Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-27
STATEMENT BY HOOVER
ON THE FOOD PROBLEM

Paris, Jan. 2G.-(By The A. PD
Herbert Hoover, United States food
administrator and director general OF
TIE international relief organic alton
gave out statement today in which
he said.
The dominating food problem in
tie United States at this moment is a
very much bigger problem than the
Chicago packers. II is a prchlem of
the American farmer
IF the packers profit of two or
three per cent. on his turnover is too
high, it is the duty Of congress %
tax it out of him. VI the farmers
prices threaten to fall below
the level of a fair return, it behooveS
the country to do some quick clear
thinking.
The perpleEities arising out of i,,-
ability TO demobiliZe totally the food
situation of the world in the period
between the armistice and peace
make the farmers position in the
laatter Of much more immediate con-
Germ than the future of the Chjcag go
| IA clers.
Taking it broadly. before the Eu-
| ropean war began we exported about
| Eve millions tons Of food Il year This
! year we are prepared 10 export at the
rate of from fifteen to twenty mil
! liens offtons. The increase represents
| the patriotic service Of the American
| faTmer, plus the voluntary sacrifice
OF the average American.
! "The arnistice came suddenly, free
ing shipping from military use and
reopening to the allies Tie cheaper
| southern hemisphere ana the .-olonial
markets. where, in addition. they
could have more liberal credits and
markets for their manufactures.
Eve are thus faced with serious
problem with respect to our own
great supplies. patriotically dccrma
lated. If an early peace is signed
and the m-yllets of Europe are opened
freely to trade, there will be ii greater
demand for food from the new mouths
than every this surplus could supply
But in the period between the armis-
Nce and peace We have d very diff
cult situation.
"One of the most critical fool short.
ages in the world was that of fats
and the only help lag in an 'increas,
in the American hog. Ouc agliLuI
ture department. and the food ad.
ninistration spared no efforts to stiin
ulate this production. Our farmers
were assured that in the genera
shortage, subject only to the uncRr
|
no difficulty in marketing their pro
ducts.
THE situation changed overnigh
with the armistice. The allies ar
not only seeking the southern .hemfs
, phere markets. but they had also late
= ~ accumulated large stocks of fat
as an insurance against the subma
, rine menace Freed from this men
ace, there is a natural desire on thei
, part to reduce their stocks.
l This came upon us immediatal
l with the armlstice in carly Novem
Der. in the midst of our heaviest ho
= marketing season, which lasts fror
= October until March. When lei
: home for Europe in Novcmbe~ mi
e problem was already facing me as on
among others in the protection Of on
American farmers, lest from failur
I ing the arnistice his prices might ia
below his cost Of production
s 1--WE have found It possible to prc
Y tect the American farmer in the tw
s and one-half months since the al
n mistice This we have done by cooI
= Grating with the allies, in openin
d wider markets to neutral countrit
y and by relief shipments into the Ill
h Grated territories. The next and la!
d six weeks of the high fat produclio
season will be still more difficult
= ETnanage, as peace cannot be expecte
Y III that time.
d The real solution lies in the ho1
S Of early peace, and. in the meantim
y the steady den nobilization for all +,
IS strictions on free marketing of SUI
J plus foods, except in enemy territor
thus establishing the law Of supp
and demand.
'Tt is. however no more possib
r to demobilize in a wetk the whole
J., these intricate forces set up durir
! the war than it is to lemobilize o,
2. army by dismissing it on the fel
# And, pending these solutions, o1
al American farmers, merchants, packe
,r and banks must simply stand togesh
h for two or three months to carry O.
IS excess surplus over until the marka
ID of the world have been mora extend
IN and finally liberated by peace. I
meeting of farmers and packers re
J. resentatives called at Chicago
~ Tuesday has. to consider these pro
lens"