Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-11
HOOVER WARNS
FOOD GAMBLERS
follower PRICES
Control of Wheat and Flour
Is First Aim of National
Dictator
Washington, Aug. II. = Herber

Washington, Aug. IL. = Herbert
c. Hoover was named Food
administrator yesterday by Presi-
dent Wilson under authority invested
him by Congress, and he i'm
nediately served notice on specula-
tors and protiteers that the time or
reckoning had come for those who
would not cooperate in the efforts
of the Government to obtain lower
prices for the consumer and help
supply the allies of America in the
war against Germany.
With the full approval of the Pres
ident obtained after a long confer
ence at the White House last night,
Mr.. Hoover announced that the
Food Administration would not hesi-
tate to apply to the full the drastic
and coercive powers that Congress
had granted. 1t was at the same
time a warning to those who had en-
gagged in gambling with the food sup
ply and in eXtortion that the United
States Government, through it's Food
administration, was the only agency
which could hope successfully to
orner the food market.
Mr.. Hoover's statement outlining
he Governme purposes in admin
stering the food legislation follows:
The hopes of the Food Admins
Grafton are threefold. First to so
guide the trade in. the fundamental
GOOD commodities as to eliminate
Vicious speculation, eXtortion and
wastetul practice and TO stabilize
prices in the essential staples. Second
20 guard our exports so that against
he worlds shortage we retain sut-
Hicient supplies for our own people
and to cooperate with the Allies to
prevent imitation of prices; and
#hird that we stimulate in every
manner within our power the saving
Df our food in order that we may in
point which will enable them to
properly provision their armies and
o feed their people during the COM
ng winter.
The Food Administration is called
nto being to stabilize and not to
disturb conditions and to defend
honest enterprise against illegitimate
Hoompetion. 1t has been devised to
z,orrect the abnormalities and abuses
Hhat have crept into trade by reason
Df the world disturbances and to re-
store business as far as may be to
b reasonable basis.
Patriotism of Businessmen
The businessmen of this country,
am convinced, as a result of many
hundreds of conferences with rep
z"esentatiVes of the great forces of
ood supply, realize their own pat
'iotic obligation and the solemnity
of the situation, and will fairly and
generously cooperate in meeting the
Rational emergency. l do not be-
ieve that drastic force need be ap-
Piled to maintain economic distribu-
isn and sane use of supplies by the
great majority of American people,
J md | have learned n deep and abid-
. ng faith in the intelligence of the
.vcrage American businessman
hose aid we anticipate and depend
IN to remedy the evils developed by
E he war which he admits and de-
jlores as deeply as ourselves. But
+ there be those who expect to eX-
lott this hour of sacrifice, if there
re men or organizations scheming
o increase the trials of this country,
ve shall not hesitate to apply to the
jul the drastic, coercive powers that
ongress has conferred upon us in
4 MS instrument.