The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-07-19
PRESIDENT HITS
DOLLAR PATRIOTS
Asks Business interests to Put
Aside SeIfishness and Give
Aid to Nation.
SHIpOWNERSARE CONDEMNED
There Must Be but One Price for Gov
eminent and for Public, Says
Wilson-Justice Is Keynote
of Appeal.

Washington President Wilson ap
pealed to the country's business In
terests Wednesday to put aside every
selfish consideration and to give their
aid to the nation as freely as those
who go to offer their lives on the bat
| tlefeld.
The presidents statement follows ::
1.-THE government is about to attempt
to determine the prices at which 1t
will ask you henceforth to furnish va
rlous supplies which are necessary for
the prosecution of the war; and vari-
Gus materials which will 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
whole; but justice is easier to speak
of than to arrive at, and there are
some considerations which hope 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 and man
ufacturers of the country in this diff
ficult matter.
"a just price must, of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. By just price l mean a price /
which will sustain the industries con-
cerned in high state of efficiency, |
provide living for those who CON
duct them, enable them to pay good /
wages, and make possible the ex-
pansions of their enterprises which
will from time to time become neces-
sary as the stupendous undertakings
Of this great war develop.
Must Face the Facts.
1--WE could not wisely or reasonably
10 less than pay such prices. They
ire necessary for the maintenance
md development of industry, and the
maintenance and development of in
lustry are necessary for the great task
We have in hand.
But | trust that we shall not sur
ound the matter with a mist of SEN
iment. Facts are our masters now.
We ought not to put the acceptance
such prices on the ground of patri-
tism."
patriotism has nothing to do with
rofits in a case like this. Patriotism
nd profits ought never in the present
rcumstances be mentioned together
1T is perfectly proper to discuss
'ofits as a matter of business, with a {
ew to maintaining the integrity of !
pital and the efficiency of labor in
ese tragical months, when the lib
ty of free men everywhere and of
dustry itself trembles in the bal
ee; but it would be absurd to dis =
SIS them as motive for helping to :
rye and save our country. :
Patriotism leaves profits out of the ;,
estion. In these days of our SUI =
eme trial, when we are sending hun :.
eds of thousands of our young men !,
ross the seas to serve a great cause, :,
true man who stays behind TO =
'rk for them and sustain them by =
labor will ask himself what he is -
rsonally going to make out of that :,
,or. u
NO true patriot will permit himself -
take toll of their heroism in money -,
seek to grow rich by the shedding "
their blood. He will give as freely
with as unstinted self-sacrifice
they. When they are giving their liz
IS, will he not at least give his er
ney? ey