The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-16
The Grocer S Pledge

y
is now enlisting in voluntary cam
paign to carry out Food Administra-
tion recommendations, and the Food
Administration has issued pamph-
let dealing with this work under
the title of ''Enlisting the Food Mer-
chants" The basis of this cam
paign is retailers pledge designed
for the 100000 retail grocers of the
country, each of whom will be in
vited to sign it. This pledge is in
the form of large poster printed in
two celors, and obligates the signer
to give consumers the benefit of fair
and Moderate prices on the staple
food articles which the Food Admin
istration seeks particularly to con-
troll. Actual price fixing is left to
each dealer,a "a reasonable profit above
cost to him on controlled articles be-
ing allowed, with certain range for
difference in prices due to difference
in turnover and expenses. The COM
modities which the Food Admins
tration seeks to control are as fol-
lows:
Apples, dried; beans, dried and
canned; beef, fresh, canned and
cured; corn Sirup, cottonSeed oil,
eggs, fish. fresh and frozen; -four,
fruits, fresh; hominy, lard milk
fresh, canned and powdered; bread,
butter, cheese, cooking fats, molas-
ses, mutton, fresh, canned and eur
ed; oatmeal and rolled oats, oleo-
margarine, peackex, dried; peanut
oil, peas, dried and canned; pork,
fresh, canned ana cured; corn, cam
ed; corn grits, cornmeal, corn oil,
poultry, prunes, raisins, rice, sal
mon, canned; sardines, canned;
starch, corn; sugar, sirup, tomatoes,
canned; vegetables, fresh.
When his signature has been af-
fixed to this pledge poster he be-
comes part OF the Food Adminis-
tration and hangs the poster in his
store or window as evidence thereof.
Another form of poster pledge has
been provided for wholesale distrib-
utors, who sbligate themselves not
only to maintain fair prices on the
controlled commodities, but to con-
serve food, time, energy, materials
and equipment; make personal stud
les of their business methods to pre-
vent waste; reduce display stocks
within reasonable limits; avoid spec
ulation and avoid purchases from
or sales to spectators; discourage
purchases beyond the usual needs Of
both retailers and consumers; cur
tail credit; encourage cash transac-
tions; eliminate unnecessary deliy-
cry and other nonessential service to
customers; take a stand against the
evil of returned goods; sell in origi-
nal packages; systematic their
shipments to save cars and hauling;
and enlist their travelling salesmen
for food conservation and team work
throughout the trade. Many whole
sale grocery houses and manufac-
ture in foed lines hold weekly con-
ferences for their statesmen, at
which they are asked to set aside
fve minutes for the discussion of
food-saNing questions.
Federal food administrators in all
States will accept pledges from mer
chapts and sunn2y the standard pos
to see fhNl pese5IS are displayed, and
will Investigate stores where the
pledge lis not in evidence The ideal
prompting this campaign is to carry
out food conservation under the
most democratic lines, and Oh this
subject the Food Administration
says:
The great majority of American
citizens engaged in supplying food
to the people are both honest and
patriotic-like the great majority of
men engaged in any other legitimate
business. They have been quick to
come forward and pledge their full
support. By the thousands they are
joining the forces of the Food Ad
ministration, because they are glad
to find tangible way of guarantee
ing this support. All of this vast
force of public opinion is being
thrown into thu balance on the side
Of fair merchandising and moderate
prices, lifting into the strong light
of exposure those few who are dis
loyal and dishonest. This is the
democratic way of getting results. 1t
works somewhat more slowly. 1t is
far more sure. And it leaves behind
it, when the emergency has passed,
not a trodden, broken-spirited peo-
pie, but a people strengthened, purg-
ed and inspired by the knowledge
that they have won by their own en-
deavor. weekly Bulletin, United
States Food Administrations.