Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-18


their 'bit' toward the war are throwing to
the four winds more than S4SO,OOO a week
because Of Their "inehiciency, negligence, ox-
trayagance and wastefulness" in the man
sesment Of home budgets.
This is severe indictment to draw
AGAINST the fair sex, and particularly
Philadelphia fcminity, but Reno Schoch, sec
rotary Of the Retail GroCers Association of
Philadelphia, is sponsor for the charge.
Today he discarded the cares of business
and for a half hour played the role of prose-
eutor against the Quaker city women. In
a merciless TRADE he branded PHILADELPHIA
housAwives as "slaCkers," asserted that they
are giving no thought to the war, and in
rmming up paid them the compliment of
being "wasteful, eXtravagant and negl-
gent"
The war and its connection with the COR
ner grocer brought forth the Indictment
for Schoch, as secretary Of the association
that has a membership Of 1900 grocers. as
serts that he reflects their attitude toward
the housewives.
That the war is the least Of the corner
\ grocers' troubles and that the housewives
threaten to drive them out Of business was
one Of the outstanding features of his state
nent.
Here are few solid shots fired into the
Philadelphia camp Of handsome femlninity
by Schoch:
There are approximately 5000 grocers
IN the city, and they do an average business
Of $500 a week. or total of S2,IOOOOO.
store bills can be reduced by 20 per cent
with little effort, and the health of Phila-
dephia will not suffer. That means that
$4,000 a week can be saved by house,
wives If they practice ordinary common.
sense rules of economy and eliminate foolish
Injuries.
zone Item amounting to approximately
A 10 nnn
year which represents the cost Of delivery
charges, can be relegated to the bottom Of
the Delaware River for all time
The women are largely responsible for
high prices because they make grand
rush for every article that is boosted Il
half cent. That means that the following
day the article is Eited higher and the buy
3 ing keeps up
Instead of devoting their time TO avia-
tion and navigation, they ought to get busy
and learn how to buy groceries.
Every church, cub and civic oTganiZa-
ton ought to engage in a campaign Of cdu-
cation and carry the message of practical
economy to the housewives"
GROCERY PRICES TOO HIGH
1t was suggested to Mr. Schoch that he
contine himself to the war and offer some
suggestion as to how the corner grocer Is
Anected and how he can cope with the
stress Of war conditions SchoCh made it
l'Aih Nilt'N iit upll GNltlNti Lllt " a. S'NN'N
ton but, as a wholesale grocer, insisted
mat the war problems can be handled by
The Army and Navy Department.
Business" he said, "is splendid. No
BODY is complaining, but the prices are too
high, The little fellow in the trade is hard
MT because the high prices mean bigger
Investment, and that is a difficult problem
to meet
$4SO,OOO A WEEK WASTED
1T is up TO the woman to solve that
problem and they can. l believe that the
most important work to be performed by
war committees in Philadelphia is the edu-
cation of the housewives. Consider what
tHO'OOO week will do if diverted to relief
ehahnels l have been conservative in my
estimates for every day l am getting re-
ports from grocers. They tell the same
s'ory and place the blame for present-day
conditions upon the housewives
What can the housewives do to aid the
srocers? At the outset they must stop
puying in large quantities Buy, but buy
as they need the groceries. Don't hoard
groceries, because by doing so they lose
Inc groceries spoil and the run on the
market boosts the price for the real poor.
SPECIMEN OF EXTRAVAGANCE
To Illustrate the extravaganza and in
competency Of the housewives Schoch Of
Tered the following illustrations:
mrs. Brown enters grocery store and
package She Immediately buys four
umes more than she needs and her ex
Imple Is followed by others. The next day
me Wholesale price of cereals owing to the
Aonormal demand, is boosted, but the wom-
buy more
Mrs. Jones, who has some money, rushes
70 The grocer and PUTS in a 5000 stock
groceries. What happens? Half the
STUN will spoik before It is used and she
mas mas contributed to a price-boosting cam
Mrs White, who before her marriage
ed dinner with an anchovy, insists
,h, poh having them now and pays from
e. 10y 10 torty-fve cents for six fish. That
pure extravaganza.
mrs Black reads that the Government
~, requested tin can makers not to sell
s, products to bean factories, and feeling
ms, uhat canned beans will hit the ceiling
da,Nts rush for the grocery. The next
"e price on canned beans goes up"
WAREHOUSES; ALL FILLED
N senoeh asserted that there is no reason
e,.S alarmed over food shortage and
ttsn.,e the condition Of warehouses to sub
haate his statement. Every warehouse
n ~ handles foodstuffs," he added, "is filled
AM he roof 1t is difficult finding space in
served" o'iS esu'ai p"''o"' a.
,Sohcluding, he became less severe on the
Ssa nen and suggested that they turn over a
~ leat today. 81 can tell them" he
snS mat they need not fear that men
fh.seu IN the making of luxuries will lose
esr employment A few may, but they
49, De absorbed in other industries. They
6r,o not Tear high prices, or rather bigger
es' They can control the price situation
advice Is this; When the price Of an
ssse Is boosted let II remain on the
hs ss OF the stores. - 1t won't remain OF
~, snelyes more than a week before tht
~, NV, after all we can stop using b1