Evening star., 1938-10-06
A Statement of Public Policy
bv The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
q. The Interests of the Farmer

a. The Interests of the Farmer
Eight million farm families engaged in producing the
food consumed by the American people An OF the sn
the United States have direct interest the methods
of distribution by which the products of their labor and of the
approximately 3o9s Of their production marketed through
the chain food about 7O through Individual grocers
Their fruits vegetables and other oodu sold through the
% to cheaper
which they sold by If the farmer sells
must charge the public take of his costs
Thus 3O96 of the farmers products reach the public at low
prices 1919 products reach the public higher prices
If the public of app es pota-
toes other product at the prices at which they
surplus accumuaes and the farmer finds that he either cam
sell the balance of his must sell at substantial
for the his apples peaches rot the ground
than expend the labor costs to ana snip he
Every farm economist knows that surplus does not mean
1919 less return to the farmer but often more than Zoo Less
~
In other words the farmer problem sell his products
the production plus fair profit and to get them to the
public with intermediate and profits possible
Which would at single Blow wipe out 500 of his distributing
machnery-and that 30 the which maintains the prce
nomea distribution would be Just unfair the farmer to
propose putting business all of the individual OF
the country who distribute 1919 of his produce Both chain food
and individual perform dstributve function
vital the of the farmer If either failed to junction
the farmer would be faced with tremendous apuses and
For years the ha. dealt with the farmers both pro-
ducers and We feel that have definite obsa
and duty to oppose legislative attack their best
interests.
S. The Interests of Labor
Every this country has vital interest in the
chasing Of labor When labor has high and great
chasing power curaed all business suffers and the Anne-
standard of living impaired For has been
purchasing power of the workers dollar Combinations
raise prices thus reducing real wages have
1t certainly strange that should be proposed
destroy Of businesses for the frankly admitted
that they furnish of life the and
his family low prices. There approximately 900, 900
workers directly employed in the chain store industry What
time when more than 100000 wage already
of work and 100000 families relief bill that
wipe 3o of the distributing machinery of all of the farmers
Of hs United and raise the cost of living of the
We believe that has rendered great
service to the American people and that it is result
our own interest it would be easy to stop and enjoy
whatever leisure we have earned No is dependent
fullest Of all interests. have arrived the
decision tina. we would be doing less than our full duty if
pe.ed by .h. pro-
As have said, Mr. Patman is able politician,
able lobbyist and able propssands In that field he
expert We experts only m the grocery business.
We believe the chain stores have right to their
case to the As,esn people We will into politics
of attempting to influence the vote of member of the
Congress. We expect only full and fair opportunity
stores a
organization for the American people.
Since the task have set before involving the
widest dissemination of complete information all of
the American people, and since this is profession in
which we are not expert have engaged Carl Byoir
Assocates public relations counsel to do this work. We
realize that views seldom We know, there
FORE that must be prepared to spend substantial
Of money in telling our story to all Of the American people
We declare that this money will be spent the dis
seminaton of information through paid advertising and
medium available to and in cooperating in the
farmers and workers. which provide open forums for
discussion of all measures affecting the cost of living
We believe that when the American people have all of
the facts they viii make their decision known their
representatives in Congress. A. Americans will be
content with that decision. n
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