The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-05-24
WILSON OUTLINES
ADMINISTRATIONS
FOOD PROGRAM

| troll program in q statement.
The presidents statement follows:
"It rs very desirable in order to pre-
vent misunderstanding or alarms and
to assure cooperation in a vital mat
ter, that the country should under
stand exactly the scope and purpose
of the very great powers which I
have thought it necessary in the cir
cumstances to ask the Congress to
put in my hands with regards to our
food supplies. Those powers are very
great, indeed, but they are no greater
than it has proved necessary to lodge
in the other governments which are
conducting this momentous war, and
their object is stimulation and con-
servation, not arbitrary restraint or
Injurious interference with the nor
NAL processes of production. They
ar eintended to benefit and assist the
farmer and all those who play a
legitimate part in the preparation,
distribution and marketing OF food
stuffs.
Sharp Distinction.
eft is proposed to draw a sharp
line of distinction between the nor
NAL activities Of the government rep
resented in the department of agrj-
culture in reference to food produc-
ton, conservation, and marketing on
the one hand, and the emergency &C
tivities necessitated by the war in ref
erence to the regulation Of food dis
tribution and consumption on the
other. All measures intended directly
to extend the normal activities of the
department of agriculture in refer
ence to the production, conservation
and the marketing of farm crops will
be administered, as in normal times,
through the department and the
powers asked for over distribution and
consumption, over exports, imports.
prices, 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 admins
tration appointed by the president and
directly responsible to him.
"The objects sought to be served by
the legislation asked for are: Full
inquiry into the existing available
stocks of foodstuffs and into the costs
and practices of the various food pro-
ducing and distributing trades; the
prevention of all unwarranted hoard
ing of every kind and Of the control
of foodstuffs by persons who are not
in any legitimate sense producers,
dealers or traders; the requisitioning
when necessary for the public use of
food supplies and of the equipment
necessary for handling them properly;
the licensing of wholesome and legiti-
mate mixtures and milling percent
ages, and the prohibition of the un-
necessary or wasteful use of foods.
Authority is asked also to establish
price, but not in order to limit the
profit of the farmers, but only to guar
antee to them when necessary a mini
mum price which will insure them
a profit where they are asked to at
tempt new crops and to secure the
consumer against extortion by break
ing up corners and attempts at specu-
lation when they occur by fixing tenn
porarily reasonable price at which
middlemen must sell.
Hoover Accepts.
ct have asked Mr.. Herbert Hoover
to undertake this all-important task
of food administration. He has ex-
pressed his willingness to do SO on
condition that he is to receive no
payment for his services and that the
whole of the force under him, exclu-
sive Of clerical assistance, shall be
employed so far as possible upon the
same volunteer basis. He has ex-
1t &I,So
cult matter of food administration
can be successfully accomplished
through the voluntary cooperation
and direction of legitimate distribu-
tors Of foodstuffs and with the help of
the women of the country.
although it is absolutely necessary
that unquestionable powers shall be
placed in my hands in order to in
sure the success of this administra-
ton of the food supplies of the coun-
try, 1 am confident that the exercise
of those powers will be necessary
only in the few cases where some
small and selfish minority proves un-
willing to put the Nations interests
above personal advantage and that
the whole country Will heartily sup
port Mr.. Hoover's effort by supplying
the necessary volunteer agencies. 80
"The proposed food administration
is intended, Of course, only to meet |
a manifest emergency and to continue
only while the war lasts. Since it |
will be composed for the most part |
of volunteers, there need be no fear
of the possibility Of q, permanent bu- |
reaucracy arising out of it, All con- !
troll of consumption will disappear |
when the emergency has passed. 1t |
is with that object in view that the |
Administration considers it to be of