The sun., 1917-05-27
HOOVER UNCERTAIN
ON WAR PROHIBITION
Would First Want to Find
Out Real Economic
Situation.
FAvORS FEDERAL INQUIRY
He Believes Food Administra-
tor Should Not Be Ethical
Arbiter.

WASHINGTON. May ,6.-Herbert c.
Hoover. the Governments food admins
traitor. announced his attitude on war
time prohibition to-day. He made IL
clear that he would consider the ques-
tion solely from the economic stand
point.
IF the problem OF giving adninistra-
tive action to the. provisions in the Lever
bill on brewing and distilliny came up
to me-" Mr.. Hoover said. '.1 should want
first to determine accurately and beyond
all question the facts as to how much
saving could be made in the consump-
ton OF cereals and the importance Of
this saving. In order to determine these
facts I should. IL the legislation passes
and II have to deal with this matter,
recommend to the President the appoint
ment Of a committee Of national scope
and entire independence of view to deter
mine exactly how much saving could be
Effected by such action.
such a committee would naturally
take evidence under proper conditions
and with fairness to all sides. After
the findings of the committee are SUBJ
mitted 1t will be necessary for the Presi-
dent to weigh the results to b OBJ
tained as against other questions such
as the dislocation Of revenue and indus
try. What is wanted in all these matters
Is real facts and II 10 impossible to col
lect such fundamental data until after
legislation has been completed.
Purely . war Measure.
'Tt must always be borne in mind
that the proposed food administration IL
purely a war measure designed and In
tended for no purpose except mobiliza-
tion Of the country's resources to the
most efficient contribution to success in
war and that the food administrator
will hold his eyes straight on the true
objective and will take no interest what
ever in the ethical questions involved in
temperance or contemporaries, nor In
any other question
Mr.. Hoover has made close study
of the food measures in effect in all
the warning nations Of Europe. While
his mind is open as TO the course that
should be followed in respect to the use
Of grains in the manufacture OF fer
mented and distilled liquors 1t is known
that he and others who will be concerned
in the administration of the food regu-
lations are not at all impressed by the
statement OF the brewers that their busi-
ness should he allowed to continue since
practically the only grain they use in
the brewing of beer is barley, which is
not used as family food in the United
States except In negligible quantities.
Mr.. Hoover and the war dietitians who
viii assist him assert, however. that
every bushel of barley raised can be
diverted to food purposes. On the war
ring European countries barley Is being
mixed with wheat to the extent Of 20
per cent. in the manufacture Of -four. and
1t has been found to produce q better
mixture than corn or any other grain.
In view of this. IL Is believed that the
brewers have hardly a better chance
than the distillers Of escaping the reg
ulatory powers Of the new food adminis-
tration II the food shortage reaches a
stage where It Is thought best to sacri-
fee the brewing industry for the sake
Of conserving grain for food purposes.
Grain Used in Liquors.
In the fiscal year ended last June
107,7Sl.4l5 bushels OF grain Of all kinds
were used in the manufacture of fer
mented and distilled liquors. While this
is a small quantity in comparison with
the total grain yield it's conservation
nevertheless will be a consideration of
prime importance with the food admin
istration.
OF this grain 62.43s.s73 bushels Of bar
ley were used in the manufacture Of
fermented liquors and 4.073.262 bushels
in distilled spirits. Corn and rye were
also used in large quantities. the total
for corn being 45.643.0s3 bushels and
for rye 3.11s,612 bushels. Rice also
was used to the extent Of 2.S64,0OO BUSH
els
Gov. Whitman OF New York has been
greatly interested in the provisional ap-
pointment Of a food administrator and