Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-27
FAR MERS'
POSITION
HOOVER'S
Protection of Producers Until
Peace Is Restored Held
Necessary by Food
Administration.

Paris, Jan. 26.-Herbert Hoover,
United States food administrator
and director general of the interna-
tional relief organization, gave out
the following statement today;
The dominating food problem in
the United States at this moment
is a very much bigger problem than
th1 Chicago packers. II is problem
of the American farmer.
III the packers profit of 2 or 3 pc.
cent on his turn over is too high
it is the duty of congress to tax
il on him. If the farmers prices
threaten to fall below the level OF
fair return, it behoves the coun-
try to do some quick, clear think
ing.
The perplexities arising out OF
the inability to demobilize totally
the food situation of the world in
the period between the armistlce and
peace make the farmers position in
the matter of much more immediate
concern than the future OF the Chi
cago packers,
supplies Enormously Increased.
Il aking it broadly, before the
European war began we exported
about 5,000,000 tons of food year,
This year we are prepared to export
at the rate of from 100000 to 20
100000 of tons. The increase repre-
sents the patriotic service OF the
American farmer, plus the voluntary
sacrifice of the average American
under the stimulation of the pleas
from the allied governments that
without an enormous increase, IN
our food supplies their very lives
would be menaeed.
We are thus faced with serious
problem with respect to our own
great supplies, patrioticaily accumu-
lated: Ii an early peace is signed
and the markets OF Europe are open
ed freely to trade, there will be a
greater demand Tor food IRON the
new mouths than ever this surplus
could supply. But in the periods be-
tween tine armistice and peace we
have very difficult situation.
AFats Shortage Critical.
"One. OF the most critical food
shortages in the world was that of
fats and the only help lay in an
increase in the American hog. Our
Agriculture department and the iood
administration spared no efforts to
stimulate this production. Our farm
ers were assured that in the general
shortage, subject only to the uncer-
tainties of war, they would exper-
ience no difficulty in marketing their
products. Due to the savings of our
people and the gradual increased
production. of our farmers, we have
lifted our ability to export from
50,000,000 pounds of fats per month
in the summer of 1917 to<400, ,000, 900
pounds per month in this January.
ITO achieve this mobilization of
fats it was necessary to mobilize the
packers as we'll as the farmers. There
is no doubt that the vast volume Of
business brought profit to the pack
ers, although at a less percentage
than before the food administration
took charge of it.
Other factors have entered into
the situation. For instance the mac
tive armies and munition workers
are consuming less fats and the
vegetable is freed for human con-
sumption. This came upon us inn
mediately with the armistice in early
November, in the midst OF our
heaviest hog marketing season,
which lasts from October until
March.
"When I left home for Europe in
! tContinued on Page Two. Column Five.)