New-York tribune., 1918-03-24
Hoover Asks
Use Of Wheat
BeCut in Half
New Regulations Called
military Necessity" Farm
ers Warned Not to Hoard
[Staf Correspondence


WASHINGTON, March Herbert
{. Hoover to-day asked the American
people to reduce their wheat -four con-
sumption SO per cent until the next
harvest, in order that an available sur
plus may be created to meet the de-
mands of our army and the peoples of
Allied countries. In addition to the
more stringent voluntary conservation
rules, the food administration in
creased to 25 per cent the quantity
cial baking operations.
The revised wheat -four regulations
issued to-day were characterized by
the food administration as "a military
necessity" They will reduce the
monthly consumption of wheat flour in
the United States from 42,OO0,0OO
bushels to 21,000.OOO bushels.
The food administration statement
follows:
"If we are to furnish the Allies with
the necessary proportion Of wheat to
maintain their war bread from now
until the next harvest, and this is a
military necessity, we must reduce our
monthly consumption to 21,000,000
bushels a month, as against our normal
consumption of about 100000 bush
els, or SO per cent of our normal con-
sumption.
"Reserving a margin for distribution
to the army and for special cases,
leaves for general consumption ap-
proximately IA pounds of wheat
products weekly per person. Many of
bakers bread. Such bread must be
durable and therefore requires
larger proportion of wheat products
than cereal breads baked in the house
hold. Our army and navy require
full allowance.
Sacrifices Required
"The well-to-do in our population
can make greater sacrifices in the con-
sumption of wheat products than can
the poor. In addition, our population
in the agricultural districts where the
other cereals are abundant, are more
skilled in the preparation of breads
from these other cereals than the
crowded city and industrial popula-
tions.
with improved transportation con-
ditions we now have available sur
plus Of potatoes. We also have in the
spring months a surplus Of milk, and
we have ample corn and oats for
human consumption. The drain on rye
and barley as substitutes has already
greatly exhausted the supply of these
grains.
"To effect the needed saving of
wheat, we are wholly dependent upon
the voluntary assistance Of the Ameri-
Ia ocl hat nj
ing rules shall be observed:
"Iouseholders to use not to exceed
total of Y pounds per week of
wheat products per person. This
means not more than ~ pounds of
victory bread, containing the required
percentage of substitutes and one-half
pound of cooking four-macaroni,
crackers, pastry, pies, cakes, wheat
breakfast cereals, all combined.
Restaurant Restrictions
public eating places and clubs to
observe two wheatless days per week,
Monday and Wednesday, as at present.
In addition therefore, not to serve to
any one guest at any one meal, an ag-
crackers, pastry, pies, cakes, wheat
breakfast cereals, containing total of
more than two ounces Of wheat flour.
No wheat products to be served unless
specially ordered. Public eating es-
tablishments not to buy more than six
pounds of wheat products for each
ninety meals served, thus conforming
with the limitations requested of the
householders.
"Retailers to sell not more than one
eighth Of barrel Of -four to any town
customer at any one time and not more
than one quarter of a barrel to any
country customer at any one time, and
in no case to sell wheat products with
out the sale of an equal weight of other
cereals.
"Wc ask the bapkcrs and groccrs to
reduce the volume Of Victory bread
sold by delivery Of the three quarter
pound loaf where one pound was sold
before, and corresponding proportions
in other weights. We also ask bakers
not to increase the amount Of their
wheat -four purchases beyond 70 per
cent Of the average monthly amount
purchased in the four months prior to
March l.
Manufacturers using wheat products
for nonfood purposes should cease
such use entirely.
"Therc il no limit upon the use of
other cereal fours and meals, corn, bar
ley, buckwheat, potato -four, etc.
ain order that we shall be able to
make the wheat exports that arc abso~
luteIy demanded Of us TO maintain the
civil population and soldiers Of the AL
lies and our own army VIC propose to
supplement the voluntary cooperation
If the public by further limitation Of
diztrjbution, nnd We shall place at once
restrictions on distribution which will
be adjusted from time TO time 10 secure
M nearly equitable distribution as pos
sIble. With the arrival Of harvest we
should be able to relax such rcstric-
tions; until then we ark for the ncccs-
sary patience, sacrifice and cooperation
OF the distributing trades"