The Butler weekly times., 1917-05-17
Wilson Has Plan Is 10 Ali Buying
for Entente to Keep Down :
S. Food Cost.

| Washington, D. c., May 13.--A
program for the reorganization of the
fwhote economic conduct Of the war
which will involve the other Allied
countries as well as the United States
is under consideration by President
Wilson and his Cabinet. 1t contem.
plates the concentration of authority
over the purchase in this country and
| shipment Of war supplies to Europe
| for all the Allied nations.
Included in the contemplated rad
ical change Of methods is the inten-
tion to prevent decentralization OF
food prices in the United States,
which the administration fears will
be the outcome Of present conditions
unless sharp check is applied.
1t is believed that as result of
the consideration given to the sub
ject by the Cabinet, which met this
afternoon, the President will find
means to create three executive Off
ces, which will administer food, mt
nitions and transportation control.
The directors of the departments
of Food, Munitions and Transporta-
tion will not have places in the Cab
met, but will to all intents and pur-
poses, rank with Cabinet officers.
Some differences of opinion exist
among the Presidents advisers as to
whether it will be necessary for him
to obtain authority of Congress to
appoint the directors. 1t is. contend
ed by members of the Cabinet that
the President can create the new de-
partment and make the appointment
of their chiefs by an executive order
The practical decision to undertake
this radical change of method is, in
part, the outcome of the discussions
that have taken place here between
officials of the United States and the
members of the British and French
war missions in this country. The
British and French delegates agreed
to accede to any plan devised by the
United States for the management of
the problems of purchase and ship
.ment of food and munitions to the
Entente countries.
1t was quickly coinprehended by
the members of the Allied missions
that unless some method was ar
ranged for the coordination of the
purchase of American supplies need
ed in the prosecution of the war to
successful conclusion, economic
chaos would soon result.
In this country the Allied Govern
ments have practically been compet-
ing with one another in the purchase
of food and munitions, and it was re-
allied by the representatives of the
United States. Great Britain and
France in their several conferences
that with new and enormous credits
for the Allies in this country through
the money advanced to them under
authority of the bond law recently
enacted, purchases could be undertak-
en- in the future on stupendous
scale that would upset prices and dis
rupt economic conditions unless some
plan of coordination of purchases
was arranged.
There will be no competition
among the nations engaged in the ef-
fort to defeat Germany. As supplies
are purchased or forwarded, they will
be charged in each case against the
credit of the nation to which they are
shipped or to be shipped. Unless
this is done without delay, some of
the Presidents advisers believe, there
will be such rise in prices in the
United States that the people will
suffer and the Allies, particularly the
United States, will suffer to a degree
that will make certain the prolonga-
tion OF the war.
Daniel Willard, president Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, has been
suggested is probable chief of trans
portations Bernard M. Baruch, as
possible head of the Munitions De.
partment, and Herbert Hoover, as the
director Of the Food Department.