The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-03-01
To County Food Administrators

You should give the very widest
possible publicity to the message Of
Mr.. Hoover issued this morning to the
producers Of the nation. In that mes.
sage Mr.. Hoover allays the apprehen
sion felt among the people that the
Food Administration might through
price fixing discourage the maximum
of production. Mr.. Hoover says:
II wish to say at once and emphati.
cally that the Food Administration ID
not price fixing body except with re.
gard to certain commodities which are
to-day dominated by wholly abnormal
overseas commercial relations and the
surrounding factors with regard to
which are such IS to project great dan
gers both against the farming com
munity and the same time the con.
suming community"
"The two commodities under regula-
ton are sugar ard wheat. With the
further exception Of cases in which il
has intervened purely as friendly in
termediaryIbetween organized producers
and consumers the Food Administra-
zion has no authority and no desire to
ok prices on the products Of agriculture.
Inwheat we srefaced with Q single
purchasing agency whose proportion
ate purchased 70 the whole were such
as to dominate the price. Amy relat-
ioaship with this agency by our Of
ficials In limiting their operations thus
becomes sbsOlute price fixing, and It
becomes . question ss to whether 1t
would be done openly and frankly with
our producing community or done
eecretely at the will Of Government
officials.
In the matter of sugar It has been
common business prudence to join with
Allies In definite contract with the
Cuban authorities as TO price, rather
than leave It to fluctuations which
would arise fsom short supplies and ir-
regular shipping facilities.
The Food Administration has been
actively engaged in the elimination
OF profteering and speculation
In the distributing trades by regulating
the profits no 9 pre-war basis. A still
greater duty has beeh the maintenance
of an even course Of food distribution,
in these times Of the greatest dislocu-
tion. The law Ofsupply and demand
has been seriously interfered with
during the last three months by virtue
of cumulative irregularity and disturb
ance in railroad transportation and
consequent delay Of months in market
ing the harvest.
Reports widely circulated Of the in
tention of the Food Administration to
enter into wholesale price fixing ON the
products Of the soil might have tend
ency in the South especially to decrease
the production Of food products and to
increase the acreage in the cotton.
Farmers should make every effort to
increase production Of foodstuff not
only as q patriotic duty but because
they are assured OF the best returns
that they have ever received for their
crops.
There is general Misrepresentation
of the functions of the Food Administrs-
tion. Many people seem to think that
its prime object is the regulation of
prices. That is not true. The first
consideration with the Food Administra-
tion is the conservation and equitable
distribution Of food supply inadequate
to meet the normal need of this great
emergency. Itdoes stop profteering. 1t
insists upon only fair and reasonable
margins between producers and con.
sumer but except in the cases of wheat
and sugar 1t has done no price fixing.
Although 1t has brought about a.
greements that have lowered the cost of
living. The people should never for a
moment lose sight Of the prime purpose
of the Food Administration which is
conservation.
You will give this to your newspaper,
have It read at any meeting Of farmers
or producers and use any other method
that will increase its circulation.
Faithfully yours, H. A. MORGAN