Middletown transcript., 1917-05-26

Selfish Minority From Putting Per-
sonal Advantage Above Nations In
terest : Control To Be Dropped
When War Ends.
Washington.-Presid Wilson, in
a statement outlining the administra-
tons food control policy, announced
he had asked Herbert C. Hoover to
become American food administrator
and that Mr.. Hoover would accept the
place.
A statement given out by Mr..
Hoover after the White House an
nonounceemnt was made gave his
plans for food administration and call
ed on the country to render voluntary
assistance in carrying it out.
Washington-The following is the
text of President Wilson's food procla-
nation
1T is very desirable, in order to pre-
vent misunderstanding or alarms and
to assure cooperation in vital mat
ter, that the country should under
stand exactly the scope and purpose of
the very great powers which l have
thought it necessary in the circum-
my hands with regard to our food sup
plies. Those powers are very great
indeed, but they are no greater than 1t
has proved necessary TO lodge in the
other governments which are conduct
ing this momentous war, and their OBJ
ject is stimulation and conservation
not arbitrary restraint or injurious
Interference with the normal processes
of production. They are intended to
benefit and assist the farmer and all
those who play legitimate part in the
preparation, distribution and market
ing of foodstuffs.
1T is proposed to draw a sharp line
of distinction between the normal
activities of the government represent
ed in the Department of Agriculture
in reference to food production, con-
servation and marketing on the one
hand and the emergency activities
necessitated by the war in reference to
the regulation of food distribution and
consumption on the other. All meas
ures intended directly to extend the
norrcal activities of the Department
of Agriculture, in reference to the pro
duction conservation and the market
ing of farm crops will be administered
as in normal times, through that de-
partment, and the powers asked for
overdistribution and consumption
overexports, imports, prices, purchase
and requisition of commodities, stor
ing and the like, which may require
regulation during the war, will be
placed in the hands of a commissioner
of food administration appointed by
the President and directly responsible
to him.
After Middle Men.
"The-ehiects sought to be served b!
the legislation asked for are:
Full inquiry into the existing avail
able stocks of foodstuffs and into the
costs and practices Of the various
food producing and distributing
trades the prevention Of all unwar
ranted boarding of every kind and o.
the control Of foodstuffs by persons
who are not in any legitimate sense
producers, dealers or trades; the re
QUESTIONING when necessary for the
public use Of food supplies and of the
equipment necessary for handling
them properly; the licensing of whole
sale and legitimate mixtures and mill
ing percentages, and the prohibition O.
the unnecessary or wasteful use o
foods. Authority is asked also t.
establish pTices-but not in order t.
limit the profits of the farmers, bu
only to guarantee to them when neces
sary a minimum price which will in
sure them a profit where they ar
asked to attempt new crops, and t
secure the consumer against eNtortio!
by breaking up corners and attempt
at speculation when they occur by fix
ing temporarily a reasonable price a
which middlemen must sell.
Hoover, Volunteer.
Il have asked Mr.. Hoover TO under
take this all-important task Of foo'
administrator. He has expressed hi
willingness to do SO on condition rha
he is to receive no payment for hi
services and that the whole of tn
force under him, exclusive Of clerica
assistance, hall be employed so fa
as possible upon the same voluntee
basis. He has expressed his conf
Gence that this difficult matter of foo
administration can be successfully aC
complished through the voluntary &C
operation and direction of legitimat
distributors of foodstuffs and with tn
help of the women Of the country.
Although it is absolutely necessar
that unquestionable powers shall b
placed in my hands in order to insur
the success of this administration G
the food supplies of the country, I al
confident that the exercise of thos
powers will be necessary only in til
few cases where some small an
selfish minority proves unwilling
nut the nations interests above pc
sonal advantage and that the Who'll
country will heartily support Nj
Hoover's efforts b. supplying "A