Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-10
Meat Dealers Report
Business Off; Buyers
Prepare Strike Here

AS several Washington organiza-
tons today made plans to join q
nation wide meat buyers strike" a
survey OF butchers here brought
reports that business has fallen OH
because Of high prices.
Some butchers reported they were
selling steak and other high priced
cuts at a loss. because of the lack
OF trade. Others said they were
lust breaking even" and were buy
ing in small quantities. One large
packer with Offices here reported
business 80 per cent of normal"
Among the groups meeting today
to organize a boycott in line with
the idea suggested last week by a
Dallas grandmother, were the Wash
ington Committee for Consumer
Protection and the District Affairs
Committee of the Progressive Party
here. Other groups indicated their
willingness to cooperate with boy
colt plans.
Aren't Buying Expensive Cuts
Meanwhile, reports from all over
the country indicated the buyers
strike was having some effect In
scattered localities.
In the butcher survey here, John
F. Ertter. a grocer at 6l43 Georgia
avenue NV, reported his meat
trade of considerably
People aren't buying the expen-
sive cuts" he said. Neither are
the cheaper cuts moving This
generation of housewives doesn't
know how to make use of the utility
cuts. We're all spoiled"
I. K. Irving. owner of market
at 1852 Nichols avenue Sc. said
his business was one-third Of
normal.
Mrs. Harry spund. wife of the
owner Of the Livingston Market,
55l6 Connecticut avenue NV, said
there had been a noticeable trend
in buyers resistance.
Business Called Half Normal.
Meat purchases at Burke's Mar
ket, 1888 Thirteenth street NV,
are "one half the normal business,
1t was reported. An identical report
came from Thomas A. Bailey, own
er of Bailey's Market, l0l Four
tenth street SW.
i Most butchers this morning re-
ported their top round steak, the
most popular steak cut, was selling
at SO cents to 81 pound. One store,
however priced 1t at $l,10. Store
managers also said there had been
"a considerable increase IN the
price of pork.
/ The sales manager for one large
chain, which previously had report
ed an 8 per cent decline in meat
sales during the last two weeks, pre-
dicted sales would be of even more
this week, as the upswing in whole
sale prices was passed on to the
consumer.
All independent butchers said
they were in favor Of buyers
strike
I'm case of a concerted boycott,
the packers would be forced to dis
pose of the meat they have on
hand" said Ben Davis. owner of a
store at 1920 Fourteenth street NV.
Whether they would continue to
buy from the farmers at the present
high prices is another question.
however. At least it would bring
immediate relief"
Mrs. Kitty Cliff, president of the
League of Women Shoppers, mean
while. called upon Washington
women to support the strike.
Since Congress has failed =
to protect us from outrageous prices
we must act for ourselves, p"
she said Mrs. Cliff SAID her group
would cooperate with the Consumer
Protection League in whatever
action they decided to take. The
Women's Auxiliary OF the United
Public Workers. CLIO, has already
Endorsed the Nationwide movement.
The strike" appeared to be
spreading. A picket line" of house
WIVES was ICpoltC iiOiii bAASA"AAN'
Fla, where five pairs Of marchers
paraded in front of markets. They
carried signs asking that no meat
be purchased. A check Of 1--WE
stores there revealed few customers.
Meat retailers in Texas. where the
butcher-shop boycott began Mon
day. said results of the women S
non buying campaign were indie
cisive. But in Portland. Greg. bids
on the livestock market were around
81 lower than last week and packers
blamed the housewives boycott.
In Syracuse, two housewives
picked up the idea and by late Mon
oav said they had enlisted 100
l. n