The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-05-14

Herbert C. Hoover is now being
quoted as the chief authority on food
distribution and conservation in this
country, and since his return from
Europe, where he studied conditions
while handling large relief supplies
in Belgium, he has been mentioned
as a possible food dictator" Mr..
Hoover does not want to be food
dictator, but he has encouraging
things to say and good suggestions
to make on the food subject.
No Need For Panic
Mr. Hoover thus outlined food con-
ditions in a statement to the Asso-
ciated Press, Thursday:
There is absolutely no occasion
for food panic in this country, nor
any justification for outrageous
prices unless the opposition of
special interests defeats the president
in obtaining the necessary powers to
control the nations food fully and
Adequately. Americas problem is
not one of famine, for we have now,
and will have next year, large sur
plus. Our problem is, after the
proper protection of our own people,
to give to our allies, the last ounce
of surplus of which we are capable.
Control for Two Purposes
Therefore the nation needs food
control for two purposes: to regu-
late prices and to increase the sur
plus. After providing for our nor
NAL consumption, we will have, to-
gether with Canada, surplus for
our allies equal to only 60 per cent
of the food they require from us.
| If we take broad measures of con-
troll. we can, with as little disturb
ance to economic machinery as need
| be, furnish them an additional 20
per cent.
"If the whole world, allied and
neutral, is to have the unrestricted
run of our markets in competition
with each other an in competition
with the speculator in this country,
we may expect to see s. wheat be-
fore the year is over.
Large measures of food control
do not mean arbitrary interference
with the necessary economic machin-
cry of trade. They mean that every
branch be called in by the govern
ment and forge themselves into a
link from which the contemplated
chain will protect producer, legiti-
mate distributor and consumer.
Farmers Get $3.50, Price Now 1926
For instance, l am assured that
the American farmer did not realize
$3.50 per bushel for the 1916 wheat
harvest, yet the price of wheat in
New York today is 1926 per bushel
and -four is $14 per barrel, with all
it's attendant hardship and disloca-
ton of social and industrial life.
81 have no hesitation in saying
that if the able, patriotic men repre-
senting the majority of each branch
of the food trades were called in and
clothed with the necessary powers to
force the small minority of skunks
that exist in every trade, one result
would be that an equally nutritious
flour, based on $3.50 wheat, could
be sold in New York for good deal
under So per BARREL and every trade
would receive it's legitimate profit.
Without control we may see $40
flour before the year is out, and a
total dislocation of industry and liv-
ing.
ION the other hand, if we over
come the submarine, and If we open
other markets to our allies, we may
see wheat at 81 bushel and Hour
under Sc. In any event, with suftlc-
lent control, the present price OF |
-four can be reduced 40 to so per
cent and at the same time the pro-
Queer treated in liberal manner.
Does Not Mean Bread Cards
Food control does not mean bread
cards to the American people. 1t
means the broad conservation of our
food. the better handling by elimina-
ton of waste and speculation.
"Hoarding and speculation are rife
vet there can be no particle of a
doubt that we have in North America
today a surplus of from 50,0OO,0OO
to 100000 bushels of wheat be-
yond our ordinary consumption and
beyond the needs of our allies be-
fore the next harvest comes in. Out
of the next harvest, with no econ
omy in consumption, North America,
even with the loss in winter wheat,
can give our allies 400, 100000 bus
hels of cereals of one kind or an
other.
But to protect our consumers
from today and to legitimately ex-
pand our exports to our allies with
out breaking into our own necessary
food, the government must have
widest and absolutely immediate
powers"