The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-11
Chairman Hoover Explains
Governments Plans for
Administering.
THREE-FOLD PURPOSE
Is GIVEN IN DETAIL
Demands by Allies for Food
stuffs Necessitates Strict
est Economy. :.

Washington, Ahg. 10. Herber
Hoover's statement outlining the gov,
ernment's purposes in administrator.
the food legislation follows:
THE purposes Of the food admins
tration are three fold. First, SO te
guide the trade in the Fundamental
food commodities as to eliminate
vicious speculation, cXtortion, anC
wasteful practices and to stabilize
prices in the essential staples. Sec
, ond, to guard our exports so that
against the worlds shortage VIC re-
tain sufficient supplies for our own
people and to cooperate with the all
lies to prevent initiation of prices. and
third. that we stimulate the saving
OF our food in order that we may in
crease exports to our allies to a point
which will enable them properly to
provision their armies and to feed
their peoples during the coming
winter.
Motive Is to Stabilize.
"Thc food administration is called
into being to stabilize and not to dis :
turb conditions and to defend honest
enterprise against illcgitimate compc-
ttion. 1t has been devised to correct
the abnormalities and abuses that
have crept into trade by reason of the
world disturbance and to restore busi-
ness as far as may be to q reasonable
basis.
The businessmen of this country, I
am convinced realize their own patri-
otto obligation and the solemnity of
the situation and will fairly and gen.
crOuSly cooperate in meeting the
national emergency. l do not believe
that drastic forces need be applied to
maintain economic distribution and
sane use Of supplies by the great ma
jority of American people and | have
learned "A deep and abiding faith in
the intelligence of the average Ameri-
can busin essman, whose aid we antici-
pate and depend on to remedy the
evils developed by the war. But if
there are men or organizations schem-
ing to increase the trials of this coun-
try, we shall apply to the full the
drastic, cocrcive powers that congress
has conferred upon us in this instru-
mcnt.
Regulation to Be Constructive.
'ln enforcing the measures of the
act, it is not our intention to proceed
with a host of punitive measures, but
rather by coordination with tho Vari-
GUS trades to effect such constructive
regulations as will render gambling,
cXfOrtion and other wastcful practices
impossible and will stabilize prices.
We propose TO proceed as rapidly as
possible with constructive regulation
in various commodities and to an
nounce each program as quickly as it
is properly formulated. We hope
within the next few days to announce
the method of wheat and flour
control.
We Must Feed Our Allies.
The deep obligation is upon us to
feed the armies and the peoples assO-
ciated with US in this struggle. The
diversion of 10000, 900 of their men to
war or war work; the additional mil
lions of women drafted to the places
of their husbands and brothers, the
toll of the submarine have all con-
spired to so reduce production that
their harvests this autumn will fall
500 100000 bushels of grain below their
normal production. Always depend
upon import from other countries for
n substantial part of their food needs,
our western European allies because
of the destruction of shipping by sub
marine and the isolation from the nor
NAL markets by belligcrcnt lines, are
forced to q large degree on our
markets. not nearly as the nearest but
as the only market capable of rclicv-
ing their bitter necessity.
Must Treble Exports.
Therefore. whereas, we exported
before the war, but 10000, ,0GOO bushels
of wheat per annum, this year by one
means or another we must find for
them 225,0O0,00O bushels, and this in
the face of a short crop. Our best will
but partly meet their needs. for even
they must reduce their bread con-
sumption 25 per cent and it will be
war bread they must cat-war bread
of which a large portion consists of
other cereals. !
Our Meats Must Go Abroad.
Already the greater call for meat
and animal products, due to the stress
of war on the millions of men on the
fighting line and the enhanced phys
ical labor of populations ordinarily
subsistng on lighter diets. coupled
with the inadequate world supply,
have compelled our allies to kill up
wards of 33.o00,O0O head of their stock
animals. This Is burning the candle
at both ends, for they are thus sitting
their annual production. Therefore,
not only must we increase their sup
plies of meat and dairy products, but
must prepare as war goes on to meet