New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Vrooman Says Gambling
In Food Must Stop; Calls
Spectators Parasites"

Washington, May 12.-To-day's sharp
rise in July and September grain prices
on the Chicago Exchange drew from
the Department of Agriculture tonight
a statement denouncing food gamblers
and economic parasites" Carl Vroo-
man, the Assistant Secretary. declared
the time had come for the government
TO take decisive action to check the
upward trend.
1.-THE people will brook no delay"
said Mr.. Vroomsn, Gin stamping out
the activities of these economic para
sites. these dsloyal food gamblers, who
arc fattening and battening on the food
necessities Of the poor.
"The issues as to food control is
clear. It is an issue between food con-
troll by the government on the one
hand and food control by the speeu-
lators.
Food Gamblers Uncontrolled
Some one said few years ago that
Russia was 'despotism tempered by
assassinations,'' so one might say TO-
day that we are suffering from food
control tempered by indictment. The
energetic activities Of the Department
of Justice have somewhat checked the
operations of food gamblers and mo-
nopolies, but have failed to contrl
them.
"The only government control pos
sible is control based upon such laws
as those now before Congress atuhr-
izing the Agriculture Department and
the President establish minimum
prices and otherwise to act vigorously
in the interest of both producer and
consumer. Every European nation has
found il necessary during the present
war to confer upon its government food
control powers greater than those pro-
psed by the Administrator for our gov
eminent in the present emergency"
Allies Demands Exceed Supply
The present high level of wheat
prices, many government officials be-
lieve, will be maintained even If the
Chicago exchange discontinues all fut-
ure trading, because of the great for
eign demand, unless the government
fixes prices. The Allies demands for
The coming year are far more than
America can supply even if the spring
wheat acreage produces a bumper yield.
The country has on hand now about
100000 or 30,000,000 bushels Of Wis
ible wheat. Probably more than that
is stored on farms and in country mills
as an invisible supply. The invisible
supply will run the country until the
July harvest, leaving the 100000
bushels for export. II is believed the
Allies already hold contracts in this
country for much more wheat than
that.
Shipments to the Allies will be
stoned only when in the judgment of
the government it is necessary to re-
tain all available wheat for American
uses. This question has been thrashed
out with the Agriculture Department
by the British and French missions.
Expect Big Acreage This Spring.
The department is looking forward to
q big acreage of spring wheat and an
enormous WELD if the weather is IA
vorable. This will give some wheat for
export.
Corn stocks are lower than normal,
but there still is a vast store in the
United States. Reports to the Agri-
culture Department on March ] showed
there was on the farms at that time
1000. 600 bushels The department is
urging wider use of corn and seeks
TO authorize the mixture of corn with
wheat in milling.