The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-10
Governor Harding Sets Forth Atti-
tude in This Matter in Letter An
nouncing Appointment Of
]. r. Deems.
FOOD ADMINISTRATOR
Governor Has Idea That Consumer as
Well as Producer Has Rights
and VIII Uphold
These.

Members of the Iowa Council of De.
Tense in Lee county have received
notices of the appointment OF j. r.
Deems of Burlington as Iowa repre-
sentative of the food administrator
Herbert G. Hoover, issued by Cover
nor William L.. Harding.
The letter sets forth the governor S
attitude on the subject, making "
clear that the consumer is entitled to
consideration as well as the producer.
The communication follows:
when the farmer is selling his
wheat for an average of $1.51 per
bushel and the consumer is paying
1925 per bushel for the same wheat,
or about two and one-fifth times as
much as the farmer receives, it is evil
dent there is something wrong. Either
the Spectator is getting too much out
of the transaction, or the producer too
little. The consumer as well as the
producer needs attention.
Experience has shown that inteli-
gent governmental food administra-
ton or control during periods such as
we are now passing through can do,
much to correct these evils. For this
reason President Wilson requested Mt
Herbert C. Hoover to take up the
question Of food administration for
the United States during the war and
he has consented. Mr.. Hoover's &C
ton is entirely voluntary and he
works absolutely without compensa'
ton.
After consultation with governors
of the various states 1t was deemed
advisable to appoint federal food al
ministrator in each state to assist MT
Hoover and keep him informed as to
local conditions. These representa-
tives will work with and through the
various existing state or local organ1'
cations and will need much help from
every available source in their re-
|spective states to get the best results.
In many states the work has ad-
vanced much farther than in Iowa and
we must not lag behind.
Defenders Should Help.
"The Iowa Council of Defense is one
of the agencies that should be helpful
in this work Through the county
members of the council, an organiza-
ton by voting precincts was affected
to carry out the details of the regis
tration for the selective draft and this
state may well feel proud Of the way
that work was handled. 1t is believed
that this precinct organization may be
depended on to help out in the same
efficient way in connection with the
food measures.
THE Iowa war emergency food
committee will, of course. continue its
splendid work The woman's commit
tee of the council of defense and 9TH
er woman's organizations are, espe-
cially qualified for carrying forward
certain lines OF work and it is not
doubted they may be depended on to
do their full share. Many other
agencies such as commercial clubs
and civic bodies, schools, churches
and state grange and other secret and
fraternal organizations may be called
on, and it is confidently believed they
will willingly do their part to help win
the war
| "Mr. ]. F. Deems of Burlington has
been selected as the Iowa representa-.
tive of the federal food administration
department. am sending him a copy
| of this letter In order that he may
clearly understand my attitude on the
question and have suggested that he
or his staff should feel free to com
municate direct with individuals, de-
lpartments or organizations that he
| thinks can aid in this work"