The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-08-08
meet his billsf


Just word about our friend and
fellow groceryman, Mr.. Busby. He was
invited to Join the Association as ev-
cry other grocer in the city and his
failure to become member has In no
way harmed the organization or bene-
flied him. His statement that the peo-
pie were being overcharged for Camp
bells Pork and Beans leads us to
question his business integrity. A
school child can calculate the profit
he Is making on an article listed at
$3.50 a dozen wholesale which he is
selling for 121sc can.
We understand that his 10c sugar
has not yet arrived and he Is at pres
ent charging lac. We might add that
the people Of Maysville are buying su-
gar &c cheaper per pound than it could
be sold to a Cincinnati jobber. Some
of the critics may also fail to have
the information that the estimated de-
crease in the worlds sugar production
this year is about 100000 long tons.
Soap is continuing to advance and
the grocer that bought large guam
tity some time ago, can undersell those
buying from week to week.
With the exception of Kroger, voss
and other cash stores in Cincinnati,
Maysville prices are on a par with
most cities even of greater population.
In regard to the tomato incident
referred to in a recent issue of the In
pendent, will say, that the farmer re-
cognized that she must get the best
price possible for her tomatoes or
lose the entire amount. We have in
formation Of another farmer that Of
fered to retail tomatoes, to one Of the
ladies of Maysville at 10c pound, the
same day, and they were very poor
quality. This same lady had just pur-
chased a quantity of good tomatoes
from one of the grocers at 15c per
pound.
The Grocers Association have had
nothing to do with regulating the
prices. We challenge any citizen to
prove that the Grocers Association
sets prices to its members.
A local grocer received the follow
ing communication from a Cincinnati
wholesaler:
Experimenting our talk over the
phone, would say there is nothing in
the present situation to condemn any
one for getting what he can for his
sugar. Supply and demand settle
prices always where there is no col
fusion between several parties, which
does not exist in the sugar situation.
An article becomes scarce, and higher
prices result. You cannot prevent this
any more than you can change the law
Of gravitation. OF course in war times,
all natural laws have to be set aside
for the general good. The Constitu-
ton does not allow such restriction in
peace times. 1t would take a consti-
tutional amendment before the Gov
eminent could do such a thing, and 1t
would be a step toward paternalism,
if not socialism, which the best peo-
pie in the country do not approve es-
pecially after what we nave seen of
the results of Government manage
| ment of railroads, telephones coal, etc,
during the war. Most of the talk in
the papers emanates from politicians,
who are seeking their own advance
ment, and really do not care as much
for the peoples interest as you or |
do. You and | would rather see 4c
sugar than 1Sc sugar, but we have to
accept conditions as they are and do
the best conscientiously that we can"
Going back to the origin of the Gro
| GERS Association, we can't refrain from
calling to your mind the splendid spir-
it exemplified by the Grocers Associa-
ton and the Grocers as individuals in
helping comply with the desires of the
government. We are sure that were
our esteemed friend Hon. w. D. Coch-
ran here now, he would very severely
word lash the CRITICS of the Grocers
Association and some Of the promi-
nent grocers. He has reiterated time
and again the fact that the Grocers
Association was invaluable to him in
performing his duties as Food Admin
istrator for Mason county and compli-
mented the grocers of the county al
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