Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-07-20
PRESIDENT HITS
DOLLAR PATRIOTS
Asks Business Interests to Put
Aside SeIfishneSS and Give
Aid to Nation.
SHIpOWNERsARECONDEMNED
There Must BE but One Price for Gov
eminent and for Public, Says
Wilson-Justiee Is Keynote
Of Appeal.


Washington.-Presi 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 90 to offer their lives on the bat
tlefield.
The presidents statement follows:
"The government is about to attempt
to determine the prices at which 1t
viii ask you henceforth to furnish va
rious 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 a
whole; but justice is easier to speak
OF than to arrive at, and there are
some considerations which l hope we
shall keep steadily In mind while this
particular problem of justice is being
worked out.
Promises Just Price.
Therefore 1 take the liberty of
stating very candidly my own view of
the situation and Of the principles
which should guide both the govern
Inent and the mine owners and man
Efacturers 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-
cerned in a high state of efficiency,
provide a 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.
eve 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 trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with mist of sen.
timentS Facts are our masters now
We ought not to put the acceptance
OF such prices on the ground Of patri.
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
at Is perfectly proper to discuss
profits as a matter of business, with O
view to maintaining the integrity oi
capital and the efficiency of labor II
these tragical months, when the lib
erty OF free men everywhere and o.
Industry itself trembles In the bal
ance; but II would be absurd to dis
cuss them as a motive for helping {,
serve and save our country.
patriotism leaves profits out OF tn,
question. In these days Of our su
preme trial, when we are sending hun
dreds Of thousands OF our young mel
across the seas to serve great cause
no true man who stays behind I,
work for them and sustain them b.
his labor win ask himself what he i
personally going to make out Of tha
labor.
mo true patriot will permit himsel
to take toll of their heroism in none,
or seek to grow rich by the sheddln
OF their blood. He will give as freel
and with as unstinted self-sacrific
as they. When they are giving thei
lives, viii he not at least give hi
money!
AssaIIs bribery"
"I hear 1t insisted that more tina
Just price, more than a price tha
will sustain our industries, must b
paid; that It is necessary to pay yer
liberal and unusual profits in order I
stimulate production that nothin
but pecuniary rewards will dor,
wards paid in money, not in the mer
liberation of the world.
81 take It for granted that thos
who argue thus do not stop to thin
what that means.
''Do they mean that you must |
paid must be bribed, to make yot
contribution, contribution that cos
you neither a drop Of blood nor tea
when the whole world is in travail ar
men everywhere depend upon and ca
to you to bring them out Of honda;
and make the world fit place to liz
In again, amidst peace and justice?
Appeals to Honor.
do they mean that you will exa
rrina drivo a horOofp xuith tho r,ns