The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-27
HOOVER THINKS
PERIL IS AHEAD
FOR ARMERs
He Believes This a Greater
Problem Than Packers
QUICK PLAN NECESSARY
Must Work TO Avert Heavy Loss OF
BIC Surplus Raised Under War
Demands,
QUICK PLAN NECESSARY

luTIS, jan Zb,-liefDcft 4,
Hoover. United States Food Ad.
nlnistrator and Director General of
the international relief organization,
gave out the following statement to-.
day:
The dominating food problem in
the United States at this moment is
n very much bigger problem than the
Chicago packers-it is a problem of
the American farmer.
III the packers profit Of or 3 per
cent. on his turnover is too high, ii Is
the duty of Congress to tax it out of
him. If the farmers prices threaten
to fall below the level of fair return
1t 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 be
tween the armstice and peace make
the farmers position in the matter of
much more immediate concern than
the future Of the Chicago packers.
Taking it broadly, before the Euro
pean war began we exported about s.
100000 tons of food year This
year we are prepared TO export AT the
rate OF from fifteen to twenty millions
of tons. The increase represents the
patriotic service OF the American
farmer, plus the voluntary sacrifice of
the average American under the stimu
lation 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
we're unable to reach the distant
markets OF the Southern Hemisphere,
and We were bound 10 create in
America sufficient food to carry
Europe II the war had gone on.
every pound OF It and more would
have been required by the Allies be-
fore next harvest
THE. armistice came suddenly. free
ing shipping from military use and re-
opening 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. patriotically accumulated
II an early peace is signed. and the
markets OF Europe are opened freely
to trade. there will be a greater de
mand for food from the new mouths
than ever this surplus could supply
But in the period between the armis
tice and peace we have very din
cult situation
"One of the most critical food
shortages In the world was that OF
fats, and the only help lay in an in
crease In the American hog. Our Ag
ricultnral Department and the FOOD
Administration spared no efforts tC
stimulate this production. Our farm
ers were assured that in the genera
shortage. subject only to the uncer
tainties of war, they would experience
no difficulty In marketing their pro
duets. Due TO the savings OF our peo
pie and the gradually increased pro
ducti0n OF our farmers, we have liftct
our ability to export from 50.00OO0
pounds OF fats per month in the Sum
NOR Of 1917 to 400,000,000 pounds pc
month In this January.
Other factors have entered int
the situation. For instance. the IN
active armies and munition worker
are consuming less fats. and the vel
cable is freed for human consumption
This came upon us Immediately wit
the armistice in early November /
the midst OF our heaviest hog marke
ing season, which lasts from Octobe
until March When ! left home fc
Europe in November this problem wa
already facing me as one among man
others for which assistance had to
found, in the protection Of our Amer
can farmer, lest from failure to Nm
market for his products during III
armistcc and pending the wild,
markets Of peace his prices might ia
below his cost OF production. enta
ing great waste Of surplus commod
ties.
I'VE have found It possible to pr
tect the American farmer in the tv
and one.half months since the arm
tice This We have done by 60 opor
ting with the Allies. in opening wild
markets 10 neutral countries and
relief shipments into the liboratt
territories The next and last s
weeks OF the high fat production Sc
son will be still more difficult