Arizona republican., 1917-09-20
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ATLANTIC CITY, N. Y., Sept. 19.- Herbert Hoover, the food administra- tor, speaking on the world food situa- tion tonight, at the war convention ol the chamber of commerce Of the United States, declared starvation would win the war and the side best able to organize its resources for food production and conservation would come odt victor.
 The food situation of America and the allies is such" said MT. Hoover, that the neutral countries of northern Europe cannot hope to get food from the United States unless they expect to furnish equivalent service in other directions to the common pool against Germany"
 Lord Northcliffe, head of British missions in this country told of his work as purchasing agent for Great Britain and how he is spending be- tween fifty and sixty million dollars week. He also described fundamental changes in industry that the war has caused in Great Britain and said some in the United States.
 Food" said Mr Hoover, has since the war began gradually assumed a larger place in the economics, the statesmanship and the strategy of warfare. The allies are blockading the food from Germany and the surround ing neutrals are under great pressure to export their supplies both ways. The Germans are trying to starve the allies by sinking the food ships and all governments are faced with reduc- tiOn of consumption, stimulation of production, control of prices and re- adjustment of wages The winning of the war is largely problem of who can organize this question.
 "rrherC has come about not only limitation of supplies but an accumu- lation in inaccessa ble markets. The result of these cumulative forces is that North America is called upon, both by allies and neutrals, for quan titles of food far beyond its normal export ability.
 If the extremely high prices thun- derinS at every door were not suf- ficient demonstration, it is possible, by actual figures, to prove that We have been exporting in many com munities actually beyond our capacity co produce. During the last year we have exported every last ounce of which the country during this period was capable of producing and our national stock of cereals and ami | nal products, proportionate to our population, was, at the beginning of this harvest, the lowest in our history 1, Many of us have been under the keenest anxiety lest we would face ab- solute shortage. This anxious period is passed.
 The demand in many commodities during the coming year is beyond our capacity to furnish if we consume our normal amounts. The necessity of maintenance Of the allies is our first line of defense and our duty to hu- manity in feeding the neutrals, de- mands of Us that we reduce every un necessary consumption and every waste to the last degree and even then i the world dependent on us must face i privation. Owing to the limitation of l shipping we must confine our exports ] to the most concentrated foodstuffs l grain, beef, pork, dairy products and 1 sugar"
 Of high food prices and the need foI price control, MT. Hoover said: "It is true, high prices reduced con | sumption, but they reduce it through 1 the methods of famine, for the burden ! is thrown onto that clas sof the most 1 limited means. least able to bear it ! There si no national conservation in { robbing our working classes of the 1 ability to buy food. Real conserva i tion lies in the equitable distribution of the least necessary amount and 1T l this country we can only hope to ob- tain it by voluntary self denial anC voluntary reduction of waste. It i. obvious that our people must have quantities of food and must have then at prices which they can pay.
 There are few who will dispute tn, | advantage of such regulation tha | yxrin plir iTa ta 1 tionate profits. This is difficult t6 ] disassociate from fixing prices, yet ( great deal may be done by simple regulation and the organization O. trades to police themselves under gov. ernment patronage.
 The largest question of the houl
 is price fixing, for the suspension O the law of demand and supply is fore , ing our hand in every direction. We will find as we go on witt
 the war and its increasing economi, ! disruption that one commodity afteI another will need to be taken into con.
 trol We will, however, profit by ex
 perience if we do not lay down hart and fast rules, but deal with ever,
 situation on it's merits. So long a, demand and supply have free play il a commodity we had best leave i alone.
 The food administration powers t
 flx prices lie in export buying, tn power to buy and sell certain commod
 it1es and the further power to ente
 voluntary agreements with purchasers "One illusion in the mind of the pub
 llc l am anxious to get clear. Tn
 food administration, through it's owr
 authority and the cooperation O
 other government agencies, can ac
 complish a great deal but is limite
 absolutely to that area of commerc
 between the producer and the retaile,
 We are stopped in law within thi
 area. We can only csc influence O.
 the retailer and producer and depen upon their patriotism. In this are
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