The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-11
HOOVER URGES
FOOD CONTROL
OFORCE PRICES
Says Present Price of Flour Can
Be Reduced 40 to so Per
7, Cent #
SAYS FARMERS NOT
ENJOYING WAR PROFIT
Secured Less Than ST 80 Per Bush
el for Wheat Now Selling
at $500

New York, May 1l.-Herbert c.
Hoover, who recently came from Eu'
rope to advise the government on
food conditions in Europe. says that
without control we may see -four at
$40 barrel before the year is over,
but that with control, 'the present
price Of -four can be reduced 40 to
so per cent and at the same time the
producer be treated in liberal man.
ner." Mr.. Hoover thus outlined food
conditions in a statement to the AS.
sociated Press today ,..-@....
"There is absolutely no occasion
for food panic nor any justification
for outrageous prices Unless the op-
position Of special interests defeats
the president in obtaining the neces~
,sary power to control the nations
food fully. Americas problem is not
one of famine, for we have now and
will have next year large surplus.
Our problem is, after the proper pro-
lection of our own people, to give our
allies the last ounce Of surplus OF
which we are capable.
Can Care For Europe's Needs.
Therefore the nation needs a food
control to regulate prices and to in
crease the surplus. After providing
for our normal consumption, we will
have, together with Canada, a sur
plus for our allies equal to only 60
per cent of the food they require
from u.s. If we take broad measures
of control, we can, with as little dis
turbance to economic machinery rs
need be, furnish them an additional
20 per cent.
'If, however, the whole world, al
lied and neutral, is to have the un-
restricted run of our markets in COM
petition with each other and in COM
petition with the speculator in this
country, we may expect to see -
wheat before the year is over. 4
a. large measures on food control t,:u
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 distrib-
utor and consumer
Farmer Gets Short End.
"For instance, | am assured that
the American farmer did not realize
$1.3O per bushel for the 1915 wheat
harvest, yet the price Of wheat in
New York today is 1925 per bushel
and flour is $14 per barrel.
81 have no hesitation in saying
that if the able, patriotic men rep
resenting the majority of each branch
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 an equally nutritious
flour based on even $3.50 wheat could
be sold in New York for good deal
under So a barrel, and every trade
would receive it's legitimate profit.
Without control we may see $40 flour
before the year is out and a total
dislocation of wages and consequent
dislocation of industry and living.
"On the other hand, if we over
come the submarine and if we open
other markets to our allies, we may
see wheat at 81 a bushel and flour
under &c. In any event, with suffi-
cient control, the present price OF
flour can be reduced by 40 per cent
to so per cent and at the same time
the producer treated in liberal man.
ner.
Lack Of Control Means Starvation.
"Without any form of control we
are likely to see an even worse sit.
uation than the high prices prevail
ing resulting from the unrestricted
drain on our wheat abroad. 1t is pos.
sible that the last three months of
next year we may be bare Of bread.
stuffs in this country.
''With proper food control the gov
ernment would ask only one thing
from the individual consumer.
'iHoarding and speculation are rife,
yet there can be no particle OF a
doubt that we have today in North
America surplus of from 50,O00,000
to 7O,000,000 bushels of wheat be-
yond the needs of our allies before
the next harvest comes in. Out of
the next harvest, with no economy in
North America even
with the loss in winter wheat can
give our allies 40O,0OO,00O bushels OF
cereals of one kind or another