The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-11
Without Tt America May
See Flour Reach 500
A Barrel
NO OCCASION FOR Il
ANY FOOD PANIC.
To Protect Consumers Gov
eminent Must Have Alb
solute Powers
(By Associated Press.)


Hoover, who recently came from Eur
ope to advise the government on food
conditions in Europe says that with
out control America may see Hour at
$40 a barrel before the year is over
but that with control the present
price of flour can be reduced 40 to %
per cent and at the same time the.
producer be treated in a liberal man
ner." III"
Mr.. Hoover then outlined food cone
ditions in statement to the ASCOT
ated Press.
There is absolutely no occasion for
food panic nor any justification Tor
outrageous prices unless the opposi-
ton of SPECIAL interests defeats the
president on obtaining the necessary
powers to control the nations food
fully. Americas problem is not one
of famine, for we have now and Will
have next year a large surplus. our
problem is, after the proper protection
of our people to give to our allies the
last ounce of surplus of which we are
capable.
Needs Food Control.
Therefore the nation needs a food
control to regulate prices and increase
the surplus. After providing for our
normal consumption we will have. to-
gether with Canada, a surplus for our
allies Of only so per cent of the food
they require from us. II we take
broad measures of control we can,
with as little disturbance to economic
machinery as need be, furnish them an
additional twenty per cent.
'Tf, however, the whole world, allied
and neutral, is to have the unrestricted
run of our markets in competition
with each other and in competition
with the speculator 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 or
trade. They mean that every branch
be called in by the government and
forge themselves into link from
which the contemplated chain will
protect producer, legitimate distrio-
utor and consumer.
For instance, l am assured that thel
American farmer did not realize $3.50.
per bushel for the 1916 wheat harvest,
yet the price of wheat in New YORK *
today is $3.25 per bushel and hour IL
$14 per barrel.
Force Out "Skunks."
81 have no hesitation in saying that.
if the able, patriotic men representing
each branch of the food trades were,
called in and clothed with the neces-
sary powers to force the small min
ority of skunks that exist in every
trade, one result would be that AM
equally nutritious flour based on evens
$3.50 wheat could be sold in New York;
for a good deal under IS per barrels
and every trade would receive its let
Ultimate profit. without control, wel
may see $40 flour before the year Isl
out and a total dislocation OF wages
and consequent dislocation of industry
and living.
son the other hand If we overcome.
the submarine and we open other
markets to our allies we may see
wheat at 81 bushel and -four underf
Sc. In any event, with sufficient con-,
troll. the present price of -four can be
reduced by forty per cent to nifty per
cent and at the same time the pros
Queer treated in liberal manner.
without any form of control We
are likely to see an even worse S1t-s
uation than the high prices prevalI-
ing, resulting from the unrestraineu
drain on our wheat abroad. II rs
possible that the last three months
of next year we may be bare or bread
stuffs in this country.
Have Surplus Now.
"Hoarding and speculation are rife,
vet there can be no particle of a doubt
that we have today in North Amer
lea a surplus of from 100000 to
II. 900 900 bushels of wheat beyond our
ordinary consumption and beyond the
needs of our allies before the next
harvest comes in. Out of next har-
vest with no economy in consump-
ton, North America, even with the
loss in winter wheat, can give our al
lies 400, 900 bushels OF cereals OF
one kind or another.
"But to protect our consumers from
today and to legitimately expand our
exports to our allies without breaking
into our own necessary food, the gov
eminent must have widest and abso-
lluteIy immediate powers.
There has been great deal Of dis
cussion in the press, as to my coming
to America. to take the position sof
food dictator or food controller. This
is not the case. came to Washing
ton from Europe at the request of the
government to advise them as to the
organization necessary to set UP for
proper and efficient food control.
"I do not want the position and
feel there are many others who could
handle its concrete problems better
than /, and l will have done my SER
vice in advice better than In execu-
ton.
my only desire is to see the prop
err instrumentality set up to meet this,
one of our greatest emergencies and a
man of courage, resource and expert
ence at it's head who is willing to sac
rifice himself on the altar of the In
articulate masses whom he must pro-
tect. Such a man can be sure that
will place my advice at his disposal"