Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-22
WILSON ASKS FOR
POWER TO CONTROL
ALL FOOD SUPPLIES
President in Proclamation
Names Herbert Hoover Food
Director and Asks Power to
Break Up "CornerS"

VI CAN w OOl IICIO
WASHINGTON. May 1s.-President
Wilson tonight announced the appoint
ment of Herbert Hoover as food 'ad-
ministrator' of the government
Mr. Hoover. according to a statement
issued by the president tonight, has
expressed willingness to serve ION con-
dition that he is to receive no pay
ment for his services and that the
whole Of the force under him, exclusive
of clerical assistance. shall be employed
so far as possible upon the same vol
unteer basis"
THE proposed food administration"
the president says, "is intended only
to meet a manifest emergency and 70
continue only while the war lasts. Since
1t will be composed for the most part
Of volunteers there need be no fear
Of the possibility OF permanent bu-
reaucraoy arising out of 1T. All control
Of consumption will disappear when the
emergency has passed"
The president urges that all associa-
tons of producers and distributors OF
foodstufrs mobilize and volunteer in the
work Of cooperation necessary.
With Mr.. Hoover's appointment def
mite policy of food conservation Is ex-
pected to take form Immediately. The
president has already urged prompt ac-
tion by congress on the food control
legislation he has drawn.
Mr.. Hoover proposed that the food
administration be divided into four
great branches whose duties he defined
in detail. Most Of the work would be
carried out by men and women of the
country on a volunteer basis. IF this
cannot be done" said Mr.. Hoover's
statement, "I shall certainly and WILL
ingly surrender the task to some other
method Of emergency. 1 hold that
democracy can yield to discipline. and
that we can solve this food problem
for our own people and our allies In
this way, and that to have done so
will have been greater service than
our immediate objective for we will have
demonstrated the rightness Of our faith
and our ability to defend ourselves with
out being Prussianized"
The attitude of the government on
the embargo question is coming to light.
Steps will be taken Immediately to
prevent supplying food to Germany
through the Scandinavian countries and
Holland, It was learned today. The
house and senate conferees on The
espionage bill have agreed to let the
embargo section of the BILL making
such action possible, remain in the
measure.
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.
The presidents proclamation follows:
1t is very desirable, in order to
prevent misunderstanding or
alarms and to assure cooperation
in a vital matter, that the country
should understand exactly the scope
and purpose of the very great pow
ers which I have thought it neces-
sary In the circumstances to ask
the congress to put in my hands
with regard to our food supplies.
Those powers are very great in
deed, but they are no greater than
1t has proved necessary to lodge In
the other governments which are
conducting this momentous war,
and their object is stimulation and
conservation, not arbitrary restraint
or Injurious interference with the
normal processes of production.
They are intended to benefit and as
sist the farmer and all those who
play a legitimate part in the prepa-
ration, distribution, and marketing
Of foodstuffs.
1t is proposed to draw a sharp
line of distinction between the nor
NAL activities OF the government
represented in the department OF
agriculture in reference to food pro-
duction, conservation and market
ing on the one hand and the emer-
gency activities necessitated by the
war in reference to the regulation
of food distribution and consump-
ton on the other. All measures IN
tended directly to extend the normal
activities of the department OF ag-
rlculture in reference to the produo-
tion, conservation, and the market
ing of farm crops will be admins
In firOAS through
that department and the powers
asked for over distribution and con-
sumption over exports, imports,
prices at purchase and requisition
OF commodities, storing, and the
like which may require regulation
during the war will be placed In the
hands of a commissioner OF food
administration appointed by the
president and directly responsible to
him.
OBJECTS BEING SOUGHT.
THE objects sought to be served
by the legislation asked for are:
Full inquiry into the existing avail
able stocks of foodstuffs and into
the costs and practices Of the va
rious food producing and distrlb-
uting trades, the prevention of all
unwarranted boarding of every
kind and of the control OF food
stuffs by persons who are not IN
any legitimate sense producers.
dealers or traders; the requisition-
ing when necessary for the public
use of food supplies and Of tho
equipment necessary for handling
them properly; the licensing or
wholesome and legitimate mixtures
and milling percentages, and the
prohibition of the unnecessary or
wasteful use of foods. Authority
is lacked also to establish prices
but not in order to limit the prof
its Of the farmers. but only to guar
antee to them when necessary
minimum price which will insure
them a profit where they are ask
ed to attempt new crops, and TO