The Mena weekly star., 1919-02-06
HOOVER ISSUES A WARNING.
Declares Farmers Food Problems
 Overshadow Packers

Paris, Jan. 26.--Herbert Hoover, United States food administrator, and director general of the international relief organization, gave out the fol- lowing statement today,
 "The dominating food problem in the United States at this moment is a very much bigger problem than the Chicago packers. It is problem of the American farmer.
 "If the packers profit of 2 or 8 per cent on his turnover is too high, it is the duty of Congress to tax it out of him. If the farmers prices threat en to fall below the level of fair re- turn, it behooves the country to do some quick, clear thinking.
 "The perplexities arising out of in- ability to demobilize totally the food situation of the world in the period between the armistice and peace, make the farmers position in the matter of much more immediate con cern than the future of the Chicago packers.
 Taking it broadly, before the Eu- tQHCdH wal uNkatl WG SApOAbNQ AO0AN 5 million tons of food year. This year we are prepared to export at the rate of from l5 to 20 millions of tons. The increase represents the patriotic service of the American farmer, plus the voluntary sacrifice of the average American under the stim- ulation of the pleas from the Allied governments, that without an enor- nous increase in our food supplies their very lives would be menaced.
 "The submarine had so shortened the worlds shipping that the Allies were unable to reach the distant mar kets of the Southern Hemisphere, and we were bound to create in America sufficient food to carry Europe. If the war had gone on, every pound of it and more, would have been acquired by the Allies before next harvest.
 "The armistice came suddenly, free ing shipping from military use and reopening to the Allies the cheaper Southern hemisphere and the colonial markets, where, in addition, they could have more liberal credits and markets for their manufactures.
 "We are thus faced with a serious problem with respect to our own great supplies, periodically accumulated. If an early peace is signed and the mar kets of Europe are opened freely to trade. there will be a greater demand for food from the new mouths than ever this surplus could supply. But in the period between the armistice and peace, we have very difficult situation.
 "We have found it possible to pro- tect the American farmer in the two and one-half months since the armis- tice. This we have done by co-operat- ing with the Allies in opening wider markets to neutral countries, and by relief shipments into liberated terri tories. The next and last six weeks ot the high fat production season will be still more difficult to manage, as peace cannot be expected in that time, re storing extended market.
 "The real solution lies in the hope of early peace, and in the meantime the steady demobilization of all re. strictions on free marketing Of sur plus foods, except in enemy territory thus re-establishing the law of supply and demand.
 Pending the slutions the American farmers. merchants, packers and the banks simply must stand together foi two or three months to carry oul excess surplus over until the markets of the world have been extended and finally liberated by peace. The meet ing of farmers and packers represen- tatives, called at Chicago on Tues dayfi has to consider these problems