The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-14
Topeka Clubs Discuss Boycott
at Chamber of Commerce.
FORTY ATTEND NOON MEETING
Frank Haskell Says There's No
Corner on Eggs.
He Asserts Boycott VIII Hurt
the Farmers.

Another meeting OF the Centrdl ClN-
ic committee must be held before any
action is decided upon relative to the
| high cost of living. That was the de-
cision reached late this afternoon fol-
| lowing a three hours meeting OF the
committee at the Chamber OF Com
merce. The Central Civic committee
includes representatives of nearly ev-
cry club in the city.
| The representatives were instructed
| to return reports of the proceedings
to their respective organizations and
| receive instructions from the organ
| izations Instructed, the representa-
tives will return to another meeting
of the committee and decide what ac-
ton should be taken.
Certain Topeka grocerymen declar-
ed today that many of the club women
anticipating a boycott on butter and
eggs had recently purchased enor-
nous supplies for secret consumption
N case the boycott should be declared
Forty men and women representing
practically every club. in Topeka met
at the Chamber of Commerce this
noon and discussed the high cost OF
| living 1t was anything but optim-
| istic discussion following addresses by
w. H. Davis of the Davis Mercantile
| company and Frank Haskell of the
/ Beatrice Creamery company.
! World peace and not boycott Is
4 the only solution of the hight cost OF
| living providing the people still con-
| tinue to eat according to a statement
| by w H. Davis. Mr.. Davis didn't talk
| long but his remarks were effective in
describing conditions as they exist on
I the living proposition.
4 Prices to be Higher.
Until the world is at peace we have
no relief in sight" said Mr.. Davis.
'sGroceries and other commodities will
be still higher, in price in a short time
Many articles are being sold by retail
ers purchased under old contracts be-
fore the supply had diminished. When
these goods expire they must purchase
/ more and they will be still higher.
LAS long as the warning nations are
nothing but consuming countries we
are going to suffer from the high cost
of living. Before the war they dumped
goods into this country whenever our
prices became high enough to war
rant their shipment to America Now
they are buying our goods.
Frank Haskell stated that the high
price of butter and eggs would be re-
duced automatically by the decreased
consumption, boycott or no boycott.
He denied that speculation did any
thing but increase the market price
of eggs and butter, temporarily. He
read government statistics to show
that a smaller percentage of eggs and
butter are in storage at this time than
at the same time last year.
Need Concentration.
The conversation swerved from
one living proposition to another
taking in municipal control, or cen
tralization of distributing centers in
Topeka for comm odities. Mr.. Haskell
took the milk dealers and told of the
cost of delivery caused by half a
dozen dealers with wagons distribut-
ing milk on the same block.
But you let Rill Davis over there
buy up all the dairy farms around To
peka.'' said Mr.. Haskell, "and ii
wouldn't be two months that you'd all
be crying bust the trust
| "Our whole system of thought and
reasoning must be changed before the
waste and high prices we complain OF
can be reduced to any extent. And
most of our laws must be changed
too"
Mrs s. S. Beggs, president of the
Woman's club, explained the object OF
the meeting to get representatives Of
, all clubs present and have them de.
eide on some concentrated action.
IF we refrain or boycott" SAID
Mrs. Beggs, sit does not necessarily
mean that we will refrain on eggs ant
r butter alone"
Hurt the Farmers.
If refrain movement is decided
upon, Mr. Haskell advised that it bt
taken on articles other than butter ol
I eggs, declaring that such action woulC
s harm the farmers of Kansas, Will,
a boycotts on other goods would no
= harm the home folks as greatly
Both Mr.. Haskell and Mr. Davis de
L clared that the retailers were no
: making heavy profits nor were tn
1 commission men. Commission men
they declared. were absolutely essen
tial under supply and demand condi
tions in existence at this time. Hardl,
question was asked while the tw,