The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-09
KENYON BILL IS
BOLSHEvISMl,R R. D.
M'MANUS SAYS!
Armour Representative Speaker
Before Grocers' Convention.
He Asserts Proposed Packer
Regulation Is Un-American.
CAR CONTROL IS EXPLAINED
Packers Are Entitled. To Profit
From Brains, He Says.
Retailers Urged To Watch All
"LittIe Expenses"
Jar CONTROL IS EXPLAINED


The Kenyon bill now pending in
congress is Bolshevism, It. d. Nc
Manus of the publicity bureau OF
Armour & Company declared this
morning in his talk before the Kansas
Retail Grocers' association here. 1t
is socialistic un-American and a real
ization of government ownership pure
and simple, he told the merchants.
Replying to charges made in an adj
dress Wednesday by Otto B. Cutler
president of the Poehler Mercantile
company, that the packer ownership
of refrigerator cars gave the packers
an Unfair advantage, McManus said
one might as well compare the store
owning a motor truck with the store
which did not.
Cutler charged that the packers
thus could ship many groceries with
out cost. McManus said the railroad
handles the car under a guarantee by
the packer that the car contains 10000
pounds of meat. If only 10000 pounds
is shipped. 10000 pound rate must
be paid. If other articles not perish
able are placed in the car, the extras
must be paid for at the regular tariff
rates. the same as if they were shipped
, in a car not belonging to the packing
company. the speaker declared.
Packers Built Cars.
When asked by a delegate IL the
| possession of the car did not give the
packer an advantage over the whole
! saler who has difficulty in getting suf-
| ficient cars. McManus said he believed
! the man who had the enterprise.
! brains and capital to forge ahead
| should receive what he earns, and that
anyone who desired to do so could
| build refrigerator ears of their own
These cars, he explained, were built
| by the packers because the railroads
| would not build them.
He pointed out that the government
was urging the utilizing of all car
space and that it being impossible to
always fill the cars with meat, the gro
ceries had been added as a means OF
preventing waste. He declared that
his company handled but 8 per cent
! of the grocery business, in spite of the
charge by the federal trade commits
sion that the packers had a monopoly
on foodstuffs.
While not openly saying so, the
Kenyon bill means government own
ership. McManus told his audience. 1t
will limit the companies from whom
the grocers may buy.
There will be just one privilege left
the retailer said the speaker land
that will be his inherent right to pay
the debts"
i Cars Give Quick Service.
McManus said the packer owner
ship of cars supplied the retailer and
consumer with quick and efficient
service and that anything that bene-
fits the public should not be consld-
cred unfair.
The representative of the Chicago
corporation led up TO his subject with
a talk on the need of a good account
ing system in the grocery store. He
pointed out that there was much "hol-
lerihg" about the retailers profiteer-
ing. 1t is the gross and not the net
profit that makes profiteers OF retail
ers he said.
: "On one corner" he explained. 'is a
grocer using an old system and old
equipment. He has to make SO per
cent, but it is all taken up in expense
/, and the grocer has nothing net. Peo-
| pie say he is all right because he
makes no money. On the other cor
ner is a grocer who makes only Is
per cent but holds his operating cost
down to one-half of this. He is brand
ed as profiteer. AS a matter of fact.
the inefficient man is the profiteer.
because, owing to inefficient methods.
he squanders his customers money on
expenses"
Watch Little Items.
Grocers pay too much attention 10
the big expenses and overlook the lit-
tie losses, he pointed out. Failure OF
the owner to figure his salary as an
| expense is one example.
The program was headed by S. w
Roth, of Chicago, who made ex-
cellent talk on system and explained
his 'four-square plan" to the grocers
Aside from advocating clean stores
service, courtesy and quick turn.
| overs. he recommended a system
| whereby one cent on the dollar IL
! charged for credits to cover book
keeping expenses, and five cents fol
delivery. This gives the cash and
| carry customer the advantage thel
| should rightly have, he said.
Chain stores and mail order housei
have come to stay. Roth said. and thu
| retailer must get in step with them
making his propositions so attractive
that his trade viii not leave him TO
the other competitor. He is travelling
; over the country at his own expens'
offering to install his system free o
cost to any grocer who desires it, an'
read testimonials from many who hal
used it. telling of the great increas
in cash sales and falling off of credi
sales.
Tho convention was to close thi
afternoon, following the final report
of committees and election of Officerf