The Washington herald., 1917-06-20
HOOVER Sees
FOOD FAMINE
Warns Senators About Pam
&c Unless Supply Is
Controlled.

SN-~@1 - NeAANAOA VI AOOdl
prices may rise to gigantic heights.
Unless there is control Of food. the
European demand may leave this
country without sufacient supply next
spring.
So the only thing which can relieve
the situation Is the bill to create q
food controller. Herbert C. Hoover told
fifty United States Senators yesterday.
Mr.. Hoover himself Is the probable
food controller Il was h who ad-
vanced the two statements already
made.
BY ordinary effort America can
produce so per cent Of what her allies
need The other 70 per cent must be
supplied by self-dental and rigid econ
omy." said Mr.. Hoover.
I'm perfectly confident we will do
It," continued the man who saved
Belgium in her hour Of direst need.
We will have to do Il. Without an
adequate food supply. none of the
European countries viii nght. And we
would have to fight alone"
HooVer's main purpose In appearing
before the Senators was to disclaim
there was any idea OF q food dicta-
torship'' IN the bill. This Is what the
administration wishes to impress
deeply upon Congress.
The administration does not pro-
pose q Dictatorship" declared Mr..
Hoover. I'VE have reached no such
point Of desperation here in this
country. We never need approach the
character OF dictatorship set I'D in
Germany. We must assemble the vol
untary effort OF the people, bring
forth the spirit Of Individual seIf-sac-
rinee and bring about a patriotic mo-
bilization- II We cannot do this, we
had better accept the German idea ana
ask the Germans to come over to this
country and manage things for u.s."
One OF the most startling statements
made by Mr.. Hoover was that the
country had been robbed of a quarter
billion dollars in the last i've months.
Someone Il Robber.
Someone is robbing s. on every
oarrell ot -four. It should not be
more than 80 per barrel" he said.
"AboGt $1,000. 900 is being taken from
the people each month in this fashion.
This means that $50. 200. 900 has been
taken from them in excess OF normal
profit on flour alone during the past
nye months"
No opposition to the bill had been
shown In more than 900 conferences
with men representing various busi-
kesses, Hoover told the Senators. But
Gore, the chairman of the
Agricultural Committee, and Senator
Reed, of Missouri showed their de-
ctded antagonism by firing many
question at the man the President has
picked out for such an important post.
The section concerning control Of
fuel created discussion.
In countries where there In food
Administration, the average prices to
the consumers are lower than those
charged at present in this country"
Hoover stated The British now
pay q quarter less for bread than we
DO. Unless some action Is taken,
believe we will look back at the
present prices and think them
The entire output Of vegetables and
nsh intended for canning during 1917
had already been sold to SPECTATORS
before It even reached the Gamers, &C
oonding to his statement Sugar prices
could be reduced, he said, by CO.
operation between American and Gu
ban growers.
The labor situation would be vitality
Affected II food control Is not exer-
Used. said Mr.. Hoover.
YUnless We can adjust prices in this
sountry we are going to be confronted
with the necessity OF raising wages
y proportion, with = consequent dis
surbance OF industry" said he.