New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-07-20
FORGET PROFITS
WIN THE WAR
President Wilson Appeals to Bus
mess interests Of Country.
JUST PRICES IS HIS DEMAND
Business Should Not Take Toll or
Men In Trenches, Says the Chief
Executive-Ship Owners
Are Condemned.

Are Condemned.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Wilson APP
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 90 to offer their lives on the bat
tlefield.
In a statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers he gave
assurance that just prices Will be pald
by the government and the public dur
ing the war, but warned that no at
tempt to eXtort unusual profits will be
tolerated.
"Your patriotism" said the presi-
dents appeal, "is of the same self
denying stuff as the patriotism of the
men dead and MANNED on the fields Of
France, or it is no patriotism at all.
Let US never speak, then, 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 no man
can win honor who thinks Of himself"
Condemns Ship Owners.
The president declared there must
be but one price for the government
and for the public. He expressed con
fdence that business generally would
Ne found loyal to the last degree, and
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..
the country for maintaining a schedule
of ocean freight rates which has
placed almost insuperable obstacles
In the path of the government.
Presidents Call.
The presidents statement follows:
"The government Is about to attempt
to determine the prices at which 1t
will ask you hencefOrth to furnish va
rious supplies which are necessary for
the prosecution of the war, and vari-
Gus materials which will he needed in
the Industries by which the war must
Dc SuNlulIltu. we SIlull, u tpuISt, lIt
to determine them justly and to the
best advantage Of the nation as n
whole; but justice Is easier to speak
Of than to arrive at, and there are
some considerations which I hope we
shall keep steadily in mind while this
particular problem of justice is being
worked out.
Promises Just Price.
Wherefore I take the liberty of
stating very candidly my w 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 a just price mean a price
which will sustain the Industries con-
in a high state of efficiency,
provide n living for those who con-
duct them, enable them to pay good
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.
"We could not wisely or reasonably |
do less than pay such prices. They
are necessary for the maintenance
and development of industry, and the
and development of in
are necessary for the great task
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
Of such prices on the ground of patri-
Patriotism has nothing to do with
In a case like this. Patriotism
profits ought never In the present
circumstances be mentioned together.
ut is perfectly proper to discuss
1rotts as a matter of business, with n
'iew to maintaining the integrity of
and the efficiency of labor In
.hese tragical months, when the lib
,rty of free men everywhere and of
industry itself trembles in the bal
lnce; but il would be absurd to dis
'uss them as a motive for helping to
and save our country.
patriotism leaves profits out of the
question. In these days of our su-
trial, when we are sending hun
OF thousands of our young men
cross the seas TO serve a great cause,
10 true man who stays behind to
work for them and sustain them by
lis labor will ask himself what he is
personally going to make out of that
abor.
mo true patriot will permit himself
o take toll of their heroism in money
r seek to grow rich by the shedding
4 their blood. He will give as freely
nd with as unstinted s~elf-sacrifice
8 they. When they are giving their
Ives, will he not at least give his
AssaiIs bribery"
Il hear 1t insisted that more than
just price, more than a price that
ill sustain u industries, must be
aid; that it is necessary to pay very
beral and unusual profits in order to
production; that nothing
ut pecuniary rewards will do-re-