Evening star., 1949-12-07
Attacks A. q p. Advertising Campaign
As Misleading the Public


To The Editor Of The Star:
It Is most difficult for me to understand.
and am sure many other people like my
self, have difficulty understanding why the
newspapers would be party to any plan to
permit paid propaganda that would fool or
mislead the public. I am referring to the
continual paid advertisements Of the Great
Atlantic g. Pacific Tea Co. which appear
in the Nations press centering their attack
on "anti-trust lawyers" Who are these
"anti-trust lawyers? There must be many
thousands Of lawyers throughout the Nation
specializing in antitrust laws. I would
gather. after reading the ad more carefully,
that they mean the antitrust lawyers from
Washington, D. c.
Truthfully and honestly. wouldn't you
think that an organization as big as the
A. & P. would have the courage and strength
to come out and say, "The Government or
the Administrations instituted suit against
the A. g. P.?"
You and know that a group Of Govern
ment lawyers could not take it upon them
selves to institute action unless such action
was approved by the principal Government
authority. The antitrust lawyers are en-
ployed by the Department of Justice, and the
only one in the Justice Department who
would institute the suit would be the Attor-
ney General, who Is a member OF the
Presidents cabinet.
Would Food Really Cost More?
The recent A. & p. advertisement Don't
Let Anybody Fool You," which appeared IN
Washington papers, sets forth some state
ments that call for careful scrutiny. Suppose
the A. g. p. did go out Of business: How can
they substantiate their claim that your
food will cost more? Are they the exclusive
distributor Of foods in the United States?
This is quite q challenge to the other food
chains and retailers throughout the Nation.
and we wonder If the others are afraid to
attack the statement or the claims OF A. d p.
The aforementioned statement also says:
"Others will be hurt" and d~continues: Such
q decision would mean the end OF the vigor-
Gus, healthy price competition which has
given this country the highest standard OF
living ever enjoyed by any people anywhere
in the history Of the world. The antitrust
lawyers are trying to give new interpreta-
ton to the antitrust laws that, instead OF
preserving competition, will reduce compe-
tition. They are trying, by court decision,
to impose new kind Of economic policy on
the people Of this country"
will say this much, that II others were
found guilty Of certain actions by the Federal
courts such as the A. & p. has been found,
they would be hurt and they would get no
sympathy. u .
In my official position as vice president OF
the National Federation Of Independent
Business, In following out the mandate OF
our Nationwide membership, repeatedly
have stated before congressional committees
that the present maximum antitrust law
fines are inadequate penalties for the law
breakers. They should be strengthened by
demanding Jail sentences for antitrust law
violators or removal Of officers.
Before concluding this letter, must repeat
statement made by the A. & P. and quote:
such decision would mean the end OF
the vigorous healthy price competition" Let
us check the record on this statement.
We wonder If the A. & P. considers its
actions "the vigorous healthy price compe-
tition" The grand jury which returned the
indictment in the current Justice Depart
ment anti trust case against the A. & F. found
that the A. IL P. continued to receive dis
criminatory rebates year after year while
the criminal antitrust case was being fought
In the court: also that during the years 1912
1o47 the A. q p. collected Il 200 900 from two
Chicago milk companies alone and that Ia
1946 (the year In which the District Court
rendered its verdict Of guilty against the
A. q p. in criminal ganti-trust proceedtnga
A. dksP.. secret rebates from these two COM
panieS None amounted to $744000 and that
| IN 1917 while the appeal In the anti-trbss