Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-11
NATION FACES
SERIOUS CRISIS
SAYSHO0VER
No Need for Food Panic
However, as Nation Has
Ample Supply.

New York, May 11.-Herbert G.
Hoover, who recently came from
Europe to advise the government on
food conditions in Europe. says that
without governmental food control we
may see flour at $50 a barrel before
the year is over. but that with con-
troll "the present price of flour can
be reduced 40 to 80 per cent and at
the same time the producer be
in a liberal manner" Mr.. Hoover
thus outlined food conditions In a.
statement to the Associated Press yes
terday.
food panic nor any justification Tor
outrageous prices unless h opposi-
ton Of special interests defeats the
president in obtaining the necessary
powers to control h nations FOOD
fully. Americas problem is not one
Of famine, for we have now n VII
problem is, after the proper protec-
ton Of our own people. to give to u
allies the last ounce of surplus OF
which we are capable.
Surplus Only to Allies.
Therefore the nation needs a 1000
control to regulate prices and to IN
crease the surplus. After providing
for u normal consumption, we will
have together with Canada a surplus
for our allies equal to only sixty per
cent Of the food they require from
us. If we take broad measures OF
control we can with as little disturb
ance to economic machinery as need
be, furnish them an additional twenty
per cent.
'If, however. the whole world. al
lied and neutral. is to have the unre-
stricted run of our marketssjn COM
petition with each other and in com
petition with the s%peculator in this
country. we may expect to see IS
wheat before the year is over.
Large measures OF food control do
not mean arbitrary interference With
the necessary economic machinery OF
trade. They mean that every branch
he called in by the government INK
forge themselves into a link from
which the contemplated chain Will
protect producer. legitimate distribute
or and consumer.
the American farmer did not realize
s1.30 per bushel for the 1916 wheat
harvest. vet the price OF wheat IN
New York today is .s3.25 per bushel
n -four is s1+ per barrel.
Damage TO All Industry.
81 have no hesitation in saying that
If the able. patriotic men represent
ing the majority of each branch OF
the food trades were called in. clothed
with the necessary powers to force
the small minority Of skunks that ex-
lists in every trade. one result would
he that an equally nutritious flour
based on even $3.50 wheat could he
sold in New York for a good deal
under IS per barrel. and Every trade
would receive its legitimate profit.
Without control we may see $50 -four
before the year Is out and a total
dislocation of wages and consequent
%dislocation Of industry and living.
II War Should End Suddenly.
con the other hand. il we over
come the submarine and il we open
other markets to our allies we nay
see wheat at 81 a bushel and flour
under Sc. In n event. with sumo
lent control. the present price Of flour
can he reduced bv FORTY per ent to
fifty per cent and at the same time
the producer treated in a liberal
amer
without any form of control we
are likely to see an ever worse situa-
ton than the high prices ling,
resulting from the unrestrained drain
on III wheat abroad. It is possible
that the last three months Of next
year we NAV he bare OF b%readstuffs
irt this country.
with proper food control the gov
eminent would ask only me thing
from the individual consumer.
tHfty Million Bushels Surplus.
"Hoarding and speculation are rife.
yet there can he no particle of A
Doubt that we have today in North
America a surplus Of from 10000, 900
tn 70.0n0.o00 bushels OF wheat beyond
our ordinary c~onsumntion and beyond
the needs of our allies before the next
harvest comes in. Out of next har-
vest. with 40 economy in consump
ton. North America. even with the
loss in winter wheat. can give our al
lies 100000 900 bushels of cereals ri
n kin or another. But to protect
", op,c,,,, or- Fro,,, trl,,- a,,d 70 Ia