The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-17
NO NECESSITY FOR
 HIGH FOOD PRICES
Herbert C. Hoover Declares Govern ment Can Cut Prices 70 Co 90 Per Cent--IS in No Danger of
 Famine-Nust Help Allies.

New York, May Herbert C.. Hoover, who recently came from Europe to advise the government on food conditions in Europe, says that without control the United States may see flour s2c barre be- fore the year is over but that with control "the present price of flour can be reduced 10 to 50 per cent and at the same time the producer treat ed in a liberal manner
 Mir. Hoover thus outlined food conditions in the following state ment:
 There is absolutely no reason for food panic in this country, nor any justification for outrageous prices, unless the opposition of special in- terests defeats the president in ob- taining the necessary powers to con- trol the nations food fully and ade- quately. Americas problem is not of famine, for we have now, and will have next year, a large surplus. 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.
 Must Help Nations Allies.
 Therefore, the nation needs a food control to regulate prices and to increase the surplus. After pro- viding for our normal consumption we will have, together with Canada, a surplus for our allies equal to only 60 per cent of the food they require from us. If we take broad measures of control we can, with little dis turbance to economic machinery, furnish them an additional 20 per cent.
 Their loaf, even then, will be a privation loaf, and every ounce we can put in it will diminish their privation. The problem can be solved, if, however, the whole world, allied and neutral, is to have the un- restricted run of our markets in competition with each other and in competition with the speculator in this country, we may expect to see $5 wheat before the year is over.
 Large measures of food control does not mean arbitrary interfer- ence with the necessary economic machinery of trade. They mean that every branch be called in by the government and forge them- selves into link from which the contemplated chain will protect producer, legitimate distributor and consumer.
 Exorbitant Profits Made.
 T am assured that the American farmer did not realize Si30 per bushe for the 1916 wheat harvest yet the price of wheat in New York today is S3.25 per bushel and flour is Si4 per barrel, with all it's attend ant hardship and dislocation of so- cial and industrial life
 If the able, patriotic men, repre- senting the majority of each branch of 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 nu- tritous flour, based on even Si-50 wheat, could be sold in New York for a good deal under SS per barrel and every trade would receive it's legitimate profit. Without control, we may see s20 flour before the year is out and a total dislocation of wages and consequent disloeation of industry and living.
 "On the other hand, if we over come the submarine and if we open other markets to our allies we may see wheat at Si a bushel and flour under SC. In any event, with sutli- cient control, the present price of flour can be reduced by i0 per cent to 90 per cent, and at the same time the producer treated in liberal manner