepers will be delivered in the hoardroom
of the District building Monday morning.
beginning at II O'Clock.
Reports Gratifying to Officials.
Although continuing to probe the
sources of the increased food prices to
the end that those found responsible
would be Jailed, the Department OF
Justice officials, nevertheless. were
much gratified this morning when
further reports of the price of -four
dropping back to normal came in. One
of the reports was from Minneapolis, a
-four center, and 1t told Of the sudden
soon after the discovery of circular
letter fixing prices.
There has been and will be no let up
in the Investigations which were started
simultaneously all over the country at
the instigation of President Wilson. The
cases will be pressed with all the force
at the hands of the Department of JUS
tice, and there now seems certainty
that grand juries in this city, Chicago.
Brooklyn and three other cities.
~ nf f.
ment at present will not reveal.
will be asked to return indict-
ments against certain ones found In
have been engaged in manipulating food
prices. thereby forcing much suffering on
the wage-earners. IN Chicago the effort
to Jail offenders will be made imme-
diately, and in the other cities all ex-
pedition possible will be used.
Beef Packers Face Prosecution.
Despite the unwillingness of officials
to discuss the investigation at the
present time, 1t was learned last night
that information has been obtained
concerning beef packers in Chicago
which may result in prosecutions. De-
partment of Justice agents, 1t was
said, have discovered that packers are
shipping large qualities of meat
across the Canadian border. At the
vancing. Department officials are at
a loss to explain how the packers can
export meat and still plead that there
is shortage. 1t was understood here
that the packers have not taken kindly
to this latest investigation of the gov
ernment.
The plan adopted has been to look
into the affairs Of branch houses, and
the packers have objected and insisted
that the Investigations be made at
headquarters.
The raise in the price of sugar has
led to renewed interest among depart
ment officials in the investigation OF
the supposed connection between the
so-called sugar trust and the beet
suger interests. All during the morn
ing reports of the sugar advances, al
ways the same amount, came pouring
into the department.
Frightens the Price F1xers.
Reports to the Department of Justice
| today indicated that the governments in.
vestigation was having the good effect OF
frightening the price tixers into reducins
their charges to a point near where they
| were before the war in Europe began
This Is true Of Chicago and points ir
North Dakota, in which state the investi
cation had the effect Of forcing down tn,
price Of lemons.
The United States attorney in Soutl
| Dakota reported that the decided increas,
| in the price of foodstuffs Is due to ths
quotations by wholesalers and jobbers IL
| the large commercial centers outside o
| his state; that travelling men within tn,
state receive daily price lists from thest
| jobbers, advising them Of current prices
He SAYS that farmers are holding theil
old and new wheat, anticipating higher
| prices on account of disturbed European
| conditions; that elevator men have mad,
| special efforts to have the wheat brough
| to market, but that the farmers seem dis
posed to hold off and take their chances