The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-23

OF food administration appointed by
the president and directly responsible
to him.
THE objects sought to be served b,
the legislation asked for are: Full in
quiry into the existing available stock
OF foodstuffs and into the costs and
practices of the various food produc-
Ing and distributing trades; the pre-
vention Of all unwarranted hoarding
OF every kind and Of the control OF
foodstuffs by persons who are not in
any legitimate sense producers. deal
era or traders; the requisitioning
when necessary for the public use OF
food supplies and of the equipment
necessary for handling them proper
ly; the licensing of wholesome and
legitimate mixtures, and milling per-
centages; and the prohibition of the
unnecessary or wasteful use of foods.
Authority Is asked also to establish
prices, but not i'm order to limit the
profits Of the farmers. but only To-
guarantee to them when necessary q
minimum price which will insure them
a profit where they are asked to at
tempt new crops and to secure the
consumer against extortion by break
ing up corners and attempts at spec
ulation when they occur by fixing tenn
porarily a reasonable price at which
middlemen must sell.
Il have asked Mr.. Herbert Hoover
to undertake this all-important task
OF food administration. He has cx-
pressed his willingness to do so on
condition that he is to receive no pay
ment for his services and that the
whole of tho force under him, oxclu-
sive Of clerical assistance, shall be
employed so far as possible on the
same volunteer basis. He has en-
pressed his confidence that this diff
cult matter of food administration Gu 4
be successfully accomplished through
voluntary cooperation and direction o:
legitimate distributors OF foodstugIs
and with the help Of the women OF
the country.
although II is absolutely neccs-
sary that unqucstionqble powers shall
lie placed In my hands in order TO I'm
sure the success of this administration
of the food supplies OF the country
am confident that the exercise OF
those powers will be necessary only
in the few cases where some small an i
selfish minority proves unwilling "a
put the nations interests above pc:-
sonal advantage and that the whole
country will heartily support Mr.
Hoover's efforts by supplying ncccs-
sary volunteer agencies Throughout,
the country for tho intelligent control
Of food consumption and securing the
cooperation Of the most capable lead.
ers Of the very interests most direct
~ affected, that the exercise of the
powers deputed to him will rest very
successfully upon the good will and
cooperation of the people themselves
and that the ordinary economic ma
chinery of tho country will be left
substantially undisturbed.
"'The proposed food administration
Is Intended. OF course. only to meet !;
manifest emergency and to continue
only while the war lasts. Since IT
will he composed for the most par;
Of volunteers. there need be no fear
Of the possibility of n permanent bu-
reaucracy arising out OF it. All con-
troll of consumption will disappoa.
when the emergency has passed. II
IS with that object In view that tn
administration considers II to be az
preeminent Importance that the exist
Ing associations of producers and
distributors OF fOodstuffs should he
mobilized and made use Of on volun-
teer basis. The successful cOnduct
or the projected administration -
such means will be the finest possible
demonstration Of tho willingness, thr
ability and the efficiency OF democracy