The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
ALLEN, HOPKINS

CONTINUED from Page One.I
headlined in the newspapers and made
the basis OF political profiteering by
the politicians.
Here is a pair of shoes" said Lamb
as he held up foot That shoe costs
me S14.25 a pair. I sell 1t for SIS.
/ buy thread at 60 cents a dozen and
sell il at cents spool During the
year we have deliberately sold goods
alta profit based on the old price when
we knew the next shipment could cost
more at wholesale than our retail
price. ! dare say there are hundreds
OF other stores in Kansas doing Just
that thing.
zone trouble is the fact that in
many factories men are working half
the number OF hours for double the
pay they received several years ago. 1
am willing that the~ workman have
everything that Is coming to him.
There isn't an employe of our store for
any period who hasn't received a stock
dividend. These are conditions We
must face in solving this problem. 1t
can't be remedied until Senator Cap
per and others vote for a sterilization
of prices Of all commodities. 1 have
been friend OF Senator Capper many
years. but I don't think he has the
SUITS to do this"
Lamb was formerly a Progressive.
lie las always been a warm supporter
OF Senator Capper. Governor Allen,
leaders in the Progressive cause. But
today Lamb was positive some one had
put rough on rats in the Cruel.
Grocer Meeting Delayed.
Altho the meeting of the Retail
C;rocers' association was called for /
O'Clock this afternoon. at o'clock the
session had not been opened on &C
count of waiting for the arrival OF
other members of the executive board.
In response to the charges that have
been made alleging profiteering and
food boarding for higher prices on the
part of retailers, they intend to start a
thoro investigation within their own
ranks to see if there is any actual ba-
sis for the charges.
at isn't that we resent or object to
an Investigation of any kind" said A.
G.. Johnson, OF Saltna, president OF the
association, but we do resent being
convicted before the charges have
been proven.
The consumer" Johnson said,
knows only that the bills he must
pay his grocer are large. He there
fore assumes that the bills are so
much larger than they used to be that
the retailer is reaping a large profit.
This is by no means the case. I
would be willing to wager that no re-
taller Is making as large profits now
as he did several years ago when
prices were lower than is the case
now"
The retailers will formulate plans
for making the investigation among
their members and will also arrange
10 assist the state authorities, or any
other authorities in making a legiti-
mate investigation. II any illegiti-
mate practices are taking place, John
son says. they are just as anxious tc
find II out and take steps to put a
stop to it as are the consumers. The
trouble is that the consumer does moi
know the retailers side Of the ques
ton and seems to forget that he bears
his share OF added or increased cost
the same as the consumer does.
Following the settling of the hiRi
cost of living question and the prof
iteering proposition, the grocers will
decide where they will hold their mex
annual convention, to be held som'
time this fall According to John
son, they are considering either To
peka or Wichita. He could not sa.
which place 1t would be.
The following were among those a
the meeting: A. G. johnson, Salina
-presffent; NJ. F. Caples, secretary
Kansas city; A. B. Olson, Salina; A. L
Richardson. Marion; A. NJ. Gray. Kir
win; Richard Kingsbury, Harrington
J. A. Mcclure, Bmporia; Victor Lin
den, Lindeman.