El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-30
GROCERS FEAR.
PACKERS TRUST.
Local Dealers, at Open Air
Meeting, Discuss Food
Situation,

The menace of a nationwide food
monopoly was discussed by e. Paso
grocers at an open air smoker given
at Triangle park Tuesday night IN
der the auspices Of the FL Paso Whole
sale Grocers' association. A large
number OF retail grocers were pres
ent as the guests Of the association.
Charles S. Nasits presided IN his
opening. address Mr.. Nasits reviewed
the recent movements Of the Big
Five" packing companies in their al
legged attempt to corner the nations
food supply MI Nasits asserted that
wholesalers and retailers should sup
port each other against the inroads
OF the big packing interests which he
said were the common enemies OF all
Independent business concerns. He
said that the wholesale grocer acted
as warehouse keeper for the retailer
and at the same time loaned the latter
money with which to operate his busi-
ness. Mr. Nasits said that If the
of the American food supply, the
wholesaler and the retailer alike
would be eliminated from American
commerce
Attacks Mail Order Houses.
The speaker also outlined the mem
ace Of the mail order house He de-
clared that one big mail order house
in middle western city often received
in one day through the mail orders
for merchandise aggregating a total
OF $1,000 900. The speaker estimated
four other mail order establishments
in the east and middle west were op-
Grating upon as large a scale as the
one used as an example. and declared
that the mail order house was one Of
the most menacing problems upon the
retailers and wholesalers horizon.
Mr.. Nasits read extracts from the
report of the federal trade commits
sion TO snow that the larger packing
interests Of the country were attempt
ing to gain absolute control of the ma
tons food supply He read from the
official report that one OF the larger
packers now controlled IS percent of
the nations wheat market He as
serted that the packers were now &C
tra'lv at work constructing a huge
chain OF retail stores throughout the
United States to sell the packers pro-
ducts direcly to the consumer.
RIames Packers for Fl. c. l.
II the packing interests succeed in |
putting over their chain store system
all we wholesale grocers can do will |
be to put a counter across out frnt |
door and sell direct to the consumer.
thus eliminating the retailer" Mr.
Nasits said In concluding the speaker
the present nigh cost OF liV-
ing was largely due TO the big pack j
ers buying M the nations surplus :
Of various food articles He sited the
buying Of last seasons salmon supply {
as an example Of the packers tactics. /
The American wholesalers are now /
facing gigantic monopoly" declared \
Samuel J., Prudential a man be-
comes a menace to his country. in a J
business way. when he becomes too
big, and for this reason the packers OF
the nation are now a dark Cloud upon
he horizon of the American business I
field believe that a large number
Of Independent stores operated upon a
small scale are far better for the pub
ic welfare than a few immense con-
,erns owned and operated by a food I
com animation" The speaker then re-
fieWed his travels in London when
-oung man and presented a study Of
the British wholesale system. which
he said was one OF the most efficient
business systems in the world.
Brokers See Menace.
J. W Lorentsen, who represented
he merchandise brokers. asserted
hat the men Of his trade were seri-
,usly menaced by the attempt of the
lackers 10 control all food supplies.
1e vigorously supported the legisla-
ion now pending in congress TO regu-
ate the packers. declaring that the
Kenyon bill will clip the nails OF mo-
iopoly."
Music and dancing were features of
he evening Refreshments were also
erved.