The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-07-19
PRESIDENT APPEALS TO BUSI-
NESS INTERESTS FOR SACRIFICE
Must Aid Nation Freely as Those Who
Offer Their Lives

Offer Their Lives
President Wilson appealed to the
country's business interests the oth-
er day to put aside every selfish con-
sideration and to give their aid to the
nation as freely as those who go out
to offer their lives on the battlefield.
In his appeal the President said IN
part:
"My fellow-countrymen:
"The government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices at
which it will ask you nenceforth to
furnish various supplies which are
necessary for the prosecution of the
war and various materials which will
be needed in the industries by Whlch
the war must be sustained. We shall
of course try to determine them just
ly and to the best advantage OF the
nation as a whole; but justice is cas-
Ter to speak Of than to arrive at ana
there are some considerations which
hope we shall all keep steadily in
mind while this particular problem
of justice is being worked out. l,
therefore, take the liberty Of stating
very candidly my own view Of the sit
uation and of the principles which
should guide both the government
and the mine owners and manufac-
turers Of the country in this diff
cult matter.
"a just price must, Of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. By just price I mean price
which will sustain the industries con-
cerned in high state of efficiency.
provide a living for those who con-
duct them, enable them to pay good
wages and make possible the expan-
sion of their enterprises which will
from time to time become necessary
as the stuperdous undertakings Of
this great war develop. *
Are Mastered by Facts
"But I 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 pa
triotism. x Patriotism and prof
it's ought never in the present cir
cumstances to be mentioned together.
It is perfectly proper to discuss prof
it's as matter of business, with a
view to maintaining the integrity of
capital and the efficiency of labor in
these tragical months when the iiber-
ty of men everywhere and of industry
itself trembles in the balance; but it
would be absurd to discuss them as
motive for helping to serve and save
our country.
"In these days of our supreme trial,
when We are sending hundreds of
thousands Of our young men across
the seas to serve a great cause, no
true man who stays behind to work
for them and sustain them by his la
Dor will ask himself what he is per
sonally going to make out of that la
Dor. No true patriot will permit him
self to take toll of their heroism in
money or seek to grow rich by the
shedding of their blood. * * When
they are giving their lives will he
not give at least his money?
II hear it insisted that more than
just price, more than a price that
will sustain our industries must be
paid; that it is necessary to pay very
| liberal and unusual profits in order
to "stimulate" productions; that moth
ing but pecuniary rewards will do il
rewards paid in money, not in the
mere liberation of the world. I take
it for granted that those who argue
thus do not stop to think what thai
means. Do they mean that you must
be paid, must be bribed, to make your
contribution, contribution thai
costs you neither drop of blood mol
tear, when the world is in travail
and men everywhere depend upo1
and call to you to bring them out o.
bondage and make the world a fl
place to live in again amidst peac;
and justice? Do they mean tina
you will exact price, drive bar
gain, with the men who are enduring
the agony of this war on the battle
field, inthe trenches, amidst the lurkin!
dangers Of the sea, or with the be
reavesd women and the pitiful chill
dren, before you will come forwar,
to do your duty and give some par
Of your life, in easy peaceful fashion
for the things we are fighting for
the things we have pledged our for
tunes, our lives. our sacred honor t.
vindicate and defend-liberty, an
justice and fair dealing and the peac