The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-06-22
s25O,OOO,OOO IS
FOOD ExTORTION
Herbert c. Hoover Puts SpeCu-
tors Gains High.
DENIES He WILL Be DICTATOR

Furnishes Mass of Valuable lnfor-
nation on Subject.
WASHINGTON, d. C.-The country
has been robbed of a quarter of bill
lion dollars in the last five months by
food spectators.
This statement was made by Her
bert c.. Hoover to fifty United States
senators. He appeared before them in
the interests of the administration
food bill
Flour should not be sold for more
than So BARREL" he said, 'but some
one is charging SIS more on every bar
rel About $5O,OOO,OOO is being taken
from the people each month in this
fashion. This means that $250,000,000
has been taken from them in excess
of normal profit on flour alone during
the past five months"
Mr. Hoover told the senator's:
First. Food prices must be control
led or they will rise to gigantic
heights.
Second. Unless food Isl controlled,
the European demand may leave this
country without sufficient supply next
spring.
Third. The only way to relieve the
situation is for congress to pass the
bill creating food controller.
'By ordinary effort America can
produce sixty per cent of what her
allies need. The other 40 per cent
ioI nd
rigid economy" said Mr.. Hoover.
I'm perfectly confident we will do
it. We will have to do it. Without an
adequate food supply none of the
European countries will fight. And we
would have to fight alone"
DiscIaims Food Dictatorship.
Hoover's main purpose in appearing
before the senators was to disclaim
there was any idea of food dictator
ship in the bill.
1.-THE administration does not pro-
pose a dictatorship" he declared.
1--WE have reached no such point
of desperation here in this country.
We never need approach the char
acter of dictatorship set up in Ger
many. We must assemble the volun-'
tary efforts of the people, bring forth
the spirit of individual self sacrifice
and bring about a patriotic mobiliza
ton. If we cannot do this we had bet
ter accept the German idea and ask
the Germans to come over to this
country and manage things for U.s."
70 &ho bod hon
shown in more than 200 conferences
with men representing various bust
nesses, Hoover told the senators.
Senator Gore, the chairman of the
agricultural committee and Senator
Reed of Missouri showed their de-
cided antagonism by firing many cues
tons at the man the President has
picked out for such an important post.
The section concerning control of
fuel created discussion.
Some one should plead not guilty
for the President" remarked Senator
Gore, "After two conferences with
him, he expressed surprise that the
section had been placed in the BILL"
Mr.. Hoover said, too, he had moth
ing to do with this, as he was con-
cerned merely with food control.
Food Cheaper in Britain Than U. S.
"In countries where there is food
administration, the average prices to
the consumers are lower than those
charged at present in this country"
Hoover stated.
1.-THE British now pay a quarter less
for bread than we do. Unless some
action is taken, believe we will look
back at the present prices and think
them moderate"
The food expert took up various
commodities during his discussion of
the bill. He stated that this country
must furnish much of the wheat for
the allies. Australian wheat, he said.
was costly to deliver, and the Argen-
tine crop had failed.
The entire output of vegetables and
fish intended for canning during 1917
had already been sold to spectators
before it even reached the Gamers,
according to his statement Sugar
prices could be reduced, he said, by
cooperation between American and
Cuban growers.
81 am confident consumers prices
of sugar and flour will be reduced as
well as others by cooperation with
leaders of trades" he asserted.
The labor situation would be vitality
affected if food control is not exer.
cised, said Mr.. Hoover.
unless we can adjust prices in this
country we are going to be confront
ed with thenecessity of raising wages
in proportion, with consequent dis
turbance to industry" he said