Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-09
'R[TA|L[Rs PLEAD
THEIR INNOCENCE
cRocERs AND BUTCHERS SAY
THEY ARE NOT GUILTY OF
pKoFIrEERINo. =
CITE cosr AND SELLING
PRICES TO PROVE CASE
Small profits Made on Many Limos Of
ooods-Protsst That Foods Are
Small Part Of Increased Living Costs
Say Grossrs Of Nation Are Not
Making Fortunes in Business.

Fort Dodge, Aug. Elf profiteermg
exists. 1t exists other than among re-
tail merchants, according to state
nent made today by the Fort Dodge
Butchers and Grocers association.
The association gives the schedule of
a few of the prices on staple articles,
showing the cost to them and their
margin of profit.
WE as food Dealers" saws the state
ment, most certainly welcome an In
vestigatien, but we do insist that the
same be thorough and that justice ne
done to everyone"
Following Is the statement:
THE outstanding feature in the daily
papers OF late Is the general demand
that something be done to correct the
high cost of living and as generally
applied this high cost of living is in
terpreted as meaning only food sturrs,
when as a matter of fact the cost of
food is only incidental as a part of the
cost OF living.
we 40 not DeltNe VII 1dCI VIC hhoNJ
that the retail grocers Of the United
+, States are not legitimately chargeable
with the accusations leveled against
them. To charge the retail dealer
with profitesring is to make 1t appear
that the business Is larger than it
really is It sort of dignifies it in
sense by placing it in class in which
there is a large field for profiteering
when the very nature of the business
makes profiteering on any appreciable'
scale impossible. 1t stands to reason
that this should be the case as it is
impossible owing to the number en-
gagged in, the retail grocery business to
effect a combination. 1t is variously
estimated that there are from 35O,0oo
to 100000 retail dealers in foodstutfs
in the United States, and owing to the
tremendous number engaged in the
business. competition is so essentially
and decidedly keen that they are not
making exorbitant profits. This Is
proven from the further fact that sew
enty-five out Of every hundred OF
them will sell out whenever buyer
puts in an appearance, and if the bust
ness was 50 profitable those conditions
would not prevail. ass
They are human and would like to
make money but their opportunities
are restricted because competition on
every hand absolutely prevents it. AS
a matter of fact. the cost of food does
not represent more than Is to 80 per
cent of the familys income. The per-
centage Of course varies according to
the income Of the family and the num-
herS working for wages. In other WORDS
from 6 to IS per cent of the income
is free to be spent for something other
than food. ~
1--WE don't want to pass the buck to
anyone but il an investigation is nee
essafy, let it be genuine and include
every line Of activity. And let us have
the fundamental reason for the present
high cost Of living. Let the govern
ment trace the article from the very
beginning and trace 1t until sold to the
consumer, and If there is profiteer
it would be our pleasure to see him
taken in. But let the Investigation be
thorough and let us not judge until
we know. There have been great
many unWarranted investigations with
in the past twelve months with but
very little. II any, resulG, simply be-
cause someone felt thatUhe other fell
low was robbing him, and some be-
cause Of political ambition, and others
because Of ignorance of the natural
law OF supply and demand.
I'VE are firmly convinced that the
problem viii solve itself and that high
prices will prevail until the world ac-
cumulates a surplus. We as food deal
:.>1,,
cation but we do insist that same be
thorough and that justice be done to
everybody. However, do not look for
lower prices as an actual shortage
exists.
I'VE wish to quote some Of the most
staple food stuff and we ask candidly
IS there any chance for profiteering In
the retail food distribution of commo-
,dities? You will notice some articles.
are sold below cost and there are a
great many others that space will not
permit:
s"Sugar-Cost $3.50 to $1,000; sells
for $3.50 to s11.o0.
"Potatoes-4A to ~ cents; sells for
AZ 10 ~ cents.
a "FIour-ss.O5 to $500; sells for,s3.lO
TO $3.50.
"Butter-52 to 55Hcents; sells for SO
to SO cents.
"Eggs-4o to Al cents; sells for 80
to As cents.
"Lardse to - cents: sells for ss to
43 cents.
Beef roast-ls to 20 cents; sells for
20 to % cents.
y Bacon Standard, ss to ~ centsa
sells for % to n cents. Yours respect.
fully,
Fort Dodge Butchers and Grocers
Association"
1890 $3.50 ----- T--------'4
5 Sue City For Deaths.
Dubuque, Aug. Damage suits
amounting to an aggregate Of $22,500
have been filed against the city as a
result Of the death Q ftwo storm VIC
tins. M