Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-07
TRI-ClTIES EACH
DAY SET PRICES,
WHEELER ADVICE
State Food Administrator Tells Local
Retailers 10 Follow Plan In
Chicago.
GOVERNMENT rs NOT ARBITRARY
Declares That Authorities Take Local
Conditions Into CoRsldera-
ton First.

The United States government Is
not arbitrarily fixing the price OF
foodsiuns without regard 10 cOndi-
tons as they exist ia each community
This was the point driven home in
an address made by Harry a. Wheeler.
state food administrator. before a
large gathering OF gr0cers, meat mar
KIT owners and wholesalers at the
Roc Island club yesterday afternoon,
faIloe ing the mass meeting which was
held AZ the Masonic temple earlier.
In HIS address TO the retailers and
wholesaletg MF Wheeler explained
that the prIce Of foods as quoted in
the Chicago Capcrs each day is the
result of a conference OF retailers and
wholesalers held in that city each
morning. This committee is compos-
ed Of men representa- each branch
Of the business Of retailing and whole
sailing foods. They meat and canvass
the prices al which foo0stuhs can be
procured the lowest and the highest
quotations, and then agree on lair
and equitable price These price lists
are published each day in the city
press as o guide TO shoppers IN the
nope Of forming public opinion as to
what may be expected. He advised
hat the same plan be carried oCt in
other centers, taking into con8dera-
ticn always existing conditions, AND
ne was OF the opinion that it would be
desirable for the three cities OF this
community 10 determine and agree
upon the proper price TO charge in
each OF the three cities He said that
the retailer today has a hard row to
hoe because OF the fact that the house
wife reading In the papers the price
uf foodstuifs III other localities, and
price lists that are not changed each
day, comes 10 the conclusion that she
ls being robbed, that she is paying too
much for certain article Of food. and
5traightway goes with her complaint
o her dealer; whereasi if an absolute
ly correct list had been furnished the
papers each day she would know ex-
actly what she is expected 20 pay and
he plan would save her and the deal
ar, too, lots Of worry and trouble.
To Avoid F0OA Cards.
He spoke Of the necessity of saving
concentrated foods. which has become
national duty He said il has be-
come case Of got to" and he who
does otherwise is Stacker Of the
worst Kind He spoke especially OF
the necessity OF conserving wheat and
sugar, the latter staple being prac-
tically exhausted ia Europe to such
an extent that the situation is becOm-
\ ing critical He advised the retailer.
- limit the sale Of certain products
-including sugar, giving each customer
certain number of pounds checking
up each customer that he does not
take advantage OF any situation Tie
advised the buying in smaller quaint
ties and the avoidance of speculation
He predicted that unless the stapleI
mentioned in. the food conservation
proclamation be conserved shat tn,
rear 1918 would show great Difficult
les in the procuring of foods and tina
he year 1919 would witness in Amer
lea a strict distribution Of food b,
ards Asked as to what would hap
pen TO the man who refused to sell il
small Qusntities and TO assist the gov
eminent IN its effort TO conserve, h,
replied that bis supply would be shu
)d and that dealer would be place,
b. the same class with the Stacker
aud branded as such, and placed II
such position that it would be i'm
possible for him to procure supple
with which TO continue his business.