Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-12

Washington. July l2.-President Will
son appealed to the countrys 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 to offer their lives on the
battlefield.
Must Forget Profits.
Your patriotism" said the presi-
dents appeal, lis of the same self-de-
nying 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.
Il shall expect every man who is not
a Stacker to be at my side turnout this
great enterprise. In it 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-
fidence that business generally would
be found loyal to the last degree and
that the preblem Of wartime prices,
which he declared viii mean victory
or defeat" will be. solved rightly thru
patriotic corporation.
In unmeasured terms, however, Mr..
Wilson condemned the ship owners of
the country for maintaining sched-
uie of ocean freight rates which has
placed ra1most insuperable obstacles in
the path of the government"
2, Are Helping Germany.
The fact is he asserted, that
those who have fixed war freight rates
have taken the most effective means
in their power to defeat the armies en-
gagged against Germany
Cost production and other industries
for whose product the government has
negotiated price agreements are not
taken up in detail by the president, his
appeal dealing only with the general
principles involved in the determine
ton Of war prices.
Presidents Call.
The presidents statement follows:
The government is about to attempt
to determine the prices at which it
will ask you henceforth to furnish
various supplies which are necessary
for the prosecution Of the 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 nation as
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.
Therefore take the liberty Of stat
ing very candidly my own view Of the
situation and Of the principles which
the mine owners and manufacturers CT
the country in this difficult matter.
"A just price must, Of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. BY just price l mean price
which will sustain the industries con-
cerned in a high state Of efficiency,
provide a living for those who con-
duet them, enable them to pay good
wages, and make possible the expan-
sions of their enterprises which Will
from time 10 time become necessary
as the stupendous undertakings Of this
great war develop.
Must Face the Facts.
1--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 I trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with a mist IF SEN
timent Facts are our masters now.
We ought not to put the acceptance
of such prices on the ground OF patr1-
otism.'
Patriotism has nothing TO do with
profits in a 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
a view 10 maintaining the integrity OF
capital and the efficiency Of labor in
these tragical months, when the lib
erty Of free men everywhere. and OF