Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-07-17
A PATRIOTIC APPEAL
BY THE PRESIDENT

President Wilson appealed TO the
country business interests tonight to
put aside every selfish consideration
and to give their aid to the nation as
freely as those who go out to offer
their lives on the battle field.
In statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers he gave
assurances that just prices will be
paid by the government and the peo.
pie during the war, but warned that
no attempt 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 dying 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.
Il shall expect every man who is
not Stacker to be at my side through
out this great enterprise. In Il no
man can win honOrs who thinks oil
himself"
The president declared there must
be but one price for the government
and for the public. He expressed con
fidencc that business generally would
be found loyal TO the last degree and
that the problem OF war time prices
which he declared will mean victor!
or defeat" will be solved rightly
through patriotic cooperation.
In unmeasured terms. however. Mr
Wilson condemned the shipowncrs ol
the country for maintaining a schc.
dule of ocean freight rates which has
placed almost insuperable Obstacles
in tE" path OF the government.
The fact is," he asserted, that
those who have fixed war freight rates
have taken a most effective means in
their power 10 defeat the armies and
nayies engaged against Germany"
Coal production and other industries
for whose products the government
has negotiated price agreements ar,
not taken up in detail by the presi.
dent his appeal dealing only with the
general principles involved in the de
termination OF war prices. II says in
full:
My fellow COuntTymCn:
The government Is about TO at
tempt to determine the prices at
which it will ask you hcnccforth 10
furnish various supplies which are
necessary for the prosecution of war,
and various 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 ma
tions rs 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 jus
tice Is being worked out. Therefore
take the liberty of stating very can
didly my own view OF the situation ana
of the principles which should guild,
both the government and the mine
owners and manufacturers of th,
country in this difficult matter.
"A just price must, of course, b,
paid for everything the government
buys. By just price | mean price
which will sustain the industries con
Ccrn"d in a high state of efficiency
provide living for those who COnduC
them, enable them to pay good wagc'
their enterprises which Will from time
to time become necessary as the stu
pcndous undertakings OF this grCa
war develop. We could not wiscl!
nor reasonably do less than pay suCl
prices, they are necessary for IN,
maintenance and development of in
dustry; and the maintenance and de
vClopmcnt of industry are nCCcssHr!
Tor the great task we have in hand.
"But | trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with mist of sen
| 'uIcHl, ldCtS are ouI HI"HN'' ho"' W.
ought not to put the acceptance %
such prices on the ground of patriot
ism and has nothing to do with pro
It's In n case like this. Patriotism
and profits ought never in the prcscn
circumstances to be mentioned togctl
or. II IL perfectly proper to discus
profits as a matter of business, will
Il view to maintaining the integrity q
capital and the efficiency Of labor ii
these tragical months. when the libcf
ty of free men everywhere and of in
dustry itself trCmblcs in the balance
but II would be absurCd TO discus