Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-01

tain retailers are intentionally and
obstinately unpatriotic and unfair,
public sentiment should be used
fgreely as a weapon. There should be
no hesitation in extreme cases in
publishing the names of recalcitrant
retailers, though opprobrious epith-
cts and transformations should be
avoided. Such notices should be linn
tied to stating what patriotic and fair
retailers are expected to do, and
that the dealers named are not do
ing these particular things.
THE public should be continually
informed of what it may reasonably
expect from a patriotic dealer. The
publication of fair retail prices, as to
which you have already been advised,
has proved to be a most effective
method of compelling the co-opera-
ton of retailers in the matter of
prices. Retailers who charge more
than the published prices ought to
and are sure to, lose their customers.
The prevention of sales by retail
ers to consumers who desire to buy
in too large Quantities is more diff
ticult: what constitutes boarding is
less definite and more variable than
the question of reasonable price.
Where the quantity sold is in excess
OF the customers requirements for a
reasonable time, YOU have a distinct
violation of the food act. Our pro-
cedure should be substantially the
same as in the case of excessive
prices, but ii must be constantly re-
membered that public sentiment is
the sound basis for enforcement, and
that public sentiment is the sound
basis for enforcement, and that pub
lie sentiment is not as naturally and
inevitably against boarding as it is
against excessive prices. Public senti-
ment must be created. The disastrous
consequences of individual boarding
must be made plain to patriotic citi-
zens, and patriotic sentiment, when
created, should in such cases be
used to shame unpatriotic retailers
who sell, and unpatriotic consumers
who buy. With such sentiment be-
hind us, prosecutions even of indi-
Vidual consumers under the drastic
provisions of the food act will be
successful and effective.
individual boarding is essentially
reasonable. Do not mince matters.
Say so. Make the public understand
it, In fragrant cases, publish names
of individuals, the more prominent
the better.
Withholding Supplies to Retailers
Where the violations of the act
and our rules and regulations are
fragrant, we shall not hesitate to pro-
hibit our licensees from selling to the
offending retailers. Rule II now for
bids such dealing in general terms,
but, to make Rule II effective, we
must issue notice to our licensees not
to sell to a specific dealer or specific
dealers. Such notices should be pub
lished at the same time in appro-
pirate dailies and trade papers.
The procedure in this connection
will be the issuance to the recall
citrant dealer of a summons to ap-
pear and show cause why our licen-
sees should not be prohibited from
dealing with him because of his ex-
cessive charges or because of his
sales for purposes of boarding. The
hearing should be informal. 1t can
be conducted by you, or by some rep
resentative, preferably a lawyer of
standing, appointed by you. Be fair
to the accused; permit him to be
represented by an attorney, but do
not allow any attorney to bother you
with technicalities, or with prolong-