The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-09
WOMEN PIA 10
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purchased fem the well known firm
who advertised them in the papers re-
Gently. Instead housewives were pay
ing seven and eight cents a pound
for them elsewhere. He went into
the private figures of grocery store
or two, explaining where the money
went which housewives felt was spent
by them without enough return. He
said he knew personally that some
merchants had difficulty IN paying
their wholesale bills.
Mrs. ]. Walter Barnes in reply stat
ed that she felt called upon to use
the expression put up or shut up" to
Fairmonts women after this II they
did not turn out and lend a hand.
She had received numerous calls over
the phone from women in the city
asking that the woman's club do some
thing about the H. c. L, but she felt
others besides the woman's clug
should get energetically at work i'm
mediately If anything was to be done.
A number of women promised to be
On hand to make speeches last even
ing who did not report. Those pres
ent agreed that they did not desire to
place blame where 1t did not belong
and did not intend robbing an honest
dealer Of his good name. But as long
as butter, lard, fruit adm vegetables
were selling for prices which varied,
they felt someone was profiteering.
1t was agreed that while they did not
believe in buying out Of town that I'M
less prices dropped, they would be
compelled to purchase where prices
were better. Already many Fair
si?g u Observation-Disclosures
monters were buying cut of town.
One Of the women present said Fair
mont had the reputation among out
siderse of being the highest priced
city in the state. Another said she
bought meat in Pennsylvania which
was procured in West Virginia, for ten
cents less on the pound than was
charged for it here. Another said
she asked for eight pork chops this
week and when they came to 80 cents
she refused to take them. Apples
and tomatoes sold here recently for
| one price and the next day for three
cents higher. Why was this? In the
midst of the apple and tomato season.
A dealer sold sugar to a woman for
II cents and when it was delivered
the bill read 70 cents. Went up on
the way out to her home. The store
which labeled everything plainly was
the popular store among some of the
ladies last evening. The Cash and
Carry store received much praise.
Women Of prominence in Fairmont
were carrying home their own purchas
es.
Lack of cooperation was decided to
be the cause for all the trouble, CO.
operation on the part of house wives.
Milk varied anywhere from 16 to Is
cents and when the milkman was con-
suited regarding it he said: IF you
don't want my milk at my price l
can sell it elsewhere" So he can.
If the past summer furnished good
pasture and livestock feed had drnp'
ped in price, why was milk 81 9n:1s
up in price? Warrington charged :!
cents a quart. Pittsburgh IL cents
and other icties 49, Why IS in Fair
mont? Doctors said condensed milk
was better for children anyway. Per
haps that could be used. II a farmer
came along with corn at 40 cents d
dozen and one refused to buy saying
corn at the store was only 80 cents,
the farmer said: Gall right, don't buy
it, can sell all have to Mrs. So and
So" This should be made impossible
through cooperation on the part Of
Ill housewives. Until such co-opera'
ton could be won, little can be done
in the city.
The ice problem was discussed The
ice man was somewhat relieved Of
blame for bringing in short weight II
he were responsible to the ice com
pany for so much ice. Then the ice
company was to blame. Many OF
the women present had tried diploma
CIV. tact and, sternness, all to no avail
where the high cost of living was con
cerned. Women were scored soundlJ
who did not ask prices, who did moi
try to cut down living expenses.
These were largely responsible for
high prices. The women present last
evening were deeply concerned over
the problem and remained to a late
hour going over every phase Of the
situation.