The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-08-08
ASSOCIATIONOF GRO.
Gers AND BUTCHERS
MAKE STATEMENT
Putting Facts Directly Before Public
In Answer to Criticism They
Claim Unjust.

merce and the Grocers Association
have been unjustly criticized by some
vaguely informed correspondent, Pres
ident Cummins of the Maysville Retail
Grocers and Butchers Association has
seen fit to name a committee to prop
erly inform the public as to the exact
status of affairs. The reports of the
committee follows:
The Maysville Chamber of Com
merce some two years ago, in response
to a unanimous appeal of the grocer
members Of the organization, called
together the grocers of the city of
Maysville to give them the long de-
sired opportunity to form an organiza-
ton for lettering their own interests
The officers felt then, as they do now,
that the citizens of Mason county
would benefit in the organization of
the Grocers' Association, for the con-
sumner finally benefits when the mer-
chant becomes a better business man.
Many of the grocers have improved
their knowledge of business affairs by
coming in closer relation with their
fellow grocers.
The selfish citizen that desires a
grocer to sell him goods on a losing
margin of profit has no place in pro-
gressive city like Maysville If the
unjust criticism comes from such a
citizen, we have no answer to make,
except that he belongs in city head
ed towards destruction On every side
and from every city that is stepping
forward, the spirit of unselfishness is
the dominant and moving spirit upon
which 1t Is advancing.
To the man or woman Of unselfish
and progressive characteristics we be-
lieve we can offer an intelligent an
swer for this unjust criticism to which
we have been subjected. We don't
mean to offer the following as an ex-
cuse for some undesirable practices
that may have been perpetrated by
some Of our members, over whose af-
fairs we have no direct control, for
the citizens of Mason county know
that in every organization some mem
bers are admitted, whose business
transactions do not always meet with
the approval of the other members.
For that reason we feel that individ-
uals should be blamed rather than or
ganizations and the DIRECTORS should
be men enough to direct their COM
plants to the direction in which they
belong.
In answer to the so called Gouge to
which the consumers of the city OF
Maysville and Mason county have beer
subjected, we would like to make the
following reply
The grocers and butchers must dc
three things or go out of business:
/. Make living profit
2. Keep a sufficient stock to supply
demands.
3. Give the service demanded by
their customers.
II there is to be no profit in business
the grocer and butcher would be fools
to continue.
Keeping his stock complete often
causes the merchant to pay high
prices in times of scarcity. He is then
compelled to charge accordingly. Re-
Gently a report was published saying
local grocer not member of the
Gougers Union" had car of sugar
due which would cost him 1871 f. o. b
Maysville. This report was either an
error or a lie. At the time this report
was given out the best price obtain
able on the New York, market was
given 1882 which with freight rate
added would make the price $9,21h
t. o. b. Maysville. The same day this
price was quoted, local wholesaler
received car of sugar costing $13.06
per hundred (. o. b. Maysville. The
question is, would the people have pre-
ferred doing without sugar entirely, to
paying lac to 15c for it? The dealer
referred to is still waiting for that 10c
sugar. Would the berries have waited
had other dealers refused to buy at
13c?
Just one more word about the same
suckers for free advertising. Any man
who sells soap at &c bar and makes
2%c is making a profit of over $40.
Everybody knows that green goods
are high, but that very fact makes the
chance for loss to the dealer much
greater. High prices make fewer
sales, fewer sales mean greater loss
from spoilage, and the average grocer
handles green vegetables and fruits
merely as an accommodation to his
customers, often at loss.
Now just word in regard to the
Grocers and Butchers association.
Contrary to the opinion being express
ed this is not an organization Of
thieves and cut threats. They have
fed many family all winter and been
forced to charge the account to profit
and loss. Furthermore the average
groceryman or butcher who has ac-
cumulated q portion of this worlds