The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-12

Il shall expect every man who is
not a Stacker to be at my side
throughout this great enterprise. In
1t no man can win honor who thinks
of himself"
One Price For All.
The president declared there must
be but one price for the government
and, the public. He expressed con-
fidence that business generally would
be found loyal to the last decree and
that the problem of war time prices
which he declared will mean VIC
tory or defeat will be solved right
ly through patriotic cooperation.
In unmeasured terms, however,
Mr.. Wilson condemned the ship own
ers of the country for maintaining a
schedule of ocean freight rates which
has placed almost insuperable OBJ
stacles" in the path of the govern
ment.
1.-THE fact is" he asserted, that
those who have fixed war freight
rates have taken the most effective
means in their power to defeat the
armies engaged against Germany.
Government to Set Prices Of War
Supplies.
In his appeal the president says:
MY fellow countrymen:
THE government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices al
which it will ask you henceforth to
furnish various supplies necessary
for the prosecution of the war and
various materials needed in the In
dustries by which the war must be
sustained. 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 con-
siderations which / hope we shall
keep steadily in mind while this
particular problem of justice Is be-
ing worked out Therefore l take
the liberty OF stating very candidly
my own view of the situation and
of the principles which should guide
both the government and the mine
owners and manufacturers of the
country in the difficult matter.
"A just price must, of course, be
paid everything the government buys
BY a just price / mean a price which
will sustain the industries concern
ed in a high state of efficiency, pro-
vide living for those who conduct
, them, enable them to pay good wages
and make possible the expansion of
their enterprises which will from
time 10 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 in
dustry; and the maintenance and
development of industry are neces-
sary for the great task we have in
hand.
But I trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with a mist of
sentiment. Facts are our masters
now. We ought not to put the ac-
ceptance of such prices on the ground
of patriotism. Patriotism has moth
ing to do with profits in a case like
this. Patriotism and profits ought
never in the present circumstances,
be mentioned together. 1t is per-
fectly proper to discuss profits as a
matter of business, with view to
maintaining the integrity and CAPT.
tai and the efficiency of labor in these
tragical months, when the liberty of
free men everywhere and of indus
try itself trembles in the balance; but
it would be absurd to discuss them
as a motive for helping to serve and
save, our country.
Profits Not Patriotic.
Patriotism leaves profits out of
the question. In these days of our
supreme trial, when we are sending