The Washington times., 1919-08-28
NCGRATH IS
MANAGEROF
NEW LEAGUE
TO BUY FOOD

John G. McGrath was designated as
the general manager and purchasing
agent for the Citizens Cooperative
Buying and Distributing League at a
meeting held in the District Building
last night.
'"The success OF this organization"
Mr.. McGrath said, will depend on the
number Of units that will be repre-
sented in the league. We want to
have a representation of all the or
ganizations in the city"
Without opposition, the following
officers were elected: Byrd W. Payne,
chairman; o. J. Driscoll, associate
chairman; A. E. Cole, secretary, and
George W. White, treasurer.
Board of Directors.
The board Of directors. or the cen
tral committee. as elected is COM
posed of z. D. Atkinson, Postoffice
Department; c., w. whalen, Petworth
Citizens Association; B. T. Ladd.
Navy Yard; c. H. Hastings, Library
of Congress: W. S. Douglas, Navy
Department; Mrs. Ida Kebler, Wilson
Normal Community Center; J. G.
Blackwell and Mrs. Olive NJ. Ross,
H. v
ington Steel and Ordnance Company;
]. W. Ginder, Treasury Department; /;
Mrs. L. w. Hardy. East Washington
Community Center; Mrs. r. c. Nc
Elroy, Petworth Community Center,
Capt. Edward O'Connor, District fire
men; Miss Ethel Smith, Women's
Trade Union League; the Rev. Dam
iel Z. Wiseman. colored citizens; Mrs
G. Pelham, cOlored community cen
ters; Mrs. Anna Z. williams, colored
social settlement, and J. L Chestnut,
Howard Park COlored Citizens As
socfation.
The members Of the central COM
mittee will decide among themselves
the lengths OF their initial terms, as
the constitution of the league pro-
vides that one-fourth Of the member
ship Of the committee shall be elected
every three months.
To Give His Entire Time.
Mr.. McGrath has announced that he
will give his entire time to manag-
ing the league and purchasing its
supplies, and, as soon as a sufficient
membership has subscribed to insure
working capital, the purchase OF
supply OF food will begin. Each per-
son subscribing to the league must pay
Z. ID. Atkinson, in reporting on the
work Of the committee Of fifteen, said
few items of food still remained OF
the i've carloads that were stored at
the Municipal Fish Market. among
which were corned beef hash, roast
beef, -four, beans, hominy, white and
yellow corn meal. and crackers.
"I could dispose Of from one to
twelve carloads a day, IL i had sUff-
cient help, said Mr.. Atkinson.
More Army Food Available.
The committee reported that orders
for S21, 900 worth OF surplus army
food had been received. and whether
the committee would handle any more
Of this food would depend upon the
action Of the league Captain Bruce,
OF the War Department, informed the
committee of fifteen that more surplus
army food could be had for distribu-
tion.
The league will hold its next meet
ing at 1923 New York avenue Tuesday
evening at o'clock.
The Petworth School, Eighth street
and Shepard avenue northwest, and
the Tyler School, Eleventh and G.
streets southeast. conducted farmers
market" last night, at which a total
OF 3,375 cantaloupes were sold to
housewives at 3 and 6 cents apiece.
other vegetables were sold at whole
sale prices.
Price Drop Predicted.
A decline IN food prices throughout
the country f. predicted. according to
reports coming into the Department
of Justice.
Attorney General Palmer said that
the Government was endeavoring to
take the artificial imitation out of the
market. and that so far the results
obtained were satisfactory.
"We hope the public will begin TO
reap the benefits Of our efforts be-
fore long" declared Mr.. Palmer eve
are making progress in obtaining
promises from shoe manufacturers as
to fixing a limit beyond which prices
shall not 60"
Palmer condemned the efforts OF
some shopkeepers to spread the re-
port prices would be higher next sea-
son, thereby trying to induce
purchases now. Heeding such infor-
nation, the Attorney General assert |
ed. would tend to keep prices high.