The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-20
PLAN OF CROCERS
They Urge That Consumers Try
To Be Economical.
Also Suggest That All Retailers
Be Licensed.

To reduce the high cost of living;
to make impossible a recurrence of
the profiteering charge, the Kansas
Retail Grocer,s association briefly out
lined the solution of the situation in
a meeting held a. the Chamber of
Commerce here late Tuesday after
noon as follows: To license all retail
grocers; 20 educate the public in eco
nomical buying of food products; to
reduce. wholesale prices for staple
articles; to, facilitate distribution of
government food and to prosecute
men who hoard food for speculative
purposes.
The association voiced a strong ap-
proyal of the investigation. They had
planned to- have Attorney General
Hopkins present at the meeting but
he was out of the CITY,
Contrary to efforts that have been
made, by hundreds of thousands of
American housewives to counterfeit
the high costs by economical and sci
entific buying and working methods,
MEMBERS of the association asserted
that the high costs were due more to
uneconomical methods of housewives
than they were to a desire of the re-
tailers to gouge the public.
1t was held that licensing grocery
stores will cut down the cost of dis
tribution. They hope the general pub
/ lie will support measures to have the
legislature enact such a law. They
claim a great deal of the, overhead ex-
pense of distribution could be cut
down by the license system.
1t was asserted by A. l.. Richardson
OF Marion, that part of the high cost
was due to consumers buying the
highest priced food when cheaper fooG
could be made just as palatable by
III
does not alter the fact that the prices
of expensive food are even higher than
they should be.
Wholesalers Must Help.
The grocers quoted figures intended
to show that it is impossible for them
to- sell at lower prices until jobbers
and wholesalers reduce their prices.
They say it costs the average grocer
! 20 per cent to do business. The loss
on fresh fruits and vegetables is also
enormous, they assert. 1t is contended
the public Graves eatables out of sea-
son and leaves homegrown products
to rot in the groceries.
1t was. also pointed out that they
could not maintain a price on sugar
that has been designated as fair az
long as wholesalers charge more than
that price for the product.
! In closing the committee voted tC
hold the annual convention of the as
ISOLATION in Topeka. 1t will be held
October SO. A. L. Oliger extended
the grocers an Invitation to conven;
here in behalf OF the Chamber OF
Commerce.
Part of one Of the resolutions passed
shows the attitude or the grocers az
follows:
We pledge our support to every. honest
effort made to reduce the present high cos
OF living: not only Of foods, but OF ever,
| other commodity. necessary for the welfare
| and happiness OF the American family, suct
| as: drygoods, clothing. shoes, drugs,srents
! coal and ice Many of these items have
| advanced 200 per cent while groceries have
| advanced only per cent since 1913. Il
| is our advice to the retail grocer that III
| cooperate tn the fullest extent with any
| duly authorized public official engaged IL
| this investigation that he waive all techni
| ealities and place himself and his book
4 fully at the disposal of those acting will
proper authority. We believe that the re
| tail grocer has nothing TO fear from AM
| grocers accused of taking excessive profits
| we believe that they should be giyeR ampl
| opportunity to produce proof of their op
| Grating costs. so that their true net profit
| may be ascertained,
The following members were pres
] ent: A. G. johnson, Salina, president
C. L. Pickell, Kansas City; H. r
4 Whittelsey. Topeka; A. L. Green, To
peka; A. L. Richardson, Marion; J
A. Horstman, Kansas City; c. o. John
son, Topeka; H. A. Often, Topeka; B
V. Triton, Topeka; V. c. Kingsbury
Herington; NJ. F. Caples, Kansas City
Victor Lindeman, Salina.