The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1917-05-16
LOBBY OPPOSING
FOOD BILLS
Says Assistant Secretary
Vrooman in a Formal
Statement.
DECLARES MEN OF WEALTH
/, Are Now in Washington Seeking
To Defeat Measures-Calls
Them Allies of Kaiser.

Washington, May 11.-Sensation-
al charges that lobby Of food
gamblers, some OF them men of i'm
mense wealth." already is at work
in Washington seeking to defeat the
Administration food control bills,
We're made tonight in a formal state
ment by Assistant Secretary vroo-
! man, of the Department of Agricul-
ture.
allies of the Kaiser-unpatriot-
ic and disloyal-who should be
made to feel the loathing and con-
tempt of every patriotic American"
are some of the transformations
applied by Mr.. Vrooman to food
spectators, food cornerers and food
gamblers" who, he promises, will in
time be touched by appropriate leg
islation.
Secretary vrooman's statement
follows:
"Never in the history of the world
have business men shown as much
patriotism and unselfishness as have
been manifested since the war began
by the business men OF America. An
overwhelming majority OF them
have been as ready to place their
business organizations and their
personal service andskheir wealthuNtz
the disposal of the Federal Govern
ment in this crisis as the young men
have been to do the actual fighting.
Attitude Not Universal.
However, this attitude has not
been universal. There are food
spectators, food cornerers and food
gamblers, some of them men of inn
mense wealth and others of very
small means. who are today taking
advantage of war conditions to ex-
I plot their fellow citizens to the full
extent of their ability. These men
are allies of the Kaiser and are do
ing their utmost to defeat the pat
riotie purposes of the Nation. Wher
ever they are seen, in high places
or in low, they should be condemn
ed and made to feel the loathing
and contempt of every patriotic
American. These men will be taken
care of in due time by national.
State and municipal legislation, but
until such legislation can be enact
ed the only effective power that can
be brought against them is the pow
er of an outraged public sentiment.
and that should be used vigorously |
and mercilessly.
81 am told that some Of these men |
are actually in Washington today,
conducting a lobby against the re-
quest of President Wilson that Con-
gress empower him and his Cabinet
to take the necessary means to mob
ilize the agricultural resources Of
this Nation for victory. They are
urging every specious. theoretical
and imaginary argument against the
granting of war powers to the Pres
ident and his Cabinet. and they are
at present directing their principal
attack against the laws which have
been introduced by the Agriculture
Committee Of the House. with a
view to putting the Department OF
Agriculture on a war basis. That
step should have been taken several
weeks ago. .o
Measure Fully Considered.
THE bills now before Congress
were drawn up after the Department
of Agriculture had consulted with
every agricultural college In the
United States. with every State de-
partment Of agriculture. with every
agricultural paper or magazine. and
with experts familiar with the ex-
perience of Europe during the past
three years. The additional pow
ers asked for are powers which are
possessed aud exercised by the gov
ernments of every Europesn nation
Now at war. They have been dem
onstrated to be absolutely essential
war powers. II
'The unpatriotic and disloyal lob
by that is trying to defeat the de-
termination Of Congress and of the
people OF this country to put the sg-
ricultural resources Of the Nation on