Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-07-18
HOOVER PLEADS FOR SPEED.
Delay in Food Legislation Is Playing
to Spectators Hands.

Washington, July 10.-A report on
! the food situation prepared for Presi-
dent Wilson by Herbert Hoover,
| holding that both the farmer and the
consuming public are suffering while
food spectators make unearned
profits from the delay in enactment
Of food control legislation, was given
out tonight at the White House.
Unless strong and efficient govern
ment action is Immediately taken.
| the food administrator reported, the
| farmers will face a slump in wheat
| prices and consumers will be caught
in a situation even more serious than
that which already Is resulting in
actual undernourishment" in the
great consuming centers. The spec
ulator, it is declared, is taking large
part of the prices now paid by con-
sumers.
eve are practically helpless to
safeguard either the farmer or the
consumer" concludes Mr.. Hoover,
until the pending legislation is
| passed"
The report, in the form of a letter
to the President, was issued through
the public information committee
with the statement that publicity was
given 1t, 'in order that the country
may know how serious and far-reach-
ing the consequences may be both to
the farmers of the country and to the
consumers if the delays continue in
passing the pending food legislation"
No comment by the President ac-
companied the report. Mr.. Hoover's
letter follows in part:
Hoover's Letter.
Dear Mr.. Presidents: In response
to your reqeust l send you herewith
the following notes compiled by my
self and my associates upon the pres
ent situation with regard to wheat:
Il. The 1917 harvest promises to
yield 67s,000,O00 bushels. The nor
NAL international consumption and
seed requirement (assuming a carry
over of same volume in 1918 as in
1910, amounts to about 100000
| 600 bushels, thus leaving a theoreti-
acl export balance of 78,OO0,OO0
bushels. The conservation measures
are already having a marked effect,
and 1t is not too much to hope that
the national saving may be SO,0OO,-
900 to 100000 bushels.
80. The experience this year in the
rampant speculation, extortionate
profits and the prospect Of even mar
rover supplies than 1916 harvest and
carry-over, must cause the deepest
anxiety. No better proof of the hard
ship worked upon our people during
the past year needs be adduced than
the recitation Of the fact that the pro-
ducer received an average of S1.5I
per bushel for the 1916 wheat har-
vest; yet wheat has been as high as
1925 at Chicago and the price of
Hour has been from time to time
based upon this speculative price of
wheat
| ). During recent months the al
lied governments have consolidated
their buying into one hand in order
| that they might relieve the burden of
speculation from their own consum-
ers and as the restricted exports to
heutrals are but minor item, the ex-
| port price, If not controlled, Is sub
| Ject to the will Of the allied buyer,
so that in great measure the Ameri-
can producer Is left to that buyers
judgment and is without voice.
Must Export Flour.
"a. With great reduction in the
consumption of wheat bread now for
tunately in progress, the employment
OF our mills must be greatly dimin-
ished and with the reduction of do
| mestic flour production our daily
feed from wheat residues will be
greatly curtailed. Therefore, we
must induce foreign buyers to ac-
cept -four instead of wheat.
80. In order to do justice to the
producers who have made a special
effort to increase production in 1917
it is absolutely vital that we shall
protect the farmer from slump in
prices this year due to glut or from
the uncontrolled decisions Of any one
buyer. ! am informed that most of
the allied countries have fixed the
price OF wheat TO the farmer at $3.50
per bushel. and many Of their produ-
GERS belie9e that as allies it Is our