Evening star., 1919-08-28
ASKS HALF MILLION
TO OC0MBAT- C..L.
League Aims to Buy Entire
Outputs of Farms and
Orchards.
OFFICERS ARE CHOSEN

Something of the enormity Of the
plan devised by the Citizens Buying
and Distributing League for combat
ing the high cost of living in Wash
ington was revealed today in the dis
closure of its purpose to raise a fund
of probably half a million dollars
with which to purchase the entire
output of orchards, farms, canneries
and other food-producing institutions
! John G. McGrath will be the gen.
eral manager of the league. It's treas
urer is George w. White, president OF
the National Metropolitan Bank. The
municipal fish market, on Water
dred carloads of food, is expected to
serve as the leagues central supply
house.
| At a meeting in the District build
ing last night general officers were
chosen, an executive committee elect
| ed, bylaws adopted and a general
plan for permanent organization ap-
proved.
League Organization Plan.
Under this plan the league will be
| composed of a large number of units
of consumers. Each government de-
partment will be expected to organ
ize a unit. So will each community
! center. Any organization, in fact.
may affiliate with the movement. The
league will buy for all of them. The
units. however, will place the orders
and distribute the food. Each unit
will have its own manager. To par
tlCinafa in the acnnnrieS nf fhic
prehensive cooperative scheme each
consumer will be required to pay a
membership fee of SIS. This may be
withdrawn at any time the consumer
desires. as the money will not be held
as a donation, but rather as a loan to
finance the operations of the league.
Several government departments al
ready are considering the formation
of units, it was announced today. 1t
is believed that the majority of gov
ernment employees, who are house.
keepers, will join the organization.
1t is probable questionnaires will be
sent out by the chief clerks of the de-
partments to sound out the sentiment
of the workers concerning the plan.
IS a Member Fee Asked.
At IS per person enough members
can be brought into the league to
swell its finances to the half-million-
dollar mark, the officers believe. If
anything like this amount can be
raised, they say. the organizations
success will be assured.
With a large fund at its command.
they assert. the league will be able to
deal. direct with large producers,
bring immense quantities of food to
Washington and get it to local con-
sumerS minus a large part of middle
mems profits.
Mr.. McGrath predicted at last nights
meeting that the saving to consumers
who join the league will average not
less than 25 per cent. with possibility
of being considerably greater.
May Extend to Fuel and Clothing.
ing proves a success. to recommend
that clothing, fuel and other commod-
tiles be handled.
Delegates from a large number Of
organizations last night voted unani-
mously to recommend to the executive
committee the appointment of Mr.. Nc
Grath as the general manager Of the
league. There is no doubt that the
committee, to which is intruSted the
selection OF manager. supervision Of
all funds and general management of
the affairs of the league will adopt
the recommendation at its first meet.
ing, it is stated.
So far. the league has concerned it.
self with distributing Army foods
only. Its activities have been made
possible through voluntary labor. .Un-
der the permanent plan adopted, the
league will have paid officials and be
conducted upon a business basis The
greatest optimism prevails among its
members that 1t will become the big
gest food concern in the city.
B. W. Payne Named President.
The leagues new president is B.
w. Payne. chosen unanimously ast
night to succeed Temporary Chairman
E. D. Atkinson. The latter was given
a place on the executive committee
Other officers, also chosen unani-
mously, are A. ]. Driscoll, vice presi-
dent. and Archie E. Cole. secretary.
The following were elected to serve
on the executive committee: C. v.
Whalen, representing Petworth Citi-
zens' Association: B. T. Ladd, navy
yard; C. H. Hastings, Library Of Con-
gress: w. S. Douglas. navy yard; Mrs.
munity Center: J. c. Blackwell and
Mrs. Olive M. Ross. War Department.;
f. D. Atkinson. Post Office Depart
ment; j. w. Ginder, Treasury Depart
ment; E. H. Lycett. Washington Steel
and Ordnance Company; Mrs. L. w.
Hardy, East Washington Community
Center; Mrs. Gabriel Pelham, general
Chestnut, Howard Park Citizens AS
sociation; DR.. Daniel E. Wiseman.
Mrs. r. C. McElroy, Petworth Com
munity Center; Capt. Edward O'Con-
nor, Firemen's Union, and Mrs. Annie
E. Williams, colored social settle