Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-01
FLOUR PRICE FIXING
DEFENDED BY HOOVER
Prevented Rioling in Cenlcrs
of Population, Says Food
Administrators
New York. May

Herbert Hoover. United States food
administrator. asserted that II the Gov
renment had allowed the commerce IN
wheat to take lts untrammcled course.
-four would he selling at the miu door
today for $50 tu $50 "a harrcl Instead
Of $40 to SlU5o, and probably 'riotiug
would have been experienced iu all our
ccnters Of congestcd population. ~
violence that leads to blood in our Eut-
ters" lie was making an address at a
conference of 100 representative Amer
lean grain dealers aud officials Of the
food administration grain division,
called to discuss grain exports and the
regulation OF cereal consumption IN this
country.
Asserting that when -four went to
: Sl676 a barrel at the min door last
May and resulting hardships dislucated
our entire economic life, Mr.. Hoover
said he did not accuse the grain trade
OF having been responsible for toe sit
Uatun. but rather blamed the fact that
the Allies had 10 have wheat aud were
prepared To pay amy price for lh
DcplorabIe SpccuIations
n series Of speCulaiione suruug NV
that were deplorable beyond wOrd'' he
oaId. but OUlN microscopic portion Of
'N', speculation vas OF deliberate or
vicious nature There was uo con-
,crted manipulation. Vherr was q total
disturbance to the Law o' supply and
demand
THIting up the question of why the
Allies cannot use more corn and leave
the wheat fur Americans Mr.. Hoover
said that corn was shortliyed and dim
cult to ship iu the terminating season
and that the Allies. with little equip
meut for home baking. are ignorant Of
the art or making corn bread. tie added
that while the tuitcd States now Is cN-
porting % per cent Of its mill out
put. the Niles have done their uart 10y
reducing their cereal consumption 30
per cent 10 provide America with ships
for more soldiers.
Stating ,ha' this Governmeu, could
have reduced consumption here by ra-
tluniug, b, allow rg the market 6" take
It's uutrammeled course" or hy Noluu-
tary conservation, he asserted that ANY
system Of positive IauOniug in the
United states bristIes with difficulties.
- large proportion Of our population
produces It's own breadstuffs, he said.
"Geueraliy speaking. the less the pur-
. chasing uOWCr, the greater ihn reliance
ou bread iu diet Any national ration
would ne filed win Inequalities aud in
Justices to be avoided TO the last mo-
meut'
Poor would HaNe suffered
II price levels had been allowed Ca
rise wIthodt restraint, the poor would
have paid iu suffering aud the rich in
price, he said, adding that ANY repe-
ttiou Of rising price levels such AZ those
of the lglG-l9i7 harvest year would
have meant an enormous profit 10 the
middlemau and voUld have inspired the
foundation Of social discomfort from
this reason alone, IL no other"
Therefore, NE said. the Government
had plaoed reduction In consumption on
q voluntary basis.
If do not believe there is another ma.
ton in the world, i'm which the proportion
OF individuals of 80 willing a sense OF
voluntary self-sacritiCe is So high a,
this people Of ours. and nothing has
/ demonstrated II more finely than the
/ conservation in wheat" he said. "rodaN
there Is no suffering in the United States
and We are actually shipping 80 pei
cent Of our monthly mill output to the
Allies