South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-01
PAYS
HIGH TRIBUTE
To CONSUMER
Says Sense of Sacrifice is
Higher in u. S. Than in
Any Other Country of
Entire Globe.

NEW YORK. May l. II the
government had allowed the COM
merce in wheat TO take its untram-
nelled course" -four would be sell
ing at the mill today for $50 10 $50
barrel instead of $40 to $1,000.
and probably 'rioting would have
been experienced IN all our centers
If cOngested population, OF a vio-
lence that leads TO blood in our gut
ters." declared Herbert Hoover,
federal food administrator, in an adj
dress here today.
Mr. Hoover spoke at a confer
ence OF 100 representative American
grain dealers and officials of the
food administration grain division,
called to discuss grain exports and
regulation of cereal consumption in
this country.
Asserting that when -four went to
S16.75 a barrel at the mill door last
May and resulting hardships dislo-
Gated our entire economic life. Mr..
Hoover said he did not accuse the
grain trade of having been respon-
sible for the situation, but rather
blamed the fact that the allies had
to have wheat and were prepared
10 pay any price for 1t.
"A series of speculations sprang
up that were deplorable beyond
words" he said, but only a micro
scopic portion of this speculation
was of deliberate or vicious nature.
There was no concerted manipula-
ton. There was total disturbance
TO the law of supply and demand"
Taking up the question of why
the allies cannot use more corn and
leave the wheat for Americans, Mr..
Hoover said that corn was short
lived. and difficult to ship in the
terminating season. and that the
allies. with little equipment for
home baking are ignorant OF the
art Of making corn bread. He add
ed that while the United States now
is exporting so per cent of its mill
output. the allies have done their
part by reducing their cereal con-
sumption so per cent. to provide
America with ships for more sol
diers.
Could Have RatiOncd U. :.
Stating that this government
could have reduced consumption
here by rationing, by allowing the
market to take its untrammelled
course" or by voluntary conserva-
ton, he asserted that amy system
Of positive rationing In the United
states bristles with difficulties"
A large proportion of our popu-
lation produces its own breadstuffs
he said Generally speaking. the
less the purchasing power, the
greater the reliance on bread in
diet. Any national ration would be
FILED with inequalities and injusticeS
TO be avoided TO the last moment.
If price levels had been allowed
to rise without restraint. the poor
would have paid in suffering and
the rich i'm price, he said adding
that ANY repetition of rising level:
such as those of the 1916-1917 har.
! vest year would have meant ar
enormous profit TO the middlemar
and would have inspired the foun
dation of social discomfort from
TINS TedSOn dlOntt II HO OAItls
Therefore. he said. the govern
ment had placed reduction in con
sumption on a voluntary basis.
Voluntary Sclf-sacrifice.
OF do not believe there is another
nation in the world in which tbs
proportion of individuals of so will
ing a sense Of voluntary self-sacri
flee is so high as this people o
ours. and nothing has demonstrated
It more than the conservation il
wheat" he said. To-day there il
no suffering in the United State,
and we are actually shipping so PEI
cent of our monthly mill output L
the allies"
The sole question is the relativ,
evil of the various courses will
which we were faced. The creates
danger in all such operations is tn,
I sitting OF production. The existenc'
4 today OF probably the greatest grow
| ing acreage of wheat in our histor!
would BE- the final refutation OF hys
terra.
AT the present moment. our crol
prospects look anything from 500.
/ 600 600 to 9OO,OOO,OOO bushels o
! wheat The harvests of the allie
also look promising. With thi
prospect we now have ground 70
/ hopes of plenty for ourselves an,
our allies. and instead OF famine, W
can look forward TO an entirely diff
! ferent economic situation this yea
/ from that which confronted US il
l the summer OF 1917"
Alexis Coquillard for county treas
urer. republican primaries. May
| First republican column. nc.
-Advt-3313-Ma