The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-02
Kemper Believes Pollock VIII
Uphold Price List.
District Attorney to Fight
Action Started Thursday.
GET TEMPORARY INJUNCTION
GrOcers Garry Out Threats to
Openly Oppose Committee.
Schedules on 1O3 Articles Held
Up Until January 12.

w. H. Kemper, chairman Of the
Shawnee county fair price committee,
today expressed confidence that Judge
John c. Pollock would dismiss the Pc
tition of the Topeka grocers for a
! permanent restraining order against
the committee when the case comes
before him in the federal district court
at Kansas City January IL.
Fred Robertson, United States dis
trict attorney. will defend the fair
price committees actions in establish
ing maximum prices on 103 articles
of food sold by retail grocers. Kern
per will go to Kansas City tomorrow
to discuss the case and lay before the
federal attorney any information the
latter may desire.
"I cannot see any chance that the
court will grant a permanent injunc-
I tion," said Kemper. I'VE can show
authority for every move we have
made and believe We can convince the
/ court that prices fixed by us were not
unfair to the grocers, as alleged by
them"
Coffee Profit 60 Per Cent.
Kemper today had members of his
committee working on the percenta ge
of profit admittedly made by retail
grocers on certain articles of food. AS
high as so per cent profit on coffee
]
charged. No profit lower than 26 per
cent had been found at noon today.
| The committee will lay these figures
| before Robertson for his use in the
hearing in Kansas City.
Judge Pollock's order enjoined the
committee from putting into effect its
| fair price list this morning. as sched-
uled.
Following filing of a bill by T. F.
Doran, attorney for the grocers. the
| court issued a temporary order re-
straining the Shawnee county fair
price committee and Ed T. Hackney,
| state fair price commissioner, from
! fixing. or further promulgating and
| publishing. and from putting into ef-
| feet, and from enforcing or attempting
to enforce" the price list drawn up
last week.
The order prevents Kemper's COM
mittee from interfering with grocery
/ prices until the date of the hearings
before Judge Pollock on January IL.
A copy of the court order was re-
Wood. United States marshal. 1t was
served on members of the committee
| by r. Neil Rain. chief deputy.
: Groccrs Who Petitioned.
| The grocers who petitioned the in
junction are: A. L. Green and William
Green, representing William Green &
| Son: Fred o. Morns, and c. K. Myers
| w. H. Whittlesey. c. A. Whittlesey and
S. r. Whitt1esey, of the Owl Groceries;
I. w. DibbIe and D. M. Dibble, of the
Dibble Grocery Co.; and Joe F'rittoI
and B. V. F'ritton, of the Fritton Groc-
cry Co. The defendants in the case
are Ed T. Hackney, of Wellington; w
H. Kemper. c. D. Skinner, T. w
Thompson, j. A. Lortie, Thomas w
Lillard. Mrs. Edith Supple, Mrs E. c
Arnold, Mrs. p. w. Mulvane and Rob
ert T. Caldwell.
The bill of complaint carries a lis
of articles fixed by the fair price com
mittee to show that the grocers will bt
selling S6 of the 103 articles at a loss
The grocers add IS per cent to tht
prices to meet overhead expenses.
When the temporary restraining or
der was served on him and the mem
bers of his committee, Kemper ISSUED
the following statement.
1.-THE fair price committee has been en-
Joined from fixing or putting into effec
prices complained of by Green & Son
Morns & Myers, the Whittleseye, of thu
Owl groceries, Dibble Grocery Co. ant
Fritton Grocery Co, and, of course, being
law abiding citizens, will obey the in
junction. The good effects of the worl
done so far cannot be removed. The peopl
have the information brought out and cal
profit by that If the injunction is denie'
on the 18TH day of January, we will b.
as have been doing. "a
FAIR PRICE COMMITTEE FOR SHAW
'.W. Fl. KEMPER, Chairman