Evening star., 1917-05-20
HOOVER TAKES FOOD
TASK WITHOUT PAY.
Mr.. Wilson States Selection
for Administrator; Latter
Asks Volunteer Aid.
NO "PRUSSIAN" METHODS

NO "PRUSSIAN" METHODS
President Wilson in statement last
night outlining the administrators food
control policy. announced he had asked
Herbert C. Hoover to become American
food administrator and that Mr. hoover
would accept the place.
A statement given out by Mr.. Hoover
after the White House announcement
was made, gave his plans for food ad-
ministration. and called on the country
TO render voluntary assistance IN carry
ing them out
Only for an Emergency.
Explaining that 1t is absolutely neces-
sary to vest unduestionable powers IN
the government, the President declared
he is confident that exercise OF the au-
thority granted will be necessary only
''in the few cases where some small and
selfish minority proves unwilling to put
the nations interests above advantage.
He makes it clear that the food ad-
ministration is only for an emergency
: posed for the most part of volunteers
there need be no fear of the possibil-
ity of permanent bureaucracy arising
out of it,
Defines Branches of Work.
Mr.. Hoover proposed that the food ad-
ministration be divided into four great
branches whose duties he defined in de-
tail. Most of the work would be carried
out by men and women OF the country on
a volunteer basis. IF this cannot be
done.'' said Mr.. Hoover's statement, II
shall certainly and willingly surrender
the task to some other method of emer-
gency. l hold that democracy can yield
10 discipline. and that we can solve tn,s ms
food problem for our own people and our
allies in this way, and that to have done
SO will have been greater service than
our immediate objective. for we will have
demonstrated the rightneSs Of our falth
and our ability to defend ourselves with
out being Prussianized-"
President Wilson's Statement.
President Wilson's statement Of the
Administrations food policy follows:
1T is very desirable. in order to pre-
vent MISUNDERSTANDING or alarms and
to assure cooperation in vital mat
ter. that the country should under
stand exactly the scope and purpose
of the very great powers which l have
thought it necessary in the circum-
stances to ask the Congress to put in
my hands with regard to our food sup
plies. Those powers are very great
indeed, but they are no greater than
it has proved necessary to lodge in
the other governments which are con-
ducting this momentous war, and their
object is stimulation and conservation,
not arbitrary restraint or injurious In
reference with the normal processes
of production. They are intended to
benefit and assist the farmer and all
those who play a legitimate part in
the preparation, distribution and mar
keting OF foodstuffs
.sharp Line of Distinction.
1T Is proposed to draw sharp line
of distinction between the normal
activities of the government represent
ed in the Department of Agriculture
in reference to food production, con-
hand and the emergency activities
necessitated by the war in reference
to the regulation Of food distribution
and consumption on the other. All
the normal activities of the Depart
ment of Agriculture in reference to the
production, conservation and the mar
keting OF farm crops Will be admfnis-
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 regu-
lation during the war will be placed
in the hands of a commissioner of food
administration appointed by the Presi-
dent and directly responsible to him.
Objects Which Are Sought.
The objects sought to be served by
the legislation asked for are full in
quiry into the existing available stocks
OF foodstuffs and into the costs and
practices of the various food producing
and distributing trades: the. preven-
.ion Ton. OF Ia, an unwarranted boarding Of
stuns by persons who are not in any
legitimate sense producers, dealers or
traders: the reauisitioning when neces-
sary for. the public use of food sup
for handling them properly: the licens-
ing of wholesome and legitimate mix
lures and milling percentages. and the
prohibition of the unnecessary or
wateful use of foods. Authority is
asked also to establish prices-but not
in order to limit the profits of the
farmers, bu& only to guarantee to
them when necessary a minimum price
which will insure them a profit where
they are asked to attempt new crops,
and to secure the consumer against ex-
tortion by breaking up corners and at
tempts at speculation when they occur
by fixing temporarily reasonable
price at which middlemen must sell.
No Payment for Services.
II have asked Mr. Herbert Hoover to
undertake this all-important task of
food administration. He has expressed
that he is to receive no payment for
his services, and that the whole of the
force under MIN, exclusive OF clerical
assistance. shall be employed so far as
possible upon the same volunteer basis
He has expressed his confidence that
this difficult matter of food administra-
tion can be successfully accomplished
through the voluntary cooperation
and direction of legitimate distributors
of foodstuffs. and with the help of the
women of the country.
Expects Hearty Support.
although it is absolutely necessary
that unquestionable powers shall be
placed in my hands in order to insure
the success of this administration of
the food supplies of the country, 1 am
confident that the exercise of those
powers will be necessary only in the
few cases where some small and selfish
minority proves unwilling to put the
nations interests above personal ad-
vantage and that the whole country
will heartily support Mr.. Hoover's eff
forts by supplying the necessary vol
unteer agencies throughout the coun-
try for the intelligent control of food
consumption and securing the co-opera-
tion of the most capable leaders of the