The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-11
By Associated Press

New York, May 10.-Herbert e. Hoover, who recently came from Europe to advise the gov- ernment on food conditions in Europe, says that without con- trol we may see flour at $2O a barrel before the year is over, but that with control "the pres ent price of flour can be re- duced 40 to 50 per cent, and at the same time the producer be- treated in liberal manner. :"
 Mir Hoover thus outlined food con ditions in a statement to the Associat- ed Press today:
 "There is absolutely no occasion for food panic in this country, nor any justi- fication for outrageous prices, unless the opposition of special interests defeats the President in obtaining the necessary pow CTS to control the nations food fully ana adequately. Americas problem is not ono of famine, for we have now and will have next year large surplus. Our problem is after the proper protection of our own people to give to our allies the last ounce of surplus of which we are capable
 FOR TWO PURPOSES
 Therefore, the nation needs a food control for two purposes: To regulate prices and to increase the surplus After providing for our normal consumption we will have. together with Canada. surplus for our allies equal to only 50 per cent of the food they require from us. If we take broad measures of control we can with as little disturbance to eco- homie machinery as need be, furnish them an additional 20 per cent. Their loaf even then will be a privation loaf, and every ounce we can put in it will diminish their privation
 CAN SOLVE PROBLEM
 ..The problem is capable of solution. If. however, the whole world, allied and neu- tral. is to have the unrestricted run of our markets in competition with each other and in competition with the speculator In this country, we may expect to see s0 wheat before the year is over
 Large measures of food control do not mean arbitrary interference with the nec- essary economic machinery of trade. They mean that every branch be called in by the government and forge themselves into a link from which the completed chain will protect producer, legitimate distribu- tor and consumer.
 For instance. I am assured that the American farmer did not realize sl.3O per bushel for the 1916 wheat harvest, yet the price of wheat in New York today is s. .25 per busnel and flour is sl4 per bar rel. with all it's attendant hardship and dislocation of social and industrial life
 "SKUNKS" IN MAJORITY
 q have no hesitation in saying that, if the able, patriotic men represent- ing the majority of each tranch of the food trades were called in and clothed with the necessary powers to force the small minority of skunks that ex- ist in every trade. one result would be that an equally nutritious flour based on even s1.50 wheat could be sold in New York for good deal un- der $S per barrel and every trade would receive its legitimate profit Without control. we may see S20 flour before the year is out and total dis location of wages and consequent dis location of industry and living. ,, "On the other hand. if we overcome the submarine and if we open other markets to our allies we may see wheat at $1 bushei and flour under $6 In any event. with sufficient con- trol, the present price of flour can be reduced by 40 per cent to 50 par cent and at the same time the pro- ducer treated in liberal manner,
 WORSE CONDITIONS
 'Without any form of control we are likely to see an even worse situ- ation than the high prices prevailing resulting from the unrestricted drain on our wheat abroad. It is possible that the last three months of next year we may be bare of breadstuffs in this country.
 Food control does not mean bread
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