The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-06-01

WAS0luS 1C0AOOhL VVAAoOA0 49,
q 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 1t out.
washington.-The following is the
text of President Wilson's food procla-
nation
at is very desirable, in order to pre-
vent misunderstanding or alarms and
to assure cooperation in a 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-
stances to ask the Congress to put in
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,
feet 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 a legitimate part in the
ing Of foodstuffs.
ut 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
normal activities of the Department
OF Agriculture, in reference to the pro-
duction, conservation and the market
ing Of farm crops wifi 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, with be
placed in the hands of commissioner
of food administration appointed by
the President and directly responsible
to him.
After Middle Men,
@The objects sought to be served by
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 of
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 of
the unnecessary or wasteful use of
foods. Authority is asked also to
establish prices-but not in order to
limit the profits of the farmers, but
only to guarantee to them when neces-
f1ntr will tn,
sure them profit where they are
asked to attempt new crops, and to
secure the consumer against eXtortion
by breaking up corners and attempts
at speculation when they occur by fix
ing temporarily reasonable price at
which middlemen must sell.
Hoover, Volunteer.
Il have asked Mr.. Hoover to under
take this all-important task of food
administrator. He has expressed his
he is to receive no payment for his
services and that the whole of the
force under him, exclusive of clerical
assistance, shall be employed so far
as possible upon the same volunteer
basis. He has expressed his conf
dence that this difficult matter of food
administration can be successfully &C.
complished through the voluntary CO.
operation and direction of legitimate
distributors of foodstuffs and with the
help of the women of the country.
ALTHOUGH 1t is absolutely necessary
that unquestionable powers shall be
placed in my hands in order to insure
the success of this administration of
the food supplies of the country, am
confident that the exercise of those
powers viii be necessary only in the
few cases where some small and
selfish minority proves unwilling to
put the nations interests above per-
s0nal advantage and that the whole
country win heartily support Mr..
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