The Detroit times., 1917-04-09
C0NTROLOf
OODGAINS
IN FAVOR
Sentiment Grows For
Appointment of
Dictator
HERBERT HOOVER
MAN FOR JOB
Agricultural Reports
Indicate Need
Is Great
~ OLSON GARDNER.

WASHINGTON. April e.-That a
food controller is the FIRST nee esslty
q war II the opinion growing in
congress. and that Herbert Hoover.
lately Of the Belgian Relief com
mission, is the man for tho Job is
tho opinion al the White House
The food problem is "a urgent as
II is serions. Widespread suffering
followed by food riots are almost in
evitabls N steps ara not taken at
once 20 conserve tbs supplies and
regulate prices.
Secretary OF Agriculture Houston
called attention TO the shortage OF
wheat and Irish potatoes as long ago
n on March 7. Since then all news
NJ TO other crops has been bad. The
latest as 10 wheat H. :Se worst W
p. Snow, the crop expert. eEtinat a.
the winter wheat yield al II per
cent. This h. worse than the worst
crop ever recorded when in 1904
the figure was 1855 This record has
never since been Appropriated
Even 40 conservative a publica-
ton "a thu National City Tanks
monthly bulletin. uses tie following
alarming language
The closing months ~ the crop
year tnds this country Nith "a small
ar stock OF all kinds OF food than
st any tim" in many years. and
when the world situation is conEid-
cred. the outlook becomes such as
10 demand the most serious atten.
ton OF our people We have r--
ferred 90 this subject in each issue
~ this publication in recent months.
but as tine passes the importance OF
arousing nationwide interest be-
comes NOR evident
The government report Of grain
stocks on March LIST shows that at
best there will b. no carry-oVer
wheat There Is not enough In the
country 10 allow OF exports IN July
lst equAling those Of the coxres-
bonding period last year. without
trenchiug upon the home require.
ments for bread and seed How
much is now owned for export Is
unknown. but stocks are unusually
light in all European countries. and
on account OF 'hc scarchy ~ ship.
$3.50 ens.-H .SbaLEss eTe murh ieas
nom America than from Australia
o. India which ar" the only other
countries which can supply much
wheat between now and July Ar.
genuine has now pur m rmlargo up.
On expert ~ wheat and n1ur t-it.
ct reports from Russia Jtn that
there is ~ accumulation uf wheat
a. The -aJp 'rts. AMI that owing 20
Inadequate" storage facilities IN the
interior much OF the surplus pr.
duction OF that country has Jecn
wasted
All he grains arc selling in our
primary markets at higher prices
Tor cash than for the May delivery.
indicating that the supply scarcely
meets the CurrepJ demand Mll"rs
are paving 81 per bushel for wheat
ut Kansas city. corn has sold ne
high as Sl.l9 per bushel in the Eame
market. and oats arc bringing sev.
eral cents above the Chicago price
at railway stations IN Central I'LL
nois for shipment to the south.
"Cattfp. hogs and sheep have ad-
Vanced during tn" past month 10
new high records, selling in Chicago
market up 10 and above SO por
hundred pounds. live weight On
tie 2lst instant tho top price on
hogs IN Buffalo was SIS in Chicago.
$3.50. Indianapolis sis 10. St Louis
$3.50 Kansas CRY SIS. A pig
Weighing 1876 pounds brings about
.26. against about SIS at the aver.
ago price turnout 1915. The total
receipts OF hogs ut eleven principal
markets from January LIST To March
esth. were 5000 900, or lilo. 900 less
than IN corresponding period last
year. This IL the result OF q short
corn crop. which forced heavy mar
keting las fall"
The same situation prevails as To
canned goods AMI produce held m
cold storag", and almost all other
necessities uf the table.
With tho advent OF war and the
imitation OF credit all prices mount.
Wages do not keep pace with prices,
and the result, even without this in.
dustrial shortage would be more or
less suffering With this shortage
the prospect is ono which for the
very poor spells actual starvation.
In creating tho once OF food con.
troller the administration feels hat
congress should invest tha, Official
with full power lie must have
authority 10 take over and control
the supply In order that II shall be
dispensed without waste. and that
the scarcity shall not be made ar
occasion OF speculation nv food gam
Llers and eIplciters