Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-12
Aims Bitter Darts at all
Grating Producers-As-
sails Ship Owners for
Charging Ocean Freight
Rates Which Place Diff
culties in Way Of Shippers
Vigorous Appeal to Coal
Operators.

Washington, July 12.-President
Wilson made a stirring appeal last
night to the people Of America to put
aside every selfish consideration and
to give their aid to the nation as freely
asSfhose who &c out to offer their lives
on the battlefield.
In a statement addressed to the
coal operators and manufacturers he
gave assurances that just prices VII
be paid by the government n the
! public during the war, but warned
that no attempt to extort unusual
profits will be tolerated.
your patriotism" said the appeal
sis the same self-denying stuff as the
patriotism of the men dead and
manned on the fields of France, or II
Is no patriotism at all.
"Let us never speak Of profits and
patriotism in the same sentence.
II shall expect every man who Is
not a Stacker to be at my side
throughout this great enterprise. In
1t nc man can win honor who thinks
OF himself."
Victory or Defeat.
The president declared there must
be but one price for the government
and the public. He expressed conn.
dence that business generally would
De lOuilu lOydl W tllS u
that the problem Of wartime prices,
which he declared will 'mean victory
or defeat will be solved rightly
through patriotic cooperation.
In unmeasured terms, however, Mr..
Wilson condemned the ship owners OF
the country for maintaining a seized
ule of ocean freight rates which has
placed almost insuperable obstacles"
in the path of the government.
MI a--S# H. - L. ~-Nrta sthaf
those who have fixed war freight
rates have taken the most effective
means in their power to defeat the
armies engaged against Germany
In his appeal, the president avs
"My Fellow C~ountrymen:
THE government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices at
which it will ask you henceforth to
furnish various supplies necessary for
the prosecution of the war, and varl-
Gus materials needed in the indus
tries by which the war must be sus-
tanned. We shall, Of course, try to
determine them Justly and to the best
advantage of the nation, but justice Is
easier to speak of than to arrive at
and there are some considerations
which I hope you shall keep steadily
in mind while this particular problem
Of Justice Is being worked out. There
fore I take the liberty of stating very
%candidly my own views Of the situa-
ton and of the principles which
should guide both the government
and the mine owners and manufac-
turers Of the country in this difficult
matter. 81
Will Pay q just Price.
just price must, Of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. BY a just price I means price
which will sustain the Industries con-
cerned In. a high state OF efficiency
provide a living for those who con-
duct them, enable them to pay good
wages and make possible the expan-
sion of their enterprises which will
from time to time become necessary
as the stupendous undertakings Of
this great war develop. We could not
wisely or reasonably do less than pay
such prices. They are necessary for
the maintenance and development of
industry; and the maintenance and
development of industry necessary for
the great task we have in hand.
But I trust that we shall not sur.
round the matter. with a mist of senti.
ment. Facts are our masters now
We ought not to put the acceptance
.of such prices on the ground that pa
triotism has nothing to do with pro
fits in a a like this. Patriotism
and profits ought neve in the pres
, ent circumstances to be mentioned to
= gether. 1t is perfectly proper to dis
cuss profits as a matter Of business
with a view to maintaining the intee
. rity Of capital Inc the efficiency Of la
d Dor In these tragical months, whe