The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-17
NEW STEP FOE PROTECTION or
PEOPLE 1NAUGURATED By THE
GOVERNMENT.
Forty Thousand Retailers 70 BE Sent
Pledges And Patriotic oneS VIII
Sign Them.

Tho Federal Food Administration for
West Virginia received the following no
tice from Washington yesterday:
Another important step in the con-
troll Of retail food prices has been taxi
en- by the food administration In a ma
tional campaign 10 obtain pledges from
all OF the 100000 food retailers Of the
prices, and take no moro than a rea.
sonable profit.
| From now on customers should look
| in every food store for the red and black
poster bearing tho seal Of the Food ad
ADMINISTRATION. which shows that tho mer-
chant has signed the pledge. The pledge
which appears on the poster. reads as
follows:
! I'VE pledge ourselves 10 give our Gus
toners the benefit Of fair and mod
crate prices. selling ut no more than a
reasonable profit abov" cost to u.s."
Before he can obtain this poster. which
lis a certificate of membership In the
! food administration. the merchant must
sign record card bearing the same
pledge. which is sent tn Washing
ton and placed IN the files Of the food
administrations The pledge is voluntary
|! and It is believed that all merchants will
be eager to sign it. because customers
will be asked 10 look for IT whenever
thoy 80 into n store 20 huy.
| No merchant will he allowed 10 sign
unless he gives his positive assurance
| that he will live up Ia The plcdG". in
spirit as well as in letter. All represent
tatives OF the national and state food
administrators have instructions 10 he
Iwatchful of all retail stores. Wherever
1.-THE pledge poster Is moi in rridrnc" they
Twill endcavor 10 learn why. Ii The post
err appears In any store which ia not
maintaining fair prices. ihr stale adj
lminIstrator has authority 10 remove ii
and report the name Of the merchant L"
sthe food administration in Washington.
| The gigantic task Of reaching 4h.hbn
/ retailers by this campaign. is being ac-
/ complishcd largely through The travel
ing men OF the Jnnn wholesale grocery
houses Of tho country. who have already
been enrolled 10 members rf the food
administration as n result Of ~ previous
campaign. These wholesale. houses have
nlrcady pledged Themselves to support
the food admini&t rst ion. and h"inG> nm
der license to sell al goods At no more
than a reasonable profit above cost. they
! arc finding il To their own interest ns
we'll rs u patriotic duty. 10 hclp in See
ling that tn" r"tailnr passes on Ia the
! consumer III" benefit nr these under
ate prices. II is estimated that about
40. non Wholesale grocery statesmen are
! now engaged in cnisting retail mcr-
chants. If these statesmen obtain ten
, pledges. apiece on All average. they will
enlist 100000 retailers.
! In an official bulletin outlining tho
SCOPE and method Of this ramragn the
, food administration says:
THE slgnificancn Of this broad cam
! gn is far deeper lhnn may appear at
frs: thought. II is indeed typical Of the
whole program Of thc fond adInnistra-
/ ton in its inSisinncr upon cooperat ion
, rather than coercion. upon the Compcll-
ing force or patriotic sentiment AZ A
means tr hr tried h"ror. resort TO
threats and prosecutions.
| III has often been asserted that De-
mncracy ran not make war efficiently;
that before we can Will "" must adopt
! aulncratir methods. -Nncri"a today is
fighting for democracy III double
| sense.
| 1T Is trying u MAXI the world safe
| for democracy and in doing this 10 prove
beyond doubl thai democracy can be
! efficient. that il ran he So organized
ns IN br infinitely NOR" powerful than
| autncraCy.
! The great number "i American "!ti-
! 2ens engaged in supplying food 10 th>
! people are both honest and patriotic
! like the great ma oriiy Of mrn engaged
| in any other legitimate business. They
lnavc hern quick tn come forward and
pledge full support. ny She thousands
they are joining the forces of the food
administration. because they are glad
to find a tangible Way If guaranteeing
! this support
This is the democratic way Of get
| ting results.
1T works somewhat more slowly. 1t
! is far mhrn sure.
! and 1t leaves behind it, when the
emergency has passed. not a lroddcm.
hroken-spiritnd people. hut n people
strengthened. rurged. and inspired by
! .hc knowledg" that they have won by
/ their own endcaVor.'