The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-19
Congressman Maintains
Change Must Be Made
In Department Policy
FEARS AFTER-WAR
CONCENTRATION
st. Paul Nonpartisan Con-
ference Continues To-
day-Ladd Speaks
tBy Associated Press.l

st. Paul, Sept. 19.-Warning tha
the wheat business of the country
may be concentrated in a few meI
after the war unless changes art
made in the program of the fooC
administration was sounded in Al
address before the producers and
consumers conference today BY
Congressman George NJ. Young, oi
North Dakota.
Congressman Young said in part
This meeting may be the begin
ming of the end OF political and in
dustriaI control by the middlemen
One general election will do the
business If rural and city laborers
strike hands.
THE manufacturers of the country
claim to be patriotic and presume
in the main they are, but have they
sold anything below cost during this
war?
The Merehants-Their Profits.
"The merchants are patriotic but
have their margins OF proft been
decreased?
"The railroad companies boast of
their patriotism but that did not de-
ter them from asking the interstate
commerce commission for higher
rates.
"The ocean transportation COM
panies unfuri the American flag but
they have demanded good rates.
THE. bankers have helped the Red
Cross but have interest rates been
reduced? No, they average higher
than when the war began.
Now some envious, discredited
old politicians would like to make 1t
appear that it is disloyal to consider
the conditions under which wheat
should be sold.
... About Mr.. Hoover.
"Mr. Hoover is a man OF great
ability. He made a wonderful success
as a mining engineer, making mil
lions Of dollars for himself and ass
sociates. He handled the Red Cross
food distribution in Belgium skill
fully and well. While we accept his
appointment as food administrator
It is a matter of regret that most
of his mature manhood has been
spent in a foreign land where it
would have been impossible for him
to keep in close touch with Ameri-
can life and conditions even If he
had tried ever so hard. Under these
circumstances / think ii is our duty
to advise him as best we can, and
warn him of the pitfalls placed in
his pathway by those whom he has
most trusted up to this time. We
should seek to stave him from be-
trayal in the house of his friends.
Cool, calculating and designing
people have sought and are seeking
to use the food administration to
these purposes:
"One-Crippling Of small hour
mills, driving many of them out OF
business.
milling value in the grading OF
wheat.
"Three-Tightening the grip of
wheat exported upon the grain
trade.
''Four-Reduction of the price in
order to discredit government oper-
ations in the eyes of the producers.
Thinks Remedy Should Come.
81 am talking, gentleman, OF these
things which the food administration
should remedy in order to save 1t
from being wrecked. It cannot expect
10 have the confidence Of producers
and consumers unless its activities
are solely in their interest. This
eads me to the third cause of dis
aster to the food administration
coming from within, namely the
of the grip OF exporters
upon the grain business and their
power to control it and fix prices.
The greatest exporter of wheat in
he United States, Julius Barnes. has
been placed at the head of the
United States grain corporation.
Other representatives of the grain
markets of the country have been
selected by him, such as Mr.. Irving
II the firm of L. @. Graft and Son,
he biggest operator at Philadelphia
rhe srain business is being concen-
rated in these men. After the war
hey will have a tighter grip on the
business than ever before. They will
nave q strangle hold. 1 am not Of
he belief that Mr.. Barnes. personal