The Republican journal., 1917-05-24
HOOVER THINKS FOOD
PROSPECT IS BRIGHT
Little Occasion for Fear of Panic, Says Ad-
wiser to U. S. Government.

Herbert C. Hoover, who recently came
from London to advise the government
on food conditions in Europe, says that
without control we may see flour at $40 a
barrel before the year is over, but that
with control ''the present price of flour
can be reduced 40 to so per cent. and at
the same time the producer be treated in
a liberal manner.
Mr.. Hoover thus outlined food condi-
tons in a statement to the Associated
Press Thursday.
There is absolutely no occasion for
food panic in this country nor any iusti-
fication for outrageous prices unless the
opposition of special interests defeats the
President in obtaining the necessary pow
erS to control the nations food fully and
adequately. 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 own people, to give our allies the last
ounce of surplus of which we are capable
Therefore, the nation needs food
control for two purposes,-to regulate
prices and to increase the surplus After
providing our normal consumption we
plus for our allies equal to only 90 per
cent Of the food they require from u.s.
If we take broad measures of control, we
can, with as little disturbance to the
economic machinery as need be- furnish
them an additional 20 per cent. Their
loaf even then will be a privatlon loaf,
and every ounce we can put in it will
diminish their privation The problem is
capable of solution. If, 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 Spectator in this
country, we may expect to see S. wheat
before the year is over
Il am assured that the American farm
eT did not realize 81 80 per bushel for the
1916 wheat harvest, yet the price of
wheat in New York today is 1925 per
bushel and flour is S14 per barrel, with all
its attendant hardship and dislocation of
social and industrial life.
81 have no hesitation in saying that, if
the able, patriotic men representing the
majority of each branch of the food trades
were called in and clothed with the nee
essary powers to force the small minority
of skunks that exist in every trade, one
result would be that an equally nutritious
flour based on even $3.50 wheat, could be
sold in New York for good deal under So
per barrel, and every trade would receive
its legitimate profit. without control
we may see $40 flour before the year is
out and total dislocation of wages and
consequent dislocation of industry and
living
Son the other hand, if we overcome
the submarine and if we open other mar
kets to our allies we may see wheat at 81
a bushel and flour under Sc. In any event,
with sufficient CONTROL the present price
Of flour could be reduced by 40 to so per
cent
There is no particle of doubt that
we have today in North America sur
plus of from 50, 900, 900 to 70, 600, 600 BUSH
els of wheat beyond our ordinary con-
sumption and beyond the needs of our
allies before the next harvest comes IN.
Out of next harvest, with no economy IN
consumption North America, even with
the loss in winter wheat, can give our al
lies 400, 600, 900 bushels of cereals OF one
Kind OF another But to protect our con-
sumerS from today and to legltlmdtely
expand our exports to our allies without
breaking into our own necessary food,
the governmet must have widest and abb
SOlulely immediate powers 10 DC uSed
not against the legitimate interests of
trade and production, but against the
small minority who are blackening the
high and patriotic character of our great
producing and distributing classes and to
enable the able and patriotic majority to
give play to the devoted service they can
well and willingly give"
MIR. Hoover repeated that he did not
want the position of food controller, and
stated that his purpose in coming from
Europe at this governments request was
simply to advise the government as to
the organization necessary for efficient
food control.