Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-10
FRUIT MEN CLAIM
WILSON APPROVAL
Say President Did Not Call
Them Responsible for
High Prices
CONFER WITH EXECUTIVE
Conference Here Told Commits
sion Merchants Are Alb
solved of Guilt

When President wilson laid the blame
for the high cost of living upon the middle
man he did not have in mind the growers
and iobbers of fruits and vegetables, 1t was
learned today when President A. u, IIitz
Of the National League of Commission Mer-
chants Of the United States made his OPEN
Ing address at the twcnty-tifth annual con-
ventiOn Of that organization in the Belle
vuc-Stratford President Hitz quoted Presi-
dent Wilson. with whom he and other mem-
bcrs Of the league held a conference last
Monday as denying an intention to involve
fruits and vegetable commission men in
the causes of the high cost of living,
President lIitz, First Vice President T.
w j Hearty of Boston, and w. H. Grupe
representative of the Western Fruit Johhers
Association. had the conference with the
President They cited to him his statement
concerning the responsibility Of the middle
man and told him. President Hitz reported
that they feared his statements would pro-
woke ill-adViSed legislation against the conf
mission merchants.
1t was then the President replied that he
did not have in mind the fruit and vegetable
mddleman. according to President liitHs
report.
''In our interview with the President
he said, I've Informed him that our pur-
pose was to bring about a better under
standing between the Government and the
fruit and produce industry. We offered our
cooperation in any direction which might
prove beneficial We frankly told him that
any measures toward Improvement should
not be attempted by those who are mex
perienced in the fruit and produce business
or by those who proceed only along theoret-
zeal lines. We expressed the opinion that
where high level of values prevailed
abnormal demand and shortage in crops
are mainly responsible. We referred to the
aspersiOns cast upon us by the public ana
in the press and he was gracious enough to
say that ne had no doubt that muCh OF IL
was untrue.
"He appreciated our proffer Of co-opera-
ton, and finally requested that we pursue
the matter further with Secretary Houston,
Of the Department of Agriculture the
President assured us that any recommended
tions along constructive lines would be
welcome Upon our expression of doubt
on this point he replied that any sugges-
tons from us would receive his personal
consideration
Sensational newspapers and petty poll
tcians could hardly have been provided
with topic of more vital fascination TO
the average citizen than one that deals
with the cost of his daily food" President
llitZ continued Numerous attempts have
been made to refute the unjust charges
against US, but apparently little progress
has been made in this direction.
fYou are aware of the recently nstitu-
ted Federal Investigations Personally |
us rather than otherwise, as it has been
our experience that the loudest objectoTs
are those who know nothing of the char
acter Of our business and the peculiar con-
dition with which we have to contend. To
quote Mr. Vanderslip's recent phrase these
economic illiterates' seek 10 dictate rules
Tor a business Of which they are totally
ignorant 1t has been found that almost
invariably as soon as they master the
B Cs Of the business they are attack
ing, their objections are silenCed"
something happened to the city of Phila-
dephas' welcome TO the commission men.
mayor Smith was unable to attend, so he
delegated w. Freeland kendriclI, Receiver
OF taxes, To represent the city, but when
the psychological moment arrived the only
representatives of the municipality on hand
were two giant reserve policemen. Alex
ahder Carson and James Jackson. The two
Policemen presented the president of the
city
Meanwhile f, S. Woodward, chairman
OF the entertainment committee, made sew
slal frantic telephone calls to City Han,
uut no one could be found to act in behalf
OF the city Sidney r. Clark head of the
convention bureau of the Chamber of Com
nleree' greeted the delegates with an ad-
ufess Of welcome in behalf of the chamber
ana accepted the responsibility of also well
coming them TO Philadelphia.
belegates Will ignore the charge brought
against them that hey are responsible for
the the nigh cost of living. according to r. b.
1aynerger, of Philadelphia president of
u'e Philadelphia branch of the league.
we know that the Changers accuse us
., NJ making the cost of living higher" said
ar Clayberger at the Bellevue Stratford,
nsasuqaarters s, of the convention. But we
Nh NH absolutely ignore them. That is all
,Dy "ny Is It that the newspapers are trying to
.h .ihh US up with this high cost of living ques-
ION ION We have absolutely nothing to do
""h H. We will not take up the question
~ ~ Tue nigh cost of living; we will abso-
'u'eiy ignore the Grangers"
KINGSBURY TO SPEAK
n, c. Kingsbury, vice president of the
aiherlean Telephone and Telegraph Com
psny' VIII speak on the subject, The Tele-
'nGhe and the Commission Merchant"
a me otlcers of the organization are: Pres
, A. ID. Hitz, Indianapolis; first vice
,p'itesideht b. ], W. Hearty, Boston; second
~ president, r. b. Clayberger, Philadel-
Una treasurer, d. o, Wiley, Detroit; busi-
ness ness manager and secretary, r. s. French,
CGe" york sergeant-at-arms, S. A Gerard.
more y - "'a"' Dai''-
The Philadelphia committee consists of
y woodward. entertainment chairman;
~ = Butterworth. transportation chair |
1, D. Sayre banquet Russell Wilson, |
sSsss.tslgatlon Robert McCauley hotel COM
George L. Morrison, publicity, and
- . armstrong, finance