The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-05-12
FOOD GAMBLERS'
SEEK TIC DEFEAT
FOOD CONTROL
Sensational Charges of Lobbying Made
by Assistant Secretary vrooman
of the Department of
Agriculture.

Washington, d. c., May l2.--Sensa
tional charges that lobby of "foot
gamblers, some of them men of inn
mense wealth." already is at work in
Washington seeking to defeat the ad
ministration food control bills, were
made last night in formal statement
by Assistant Secretary Vrooman OF
the department of agriculture.
Secretary vrooman's statement fol-
lows
"Never in the history of the world
have business men shown as much pa
triotism and unselishness as have been
manifested since the war began by the
business men of America. An over
whelming majority of them have been
as ready to place their business organi-
zations and their personal services and
their wealth at the disposal of the fed
eral government in this crisis as the
young men have been to do the actual
fighting.
However, this attitude has not been
universal. There are food SPECTATORS,
food cornerers, and food gamblers, some
of them men of immense wealth and
Others of very small means, who are to-
day taking advantage of war conditions
to exploit their fellow citizens to the
full extent of their ability. These men
are allies of the kaiser and are doing
their utmost to defeat the patriotic
purposes of the nation. Wherever they
are seen, in high places or in low, they
should be condemned and made to feel
the loathing and contempt of every pa
triotic American. These men will be
taken care of in due time by national
and municipal legislation, but until such
legislation can be enacted the only eff
fective power that can be brought
against them is the power of an out
ragged public sentiment, and that should
be used vigorously and rsercilessly.
Il am told that some of these men
are actually in Washington to-day, con-
Quoting a lobby against the request of
President Wilson that Congress en-
power him and his cabinet to take the
means to mobilize the agri-
cultural resources of this nation for
victory. They are urging every specious,
and imaginary argument
against the granting of war powers TO
the president and his cabinet, and they
are at present directing their principal
attack against the laws which have
oeen introduced by the agricultural com
nittee of the House, with view to put
ing the department Of agriculture on a
war basis. That step should have been
taken several weeks ago. The bills
now before Congress were drawn up
after the department of agriculture
lad consulted with every agricultural
'ollege in the United States, with every
'tate department of agriculture, with |
very agricultural paper or magazine, |
md with experts familiar with the ex-
,erience of Europe during the past three |
'ears. The additional powers asked for
re powers which are possessed and ex-
rcised by the governments of every Eu- |
opean nation now at war. They have |
'een demonstrated to be absolutely es.
ential war powers.
.The unpatriotie and disloyal lobby |
hat is trying to defeat the determine.
ion of Congress and of the people of
he country to put the agricultural re-
ourees of the nation on an efficiency
asis in this crisis should be made to I
eel the condemnation of every real
American"