Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-14
CERS ASS CITATION
ETS GRIM WAR NEWS
k1state Convention Hears of
Members Son Killed in
France
40 AID FOOD OFFICIALS
cunting Cost Of Doing Business
Everywhere Shown in Dis
.{s,k trict Reports

IA y real note Of war was injected into
~ annual convention Of the Tristate
Qfocers' Association here today when
Charles Childs, of Lewistown. Pa, sched-
uled to be one Of the speakers, teie-
oraphed his regret that he could not
come because ne had received word this
morning that his soldier son had been
EfIed In action In France.
The message created profound i'm
pression. The business of the conven-
t)on was suspended and resolutions Of
o0ndolence were passed and telegraphed
~ Mr.. Childs. Mr.. Childs's son was a
Msmber of General Pershings expedi-
ficnary force. The father Is a member
o. ChIlds. Green & Co.
patriotism was dominant at the
meeting. which is the final days session
~ the two-day twelfth annual conven-
eion, with delegates from Pennsylvania,
Delaware and New Jersey in attendance
At the Bellevue-Stratford.
First consideration for the army and
navy and close cooperation with the
pational food administration was urged
BY Francis b. Reeves, Jr.. of this city.
He pointed out that wholesale men
would do well to ship direct from cars
to avoid extra handling. He insisted
that sales without contracts constitute
"a thorn In the flesh of business and
said that great care should be exer-
clsed In making contracts.
Business Cost Higher
A report read by James Hewitt, of
H. Keliogg & Co.. Of Philadelphia, gave
hgures showing that the cost of doing
business during 1917 had increased l / %
PER cent over 1915. The costs were, by
locality; Lehigh Valley and vicinity,
1000 per cent; between Harrisburg and
Phiiadelphia, 9.25 per cent; New Jer-
ssy. s.6 per cent: west of Harrisburg,
~ per cent. and Delaware, Philadelphia
ana Camden. s19 per cent, although
this isst figure was not thought to be
representative. as only five grocers sent
In reports from these districts.
The reports showed that only one
third Of l per cent was lost through
bad debts.
These reports were for business done
partly under the Government license
laws, which provide that certain staple
roods, amounting to about 65 per cent
81 the entire grocery trade, must be
Kept down In price and that no ad-
vantage must be taken OF any possible
opportunity Of cheap buying, but that
only 4 certain profit must be taken. II
was remarked that while this kent
profits down, 1t was necessary in these
times and that the profits could come
after the war was over.
Confer With Z. y. Food Men
George Z. Lichdy, of the association.
was In Washington today with 22O0 rep
repentatives Of the food associations of
the country. confering with food ad-
mlnistration officials. He telegraphed
that he would arrive late today to re-
port on the conference
At $3.50 o'clock this evening the asso-
ciation will have n banquet at the
sBellevue- e-Stratford. with the following
speakers: Former Attorney General
hampton L. Carson. Senator William C.
6proui, Congressman James T. Hefiin, oi
Alabama; Mademoiseile Suzanne Silver.
; cfuys, OF Belgium. and the Rev. DR.. Car.
ter Helm Jones' of the First Baptist
-churcN.
An election Of officers will be held a,
this Afternoons session, but II was said
on authority, that with possibly one or
two minor exceptions the present Of
fcers Will be nominated and unanimous
~ rs-elected They include: President,
Array Davies. Easton, Pa; FIRST vice
president, John T. Porter, Scranton, Pa.
second Vice president, J. II. Blackwell
Trentcn, N. j.. third vice president, ].
Grant Schwarz. Harrisburg Pa. treas
urer. Charles Y. Fox. Philadelphia Sec
retary and general manager, Alvin NJ
Graves. Philadelphia.