The Rising Cost of Living and the Local Monopoly
A representative of a regional retail chain faces local anger over accusations of price-gouging and lack of competition in White Bluffs.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
About fifty people turned out to the meeting in Codding Hall Saturday evening. The meeting was called by E. M. Sly of Kennewick, manager for The Produce Company chain of stores. There had been complaints about soaring prices in many of the lines handled by The Produce Company, and among other things, the company had been charged with taking advantage of the fact that it had no competition to boost prices even higher. In his talk, Mr. Sly quoted from many price lists showing that on dozens of articles, The Produce Company was selling at retail for a price much less than current wholesale prices. He also gave it as his firm opinion that prices were going still higher and advised all those present to lay in as big a supply of staples as their finances would permit. Mr. Sly explained, too, how a combination of circumstances working in perfect unison prevented this valley from getting its share of spray material. 'We established a store in White Bluffs,' said Mr. Sly, 'because we believed this to be a good opening. We are confident, from our system of cooperative buying, that no concern can sell goods here as cheaply as we can. We are here to serve you and when you are not getting service we want you to tell us about it. Tell us—not someone else. While it is probably true that The Produce Company needs White Bluffs, we think it is just as true that White Bluffs needs The Produce Company.'
“While it is probably true that The Produce Company needs White Bluffs, we think it is just as true that White Bluffs needs The Produce Company.”
Public anxiety over inflation and the power of large retail chains is a perennial civic struggle. This 1917 meeting in White Bluffs captures the friction between a community’s need for affordable staples and a company’s defense of its market position, a tension that remains visible in today's debates over supply chains and corporate control.
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