The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-01-06
THE CROCERS' VICTORY.


a decided victory in the dissolution OF the
business of the five big packers under the
federal court decree that was agreed to be-
tween the government and the concerns In
volved. For long time the grocers hao
been fighting the entrance OF the packers
into the grocer field. The packers began IN
an insidious manner to reach the retail
trade without their products going through
the warehouses of the wholesalers and JOB
bers. They had certain commodities, by
products of the slaughter and packing pusl-
ness. which they placed directly into the
hands of the retailer. Whether this poll
cy originally was intended as an opening
wedge for the larger one which followed, or
whether the packers realized from their ex-
perience with the by-products the possibili-
ties of the field of distribution which their
system made possible, is not known. The fact
is that within a few years they were engag-
ed in the distribution of groceries which had
nothing whatever to do with their primary
business of killing and distributing meat
products.
The plan of the packers was simple. The
much less than the weight capacity of the
same car. In word, the open space neces-
sary to the transportation of fresh meat lett
considerable available and unoccupied car
room The packers loaded this space with
groceries which did not require low temper
ature in transit and which could be closely
hacked into the waste spaces. 1t was policy
of taking I'D lost motion. The packers paid
the commodity rates on these groceries, but
the rush service and speedy routing OF their
refrigerator cars enabled them to get their
other goods into the hands of the retailers
much quicker than their competitors IN the
Wholesale grocery business, who had to de-
pend upon ordinary routing and speed, could
The packers did not undersell their competl-
TORS but cave their customers the benefit OF
the better transportation service, while the
packers took the profits.
Naturally the development of the grocery
business of the packers led them to look 10
the source of supply and to secure doml-
nance, if not control, of that end OF tne
game. They became indirectly Gamers ana
packers of fruits, vegetables and fish. They
cts of other commodities like coffee and
cocoa. While they may have not open
w dominated these markets they certainly
had an influence in them. They had sufficient
command of capital to have taken over any
or all of such sources of supply II they had
desired to do so, as they have taken over 9TH
err sources of supply and dominated others
Ill s L,rtt nd oh
in some instances, poultry
The packers have commended that the Ell
fciency of their system of distribution re-
suited in a saving to the consumer because
none of their products spoiled in transit, ana
none deteriorated because of poor car pro-
lection while on the road. They argued that
the grocers were fighting in their own inter-
ests instead of that of the consumer and
that while the packers did not offer unfair
by underselling, as they could oo'
they had a right to utilize their lost motion
bv shipping fresh meat in the shipment OF
non-perishable products in the same car
They ignored the foundation of the puolc
opposition to this policy that 1t was leadlng
rapidly to the control of the food supplies
of the country by the five packers and their
subsidiary concerns.
The grocers having won their contention
and forced the packers to surrender their
whole grocery trade, it is incumbent upon
the grocers now to see that the cost OF the
commodities is not increased to the consum-
or nv the elimination of their most danger
Gus competitor If the prices should advance
the public will understand that the excessive
profits have been laid down by one element
and taken up by another. 1t will turn its at
tention to the wholesale grocers and see that
thew, too. take warning from the fate OF 9TH
ers and stop profiteering