The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-26
BY WILLIAM a. sANsoRN

oy WILLIAM n. SANbOHN
Because two Of the Big-Five meat
packers at Chicago have invaded the
wholesale coffee market, and more are
likely to do so. the coffee roasters of
the United States are facing a new
problem in competition. They are.
moreover, beginning to assert that 1t
Is unfair competition. because the
packers have, first of all, larger, better
and cheaper facilities for rail- distribu-
ton, and second, because they have
money enough possibly to influence
prices in producing countries and at
our ports Of entry, should they care to
make such an attempt.
1t will be only fair at the outset to
state that the packers deny any such
designs upon the coffee trade; they
simply want to make few more dol
lars In legitimate way, Is their claim
but Of this later on
The great outstanding fact in rela-
ton to the packers and as to their
control OF so many food products is
this: They are cutting into the bust
ness of the wholesale grocers, Gamers
OF fruits and vegetables, and into the
business OF the handlers of butter,
eggs, Gamers of milk, and of jobbers
..
posted man will attempt to deny 1t
is, then, not merely a problem for
which coffee roasters and wholesale
grocers are seeking a solution, but a
condition largely affecting the incomes
and welfare of millions of our people
also as to the effect upon the prices of
everything that comes to our tables.
We may as we'll face this fact right
fnr oil IN ~
the many important matters for con
gressional and governmental consider
alton now pressing for action, the time
cannot be far distant when congress
will attempt some action in defination
of what the packers may or may not
do as to monopolization.
We Are All Consumers.
Conceding that the packers are
great economic factors in the feeding
OF the nation and that they are entitled
to fair play and to every credit due
them. it is a fact that all can not
engage in that great industry. Wheels
within wheels, and each timing its
revolutions in harmony makes FOR eff
fictency and economy in production
and distribution. But all cannot be
big wheels; the retail grocer Is Just
as important in the scheme of things
as are the big handlers of supplies in
wholesale way: he provides the out
let, the consuming channel, and sends
back into producing and wholesale
centers the money which keeps the
entire machinery in constant opera
ton. And be it further said that we
are all consumers" That being true.
the concern of one is the concern of
each, as it applies to national wealth
and to general prosperity.
Chairman Colver's Views.
William B. Colver. chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, has re-
Gently been focusing public attention
upon the operations of the big meat
packers: With reference to this fact.
and in relation to their addition of
coffee to the packers trade menu.
the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, of
New York, says in it's May number:
In a letter to the Tea and Coffee
Trade Journal, dated March Is, 1919,
Mr. Colver says-1 know of nothing at
present to cause me to alter my opin-
ion. recently expressed. that the meat
packers interests constitute menace
to the wholesale grocery trade. While
we have no information concerning
the packers plans for coffee distribu-
ton, we are aware that coffee is be-
ing handled in a considerable way by
at least one of the big packers, and
that large control OF the coffee dis
tributing business by the big packer
would seem to be quite as possible as
their control in any other grocery
line"
And in that one word control, -
gentlemen, lies the milk in the CO.
coanut
Coffee Roasters Alarmed
The National Coffee Roasters asso-
citation is likely to take some concert
ed action with reference to the advent
of the meat packers into the coffee
business, or we believe will at least
attempt to. Just what form this action
may take is not for us to guess at. 1t
is claimed that the packers through
their large selling organizations
which are in daily touch with the re-
tail grocery trade, can book orders for
coffee without added cost; also that
they have an important advantage in
the matter of distribution. They have
control of refrigerator car lines; can
ship coffee with other orders and at
"a lower freight cost" so it is main,
tanned, but as to this we cannot speak
with authority. We do not know what