The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-07-19
PRESIDENT ASKS MANUFAC-
TURERS AND MINE OWNERS
TO BACK v. S. IN WAR.
TOLD TO FORGET PRICES
President Declares Victory or Defeat
Depends on Prices-Denounces
Dollar Patriots-Everyone
Must Make Sacrifices.

terests Wednesday to put aside every
selfish consideration and to give their
ala to the nation as freely as those
who go to offer their lives on the bat
tlefield.
In statement addressed to the conl
operators and manufacturers he gave
assurance that just prices will be paid
ny the government and the public dur
Ing the war, but warned thnt no nj
tempt to extort unusual profits Will be
tolerated.
Ihe presidents statement follows:
Inc government is about to ATTEMPT
10 determine the prices ut which It
VIII ask you hencefOrth to furnish ya-
rious supplies which are necessary for
the prosecution Of the war, and yari-
Gus materials which will be needed IN
the industries by which the war must
be sustained. We shall, of course try
10 determine them justly and to the
peSt advantage of the nation as Il
"hole but justice is easier to speak
Oh than to arrive at, and there are
some considerations which l hone we
Shall keep steadily in mind while this
particular problem Of justice is being
worked out.
Promises Just Price.
therefore l take the liberty OF
stating very candidly my own view of
the situation and Of the PRINCIPLES
which should guide both the govern
ment and the mine owners ana man.
ulacturers of the country in this diff
flcult matter.
"A Just price must, Of course. be
PAID for everything the government
buys. by just price mean q price
which Will sustain the industries con
cerned In high state Of efficiency
provide a living for those who con
duct thenl, enable them to pay good
wages ana make possible the cx-
pahSlohs or their enterprises which
VIII from time to time become ncces-
sary as the stupcndous undertakings
of this great war develop.
Must Face the Facts.
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 in
dustry are necessary for the great task
we have in hand
But l trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with a mist of sen
timent. Facts are our masters now.
we ought not to put the acceptance
or such prices on the ground of patri-
otism."
patriotism has nothing to do with
profits In case like this. Patriotism
and profits ought never in the present
circumstances be mentioned together
1T Is perfectly proper to discuss
profits as matter Of business, with
view to maintaining the integrity Of
capital and the efficiency Of labor in
these tragcal months, when the lib
erty Of free men everywhere and of
industry itself trcmbles In the bal
ance; but 1t would be absurd to dis
cuss them as a motive for helping to
serve and save our country.
patriotism leaves profits out of the
question. In these days of our SUI
preme trial, when we are sending hun
dreds Of thousands Of our young mon
across the seas to serve great cause
no true man who stays behind to
work for them and sustain them by
his labor will ask himself what he Is
personally gong to make out Of that
labor.
mo true patriot will permit himself
to take toll of their heroism in money
or seek to grow rich by the shedding
Of their blood. He will give as freely
and with as unstintcd scfsacrificc
rs they When they are giving their
lives Will he not at least give his
iaoney2
AssaIs "Bribery."
II hear 1t insisted that more than
Just price, more than price that
VIII sustain our industries, must be
paid; that it is necessary to pay very
liberal and unusual profits in order tc
stimulate production; that nothing
nut pecuniary rewards will do-rc
wards paid In money. not In the mert
liberation Of the world
II take 1t for granted tbot thos,
VINO argue thus do not stop to thinl
what that means.
do they mean that you must be
paid, must be bribcd, to make Won,
contribution, contribution that cost,
you neither drop OF blood nor toor
when the whole world is in travail onf
men everywhere depend upon and cal
to you to bring them out of bondape
and make the world fit place to live
In again, amidst peace and Justice?
"DO they mean that you Will exac.