The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-12
Patriotism and Profits Should
Not Be Discussed Together.
He Declares
BUSINESS EFFICIENCY
| MUST BE UPHELD
Mine Operators and Manufac-
turers Shown Their Duty and
Opportunity Ship-Owners
Conduct Invites Defeat

Washington, July 1l.-Prcsi-
dent Wilson tonight summoned
American business to the colors-
In an address to the mine
operators and manufacturers of
the United States" he stated
plainly what the governments
program of determining just
prices Is. And he looks to every
business men-big and little
to meet the situation In a big
way.
Prices" he says, means VIC
tory or defeat" The address
follows:
Text Of Address.
My fellow-countryman:
The government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices at which
It wit ask you henceforth to fur
nish various supplies which are neces-
sary for the prosecution of the war
and various materials which Will h0
needed In the Industries by which the
war must be sustained. s2
We shall. Of course. try to 6eGoee
mine them justly and to the best ~.
vantage Of the nation a. q whol1. bles
| Justice Is easier to speak of than u
siderat tons which / hope we shall al
keep steadily in mind while this par.
ticuiar problem of justice IL betng
worked out. I, therefore, take tao
liberty of stating very candidly my
own views of the situation and OF the
principles which should guide both
the government and the mine owners
and manufacturers OF the country In
this difficult matter
Will Pay just Price.
"a Just price must. of course. b
paid for everything the government
buys. BY Just price I mean prizes
which will sustain the industries con-
cerned in a high state OF efaciencv.
provide living for those who COM
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. We could
not wisely or reasonably do less than
pay such prices. They are necessary
for the maintenance and developmont
of industry: and the maintenance and
development Of industry are necessary
for the great task we have in hand.
But trust that we shall not surround.
the matter with a mist OF sentiment.
Facts are our masters now. We ought
not to put the acceptance OF such
prices on the ground Of patriotism.
Patriotism has nothing to do with
profits in a case like this Patriotism
and profits ought never. in the present
circumstances, to be mentioned to-
gether 1t is perfectly proper to dir
euss profits AZ matter of business.
with a view to maintaining the intoe~
| rity OF capital and the efficiency OF
| labor in these tragical months when
| the liberty Of free men everywhere
and OF industry itself trembles IN the
| balance; but 1t would be absurd to
! \ xh1r antf "a
to serve and save our country. p
triotism leaves profits out Of the quee-
ton.
Not In Work for Gain.
'In these days Of our supreme
| trial when we are sending hundreds
of thousands Of our young men across
the seas to serve great cause. ne
| true man who stays behind to work
for them and sustain them by hia
labor will ask himself what he 10
personally going to make out OF that
labor. No true patriot will permit
himself to take toll Of their herotsH
in money or seek to grow rich BY the
shedding of their blood. He will give
as freely and with as unstinted self
sacrifice as they. When they are
, giving their lives will he not give ct
| least his money?
The Doctrine Of PronteerA
| IT hear it insisted that more thAA
a Just price. more than a price that
will sustain our industries must -
paid: that It Is necessary to pay VERY
liberal and unusual~pro4 In order -
| stimulate production; that nothing
but pecuniary rewards will do it--xe-
wards paid in money not In the mere
! liberation OF the world. take 4 Tor
granted that those who argue thus Do
| not stop to think what that means.
| Do they mean that you must be paid
| must be bribed to make your contrt.
button. a contribution that costs Yen
neither drop Of blood nor : teeA
when the whole world ID In txave0
and men everywhere depend upon -
cali on you to bring them out o. beW4S
age and make the world = At ptaee ~
! live in again amidst peace and r.
tice? Do they mean that you III
exact a price to drive . barg1in WeeA
| the men who are enduring tho a4o1
| Of this war on the battlefield. - -
! trenches. amidst the lurking dAMl
/ OF the sea, or with the heFeAve4
\ men 1nd the pfttfuf chtfdTvn.
| you will come forward to Do yogr h
and give some part Of yone q
easy, peaceful fashiou TOR IT,
| " are Aghting NJ, -
] have n1A1en4 So -