The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-09
WOMEN PLAN TO
PUNISH DEALERS
WHO PROFITEER
Elaborate Inspection Sys-
TEN and Boycott Has
Been Suggested.
ONLY FEW AT MEETING
Lone Man Present Vigor-
ously Defends Grocers
and Meat Dealers.
only FEW At Meeting

An extremely small percentage Of
Fairmont's housewives met last even
ing in the Circuit court room of the
court house at eght o'clock to go
seriously and energetically over the
big problem of the high cost of living
as far as 1t pertains to groceries
and meats. To be exact, just 1S
women, most of them prominent men,
bers Of the Woman's club, assembled
promptly at the time set. These wom-
en- were disappointed at the small
number and agreed before the even
ing's end that absolutely nothing could
be done toward lowering prices un-
less at least 1000 women get to-
gether in hearty cooperation.
However, they appointed a commit
tee composed of Mrs. ]. Walter Barn
es, Mrs. R. NJ. Hite Mrs. Glenn Barns,
Mrs. H. G. Stoetzer and Mrs. Kembls
White to meet and ascertain exactly
what must be done to get proper au-
thority to start something entirely
new in the city-the dividing OF Fair"
mont into sections under leaders, each
leader to have supervision over GER
tain stores and to keep posted re-
garding the prices at these stores.
When prices were found to be unfair,
general secretary may be notified
who will at once establish a boycott
on these stores, all housewives refus-
ing to buy until the prices have been
righted. After tina been ascertain
ed whether this can be done in Fair
mont, the above women are to visit
the Business Mems Association and
the problem to them-are in fact, to
appeal to this powerful body of men,
asking that they in turn demand OF
the dealers that the situation which
is now menacing Fairmont, be rsliev-
ed. "If the Business Mems Associa-
ton cannot help us, then we will have
to resort to other measures" it was
decided at the meeting last evening,
A discussion occupied the entire eV-
ening, dealing with conditions in the
city. After dozen women had taken
part, M. C. Lough the only gentleman
present, although members Of hte Bus
mess Mems Association had been in
vited, arose and gave the ladies his
opinions, in general and in detail. Mr..
Lough believed the ladies present were
concerning themselves over small mat
ters and letting the big things slide
He mentioned that women nowadays
paid SIS for shoes when they could
get them Just as good for IL. He
stated emphatically that the small
group of H. G. L. objectors present
were absolutely powerless to help the
situation and that unless at least 1000
women could be brought to take the
same interest, their work would be for
nothing. He also stated that the gen.
eral public was not interested-that II
would 60 righ on paying the high
prices and endeavor to do without moi
a solitary article Of diet. In reply to
the suggestion that grocers post bull
letins outside their stores or place
price marks on their gods he asked
where this would benefit the highest
priced stores in the city which had 9
large custom and good profits and
were suffering not in the least because
Of lack of bulletins or labels. How
are we to compel the stores to do this
il they did not so wish?
Mr.. Lough further said that 1t was
NOT the growers and meatmen who
rode about the city in their automo-
biles He believed these men were
not getting rich. He asked why pota-
toes from the mountains of excellent
quality at $3.50 per bushel were not
IContinued on page four)