Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-07-26

dent Wilson appealed to the country S
business interests last night to put
aside every selfish consideration and to
give their aid to the nation as freely as
those who go out 20 offer their lives on
the battlefield. .
In Il statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers he gave
assurances that just prices will he paid
by the government and the public dur
ing the war, but warned that no at
tolerated.
The statement follows:
My Fellow Countrymen: The govern
ment is about to attempt to Determine
tie prices at which it will ask you hence nnGeh
forth to furnish. various supplies Which
are necessary for the prosecution of the
war and various materials which win be
needed IN the industries by which the war
must be sustained. We shall, of course,
try to determine them justly and to the
best advantage of the nation, as a Whoie;
arrive at and there are some considera.
tions which | hope We shall keep steadily
In mind while this particular problem OF
take the Liberty of stating very candidly
my own view Of the situation and OF the
s sovsTn,aent wh aed 5 she mine gn'd own n1sn and .nd
manufacturers of the country III this
difficult matter.
Promises Just Price.
A just price must. of course. be paid for
everything. the government buys. BY a
Just price | mean a price which will sus-
saa,s tn NE a3{lsiarnx e npocidn II ,Gvi a hi gor
those who conduct them. enable them to
pay good wages and make possible the
expansions of their enterprises which will
from time to time become necessary as the
stupendous undertakings develop.
But ! trust that We shall not surround
the matter with a mist of sentiment. Facts
are our masters now. Patriotism has
nothing to do with profits in a case like
this; Patriotism and profits ought never
30 in tho nrasanf nirplI M 81 aiicaS. IN ha mem
toned together. 1t Is perfectly proper to
discuss profits as a matter Of business.
Of capital and the efficiency of labor in
these ~trasical months, when the liberty
of free men everywhere and of industry
itself trembles in the balance: but it
would be absurd to discuss them as a
motive for helping TO serve and save our
country.
Raps Profiteerinu.
I hear 1T insisted that more than n Just
price, more than a price that will sustain
our industries must be paid; that it is
necessary to pay very liberal and unusual
that nothing but pecuniary rewards will
do-rewards paid in money, not in the
mere liberation Of the world. l take it
for granted that those who argue thus do
not stop to think what that means. DO
they mean that YOU must be. paid. must be
bribrd. TO make Your contributors a con
tribution that costs you neither a drop of
blood nor a tear, when the whole world
is in travail and men everywhere depend
upon ana cam - NDt u bItIlS them CUT Oh
bondage and make the world a fit place
to live in again amidst peace and jus
tee? 10 they mean that you will exact
u price, drive a bargain with the men
who are enduring the 3gonE of this war
on the battle field, in the trenches, amidst
the lurking dangers of the sea, or With
the bereaNed women and pitiful children.
before You viii come forward to do your
drty and give him part of your. life, in
easy. p~e4ceful fashion for the things we
are fighting for, the things we have
pledged our fortunes, our lives. our sacred
honor 10 vindicate and defend-liberty and
:. justice and fan dealing and the peace OF
nations2
OF course YOU will not. 1t is inconceiv-
able. Your patriottsn is Of the same self
: men dead or MANNED on the fields OF
France, or else il is not patriotism at all
} ct patriotism in the same sentence, but
face facts and meet them. Let us dc
sound business, but not in the midst OF
a mist,
Let me turn for n moment to the shiY
owners of the United States and the
have followed and ask them if they realize
2 what obstacles. what almost insuperablc
obstacles; they have been putting in tho
been exacting. They are doing everything
that high freight charges can do TO make
5 this war a failure. to make it impossible
The fact is that those who have fixed
war freight rates have taken the mos
the armies engaged against Germany
WheE they realize this We may. take i
for granted; count upon them to recon
n slider the whole matter. 1t is high time
) Their extra hazards are covered by wa
9 risk Insurance.
l know, and you know. what respons.
to this great challenge of duty and Of op
portunity the nation will expect o. you
and j know what response you will make
Those who do not respond. who 60 no
respond in the spirit of those who hav,
: gone to give their lives for us on blood,
I fields far away, may safely be left to b,
dealt with by opinion and the law-fo
the law must of course thos,
: things.
Public Entitled to Fairness.
And there is something more that w,
must add to our thinking. The public i
now as much part Of the government a