Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-11
(By Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.)

ernment and forge themselves into
link from which the completed chain
will protect producer, legitimate dis
tributor and consumer.
For instance am assured that the
American farmer did not realize $3.50
per bushel for the 1915 wheat harvest,
yet the price of wheat in New York
today Is 1926 per bushel and flour Is
$l4 per barrel, with all it's attendant
hardship and dislocation of social and
industrial life.
II have no hesitation In saying that
If the able, patriotic men representing
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 $3.50 wheat could be sold
! in New York for good deal under IS
per barrel, and every trade would re-
ceive its legitimate, profit. Without
cont oi we may sse sac flodr before
the year Is out and total dislocation
of wages and consequent dislocation
of industry and living.
Cost Can BE Reduced.
! "On the other hand, IL we over
come the submarine and If we open
other markets to our allies, we may
see wheat at 81 bushel and flour
under So. In any event, with suffi-
cient control, the present price of
flour can be reduced by 40 to so per
cent and at the same time the pro-
ducer treated in a liberal manner.
Without any form OF control we
are likely to see an even worse sit
uation than the high prices prevail
ing, resulting from the unrestrained
drain on our wheat abroad. 1t Is pos
s!ble that the last three months Of
Eext year we may be bare OF bread
stuffs in this country.
Food control does not mean bread
cards to the American people. 1t
means the broad conscription OF our
food, the better handling by elimina-
ton of waste speculation. With
proper control for America the gov
ernment would ask only one thing
from the individual consumer, that
it Ndt Pithtyt Dub WtStlyg anu Wd5tG
nothing. and If democracy is a faith
worth defending. our people will do
this service voluntarily and willingly.
Wheat Surplus Exists Now.
''Hoarding and speculation are rife,
yet there can be no particle OF a
doubt that we have in North America
today surplus OF from 50.000,00O to
70.O00,000 bushels of wheat beyond
our ordinary consumption and be-
yond the needs of our allies before
the next harvest comes in. Out OF
the next harvest, with economy in
, consumption, North America, even
, with the loss In winter wheat, can
! give our allies 400,000.0OO bushels of
, cereals of one kind or another.
| But to protect our consumers
| from today and to legitimately ex-
nand our exports to our allies with
out breaking into our own necessary
, widest and absolutely immediate
8 powers. Time is the essence of the
matter. No European government
, except Germany was able to secure
+ these powers until after some great
> disaster was irrevocable, and we sit
: here dumbly waiting for disaster. and
then We shall scream and criticise
the government for not having done
4 something that it is powerless to do.
Why He Came Home.
{ There has been great deal Of dis
: cussion in the press as to my COM
: ing to America to take the position
, of food dictator or food controller.
1 This is not the case. l came to WASH
: ington from Europe at the request of
! the government to advise them as to
Y the organization necessary to set for
proper and efficient food control.
Legislation already has been in.
(, troduced into congress looking to-
ward the creation of food control
The detail of means and measure.
\ must be evolved from our own com.
q mercial institutions with the expe'
n rlence of the vast European labora.
y tory for food control problems as a
;. guard against repeating errors. No one
: would be willing to take the position al
o head of such a department for food
d control If it is based absolutely upor
!. restriction and control Of diverse in
terests and Is subject to daily har'