The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-03-07

not deliver or give credit can, and COM
monty does advertise lower prices. But
both the retailer and the public would
be safeguarded if two sets of prices
were regularly published.
The way prices vary according to
the service offered is exemplified by
the history of carload of oranges de-
livered in New York. 1t was found
that these oranges, all of the same
grade, were sold by various dealers
ranging from push cart peddlers on the
East Side to Fifth avenue Rrocers, at
no less than FIVE different prices. The
lowest was Is cents a dozen. The
highest was Sl05 dozen. And none
of these dealers was making an ex-
cessiye profit. The variation was &C
counted for entirely by the overhead,
and chiefly by rent, delivery and credit.
A large and we'll known grocery store
in Newark took the lead in solving this
problem by establishing what is known
as the three way system" Accord
ing to this plan, the purchaser pays two
per cent. on all credit accounts, and a
fixed charge for each delivery, while if
heGpays cash and carries home his pur-
chase, he gets the benefit of the lowest
possible price. This system is rapidly
spreading.
In number of western towns, of
which Stockton, California, is one, CO.
operative delivery systems have been
org anized by the grocers at a great
saving to their patrons. Other small
towns have made savings by the
system of making but one delivery to
one family each day. Denver and
Leadville IN Colorado have been pioneers
in this method. Soliciting of orders
has been discontinued in nlany towns.
The "groceteria," which originated
IN Los Angeles and is spreading rapidly
in the West, is perhaps the most radical
and one of the most satisfactory de-
| partures from the old retailing system.
| The grOceteria operates on the same
principal as zone arm" dairy lunch.
Everything is laid out on counters,
with paper bags at hand, while staples
are put up in pound packages. The
purchaser selects his own goods, wraps
them, and pays cashier on the way
out
All of those systems not only reduce
the cost of food, but they economic
man power. They are good examples
of how patriotic cooperation may ac-
complish what it would be hard to get
by the exercise of arbitrary power. The
grocers have given not II ereIy obedience
to mandates, but also the benefit of
their ideas and special knowledge.
Another example of this is the move
ment among retailers to constitute
themselves advisers of their patrons,
telling frankly what foods offer the
best values, counselling against hoard
ing and extravaganza. The New Orleans
grocers, among others. have put them
selves on record as favoring this trade
policy.
The cooperative method of the Food
Administration is further evidence in
its personnel. The men that head the
various departments are themselves
dealers IN foodstuffs, presidents of
dealers associations, heads of great
food manufacturing and export
ing companies. One of these men
recently put through a food conserva-
ton measure which cost his own com
pany 500, 900. Another lost personally
$25, 600 which he could have made if
he had been outside the Food Admins
tration instead of in it. These men are
doubtless not as radical in their methods
as some others would be. But here is
evidence that they have not approached
their tasks in any picayune spirit.