Herbert Hoover actually said...

If these gentlemen have that sense of patriotism, which outruns immediate profit, and a desire to see the country recover, they will close u...

But in these times this activity has a public interest.

Even though the effect may be temporary, it deprives many farmers of their rightful income.

I refer to a limited number of speculators, and I am not expressing any views upon the economics of short selling in normal times.