French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-05-17
FOOD CONTROL is NECESSARY,
SAYS HERBERT C. HOOVER.
without 1t, Flour VIII go to $40 Per
BarreI-NO Occasion for Panic or
o Outrageous Prices.

SGG14S 4AOO
eminent on food conditions in Europe.
said in New York last week. that
without control we may see flour at
twenty dollars a barrel before the war
is over and with control "the present
price of -four can be reduced forty to
ffty-per cent and at the same time the
producer be treated in a liberal man
ner."
Mr.. Hoover thus outlined food con-
ditfons in a statement to the Asocia-
ted Press: .aM
"There is absolutely no occasion for
food panic in this country, nor any
Justification for outrageous prices, UNI
less the opposition of specific interests
defeats the President in obtaining the
necessary powers to control the Ma
tons food fully and adequately, Amer
ica's problem is not one of famine, for
we have now and viii have next year d
large surplus. Our problem is, after the
proper protection Of our own people,
to give the Allies the last ounce Of
sudplus of which we. r capable.
Therefore the Nation needs a food
control for two purposes: To regulate
pIices and to increase the sudplus.
After prevailing for normal cOnsump-
ton, we will have, together with Can
ada. a surplus for u Allies equal to
only six per cent of the food they re-
quire from us. If we take broad
measure of control we can, with as
little disturbance to economic ma
chInery as need be, furnish them an
ADDITIONAL twenty per cent.
.mr PriVatiOn Loaf. 81.
Their loaf even then will be a pri-
Walton loaf, and every n we can
put in it will diminish their privarion.
If, however, the whole world, allied
and neutral, is to have the unreStr1ct-
ed run of u markets in competition
with each other and in competition
with the speculaLor in this country.
we may expect to see SIS wheat before
the year is over.
Large measures of food control do
not mean arbitrary interference with
the necessary economic machinery OF
trade. They mean that every branch
be called in by the Government and
forge themselves into a link from
which the contemplated chain will
protect producer, legitimate distribu-
tor and consumer.
For instance, I am assured that
the American farmer did not realize
$1.3O per bushe1 for the 1915 wheat
harvest, yet the price of wheat in
New York today is 1925 per bushel,
AMI -four is $l4 per barrel.
st have no hesitation in saying that
il the able, patriotic men representing
the majority of the brapch of the food
trades were called in and clothed with
the necessary powers to force the
small minority of skunks that exist in
every trade, one result would be that
IN equally nutritious flour based on
even $1.5O wheat could be sold in Ne@
York for a COOL ieaI under So a bar
rel, and every trade would receive it's
legitimate profit. Without control we
ray see twenty dollar -four before the
year is out and a tota, d~islocation Of
wages and consequent ~dislocation of
Industry and living.
Can be Reduced.
"On tie other hand, if we overcome
the submarine and if we open other
marAetS to our allies, We may see
wheat at 81 a bushel c"1 four under
$6. In any event with sufficient con-
ttu'. the present price of -four can be
reduced by forty per cent, and the
producer treated in a liberal manner.
without any form of control we
are likely to see an even worse situa-
ton than the high prices prevailing.
Food contorl does not mean bread
cards to the American people. 1t
means the broad conservation of our
food. the better handling by elimina-
ton of waste and speculation. The
Government would ask only n thing
from the individual consumer, that he
eat plenty, but wisely, and waste moth
ing.
"Hoarding speculation is rife, yet
there can be no particle Of doubt thai
We have today in North Carolina Z
surplus of from so, 0 900 to 100000,
900 bushels of wheat beyond u ordi'
nary consumption and beyond the
needs Of our Allies before the mex
harvest comes in. Out of next har
vest. with no economy on consump
ton in North America, even with tn
loss of Winter wheat, we can give oul
Allies 400, 600, 900 bushels Of cereal.
of one kind and another.
"But to protect our consumers an
to Iegitimately expand our exports II
our Allies. the Government must haV
widest and absolutely immediate pow
ers. No European Government, ex
cept Germany, was able to secur
these powers until after some grea
disaster was ~irrevocable, and we 81
here dumbly waiting for disaster an
then we shall scream and criticize tn
government for not having done some
thing that they are powerless to do.
t"There has been a great deal Q
discussion in the press as to my com
ing to America to take the position Q
s food dictator of food controller. Th1
is not the case. I anne to Washingto
from. Europe at the request of the Gov
eminent to advise them as to the OF
ganization necessary to set up for Pre-
per and efficient food control.
fL~egislation has already been In
troduced into Congress looking towar
the creation OF food contrl. No. on
would be willing to take the pos1t1o
as head of a department for food col