The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-14
CONGRESS BY DELAYING FOOD
CONTROL LEGISLATION AIDS
GAMBLERS.
FOOD A1ninistrssor Says Robbery Of
Peosls Caa Noe bc stopped with
! oas Psssage of Lesisiation--Alakcs
Hspsrt ON Conditions to President.

sooN epecuiatoru mako unearned pro-
, - from the delay In enactment of
food control legislation. was given out
tonight at tho White House. Unless
strops and ef7icient government action
h Immediately taken. the food admin
serater reported. the farmers will
fAcs . siump In wheat prices and
oonsumsrs viii be caught In situa-
tssn even more serious than that
which already is resulting In actual
andernourishmsnt" In the great con-
suming centres. The spsculator. IL Is
declared. is taking large part Of the
prices now paid by consumers.
we are practically helpless to safe
guard either the farmer or the con.
SINNER" concludes Mr.. Hoover. until
The pending legislation Is passed"
The report, In the form Of a lettor
to the president. was issued through
the public Information committee with
the statement that publicity was given
u I'm order that the country may
know how serious and far reaching the
oonssouences may be both to the
farmsrs OF the country and to the
consumers OF the present delays In
passing the pending food Hesitation
No comment by the president ac-,
oompansed the report. Mr.. Hoover's
letter follows In part:
Dear Mr.. President: In response 10
your request send you herewith the
feiiewing notes complied by myself
sod uy. associates upon the present
eesation with regard to wheat
M me 1917 harvest promises TO
y1oo4 syoseos. Geo bushels. The normal
International consumption and seed
roeqD>msns (assumins carry over
- $3.50 volume In 1913 AZ In 1911.
amsuneB to about 500. 900. 900 BUSH
shs thus leaving theoretical export
balance Of 7s.ooo.ooo bushels. The
censsrvation measures are already
having marked effect and II is not
too much to hope that the national
saving may be $4,000. 900 to 1oO.-
eco. 900 bushels.
-. The experience this year In the
rampant speculation. extortionate
pronts and the prospect of even mar
rover supplies than 1915 harvest and
carryover. must cause the deepest
anxiety. No better proof OF the hard
snip worked upon our people during
the past year needs to be adduced
than the recitation of the fact that
the producer received an average of
si.si per bushel for the 1915 wheat
harvest: yet wheat has been as high
- ss.sS at Chicago and the price of
neur has been from time to time bas-
cd upon this speculative price Of
wheat.
n. During recent months the al
He'd governments have consolidated
their buying into one hand In order
that they might relieve the burden
Of speculation from their own con-
sumcrs. and an the restricted exports
to neutrals are but a minor item, the
export price. IL not controlled. Is sui
jsct to the will Of the allied buyer. so
that In n great measure the American
producer Ia left to that buyers judg-
msnt and Ia without voice.
~. with great reduction I'm the
consumption Of wheat bread now for
tunateiy In progress. the employment
OF our mills must be greatly diminish
ed and with the reduction OF domes.
tic nour production our daily feed
from wheat resldues will be greatly
curtailed. Therefore. we must in
ducs foreign buyers to accept -four
Instead of-wheae.
IS. In order to do Justice to the
producers who have made a special
snort to Increase production In 1917 "
is absolutely vital that we shall pro-
tect the farmer from slump In prices
this year due tn d giut or from tho
uncontrolled decisions of any one buy
or. am informed that most of the
allied count 'es have nxed the pric.
OF wheat TO the farmer at $50 per
bushsi and many OF their producers
believe that as allies II Ia our duty &
furnish wheat at n price which when
delivered to them will not exceed their
domestic price-in other words abou, /
$50 per bushel In Chicago.
Neither their responsible officers
nor I hold this view. because I con. !
slider that the stimulation to produc. |
ton n no other reason is In the Ions '
run In the interest Of the allies.