Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-24
GERMAN FOOD DICTATOR
SECOND TO KAISER; HAS
POWERS OF AUTOCRAT
Acnointment Creates Relief
over Empire, as Pooled
Products Insure Even
IA Distribution
RAToCK1 ASSUMES OFFICE

,rprIN. May 24.--Herr Won Batocli
=, essrr,an food dictator" assumed Of
- sodsy and will take immediate steps to
- nt.a the food distribution of the En-.
cio,hed with virtually unlimited power
.rsr the stomachs OF the German people,
~ new dictator is expected to bring early
fslIef to Berlin and the larger cities, which
sra suffered particularly because Of poor
s.nS dlstribution His first step will be to
..,eoroon into conference representatives of
kss dsaiers in foodstuffs and of the agri-
cultural interests.
Although a late winter may retard crops
4 earrnany, the announcement of the crea-
.lon OF a food dictatorship in the Empire
sss caused feeling of relief, for It in
.,,r.a equal distribution and prohibition
y exorbitant prices
The afood dictator" Adolf Tortilovitz Won
u.tocki. former oberst of East Prussia, has
aI.rary powers and his authority Is second
ssrivYto that of the Kaiser himself Herr
IN Batocki is known as strong man"
y Al the choice is generally hailed with APP
rroyal although the newspapers are warn
ssns the people not to expect revolutionary
remedies Immediately.
Herr Won Batocki will see to 1t first that
,se army is fed substantially, In fact, the
soldiers are to be given preference, espe-
s,aiIv in the matter of meat
Aster the army comes the civilian public.
ma, nav dictator will fix prices and issue
,ulsa covering the entire empire as to what
ssall be sold and under what conditions.
Gernnan dinners are not expected to grow
isyser Immediately as the result of the new
Ian by the Government On the contrary,
ths public has been warned by the press to
arnect further privations until the crops are
harvested and the new regulations begin to
otanra xxrar arfN it,cf
Ahs belief that Germany can return to be-
sorsthe.war menus. hit urge that the Gov
Irnnent take sharp measures against food
SeaIers who have been making fortunes.
Every effort will be made to conserve the
meat supply, and the breeding of pigs and
cattle will be fostered not only in Germany,
sut IN the conquered territory. The situa-
tlon as regards grain will be helped by sup
niles which are being receievd from Ru-
mania
IL Is stated that the outlook for vegeta-
Ales is very good and a proclamation may
"a Issued by Herr Won Batocki as one of
his first official acts urging the people to
hecome yegetarians, or at least to make
vegetables the chief article of diet.
II the food dictatorship" proves a sue
cess in Germany the plan probably will be
sdopted in Hungary.
The surrender by the Federal States of
their prerogatives indicates realization
that existing conditions demand such sur
render Adequate, breadstuffs are on hand,
and II is even likely the bread and flour
ration for physical workers soon will be
increased. Enough potatoes also are avail
able to carry the country through until
the early crop is harvested. although it Is
possible the allowance must be somewhat
reduced.
That the Federal States surrender of
their constitutional rights as a preliminary
10 the creation of the food dictatorship did
not come without opposition is indicated by
dispatch from Stuttgart, where one
branch Of the city council protested sharply
against attempts to introduce uniform food
distribution throughout the empire "at the
expense of the south OF Germany"