Evening star., 1928-05-21
REED RAPS HOOVER
ASF|XER OF PRICES
Senator Cites War Time Req
uIations in Attack on
Secretary.
BY The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
The farm record of Herbert Hoover
was assailed in the Senate today by
Senator Reed of Missouri, a Demo-
cratic presidential candidate.
He said Hoover had advocated COM
plete control in this country Of the
wheat crop, particularly that to be
shipped abroad, and favored mini
mum as we'll as maximum price.
Reed asserted that he was not at
tacking Hoover because Hoover was a
candidate for the presidential nomtna-
tion, declaring that he made the same
statements in the Senate in 1917 when
the question was a "live issue"
Cites War Measures.
However" he added, "he had lived
abroad for 20 years, and ne now mas
the temerity of offering himself as a
candidate for President"
Reed contended that Hoover had f1Xed
the wheat price during the war by li-
legal abuse of power to license dealers.
Hoover ordered the dealers not to
nav more than 1920 for wheat" he said,
and thus made it impossible for the
farmers to sell for more than S2.20.
That left only one other place to sell.
IN the export market. But the Export
Grain Corporation was formed, with
Julius Barnes at tts head. This was
completely dominated by Mr.. Hoover
1t was made impossible by law for any
other agency TO export wheat. and
Hoover arbitrarily fixed the export
price there also at $2.20. Thus he arbi-
trarily fixed the price for all wheat by
nF fzA 4sy~r krxy
the law TO prevent boarding"
Two men came to this country to
obtain cheap supplies for the allies.
Reed said. zone was Lord Northclide,
who wanted to buy copper. but COM
planned that the price was too high.
He asked that the Government take
action 10 compel producers to sell at
greatly reduced prices.
THE other man was Herbert Hoover
who had recommended to European
countries that they should control the
price Of wheat by combining and refus-
ing to buy. He came here and asked
10 be placed in a position TO control
the price.
Does 1t require q wise man to say
that his purpose was TO secure for Euro
pean countries a low price on wheat,
just as Lord NorthclifFe wanted 10
secure q low price on copper?
! Lord Northcliffe, an English gentle
man. was bold and frank about It, max
ing his request In the open. Hoover
came ostensibly as an American citizen.
but with the purpose to draw us into Al
scheme which meant to control wheat
by a combination that would control
the market"
1t Minneapolis In 1920 MFR. Hoover
addressed the nillerS. Reed said, and
told them but for the cooperation
between them and himself In fixing the
price of wheat, flour would have sold
for $40 barrel and there would have
been food riots In the industrial CEN
ters and the streets would have run
with blood
IF he did not fix the price," Reed
shouted, why did he issue these or
ders? It Is utterly useless for a man
TO deny that Mr.. Hoover took this ac-
ton"
Sugar Regulations.
Reed also charged that Hoover had
regulated the amount Of sIigar house.
wife could have during the war. He
put pressure on the wholesaler" he
said, 80 that he would lose his license
Ii he sold to a retailer who would re-
fuse 10 obey his commands.
Hence" the Misscltriau went on,
that arbitrary power reached down
and touched the homes ri this country
that gross, indecent and almost GRIM
tnai abuse Of power.
And yet. after all this. We fin6 that
hfr. Hooyer's proponents have flooded
the States--at least Indiana~-with ad-
.vertisementg."
Reed produced an advertisement
which he said appeared In the Indian.
apolis Star In April, and quoted from II
10 the effect that Secretary Hoover mad
no part In fixing the price Of wheat
1T ig a half truth" the Missourian
shouted, deliberately intended 10 de-
ccive!"