Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-07-19
FORGET PROFITS;
WIN THE WAR
President Wilson Appeals to Bus
mess interests of Country.
lust PRICES IS HIS DEMAND
Business Should Not Take Toll Of
Men in Trenches, Says the Chief
Executive-Ship Owners
Are Condemned.

terests Wednesday to put aside every
selfish consideration and to give their
hid to the nation as freely as those
who go 10 offer their lives on the bat
tleiield
In statement addressed To the coal
operators ana manufacturers he gave
assurance that just prices will be paid
by the government and the public dur
ing the war, but warned that no at
tempt to eNtort unusual profits will he
tolerated.
IS our patriotism" said the presi-
dents appeal, "is of the same self
denying stun as the patriotism Of the
mtn dead and MANNED on the fields Of
France, or 1t is no patriotism M all.
Let us never speak. then. Of profits
and patriotism in the same sentence.
81 shall expect every man who Is not
Stacker 10 be at my side throughout
this great enterprise. In it no man
can win honor who thinks Of himself
Condemns Ship owners.
The president declared there must
be hut one price for the government
and for the public. He expressed con
fidence that business generally would
be found loyal to the last degreet and
that the problem of wartime prices
which he declared will "mean victory
or defeat" will be solved rightly
through patriotic cooperation.
In unmeasured terms. however. Mr.
Wilson condemned the ship owners OF
the country for maintaining "A schedule
Of ocean freight rates which has
placed "almost insuperahle obstacles
In the path Of the government.
Presidents Call.
The presidents statement follows
"The government is about to attempt
10 determine the prices at which II
will ask you henceforTh to furnish va
rious supplies which are necessary for
the prosecution Of the war and vari
Gus materials which will hc needed II
the industries by which the war mus
he sustained We shall Of course. tr,
10 determine them justly and to III,
best advantage Of the nation as ;
whole: but justice Is easier to speal
OF than To arrive at. and there ar.
some considerations which | hope W,
shan keep steadily IN mind while thi,
particular problem Of justice is bein.
worked out
Promises Just Price.
"Thercfore | take the liberty o.
stating very candidly my own view O
the situation and OF the principle
which should guide both the govern
ment and the mine owners and man
, ufaciurers Of TIE country I'm this DIFF
hcult matter.
"a iust price must. Of course. b.
paid for everything the government
buys. by a just price I mean pric
which will sustain the Industries con
ccrncd I'm high state Of efficiency
provide living for those who con
duct them. enable them to pay goo
wages. and make possible the eN
pansions of their enterprises whic
will from time to time become neces
sary ms the stupendouS undertaking
of this great war develop.
Must Face the Facts.
I'VE could not wisely or reasonnhl
do less than pay such prices. The
are necessary for the maintenance
and development of industry. and III
maintenance and development of ii
dustry are necessary for the great tas
we have In hand.
but | trust that we shall not SUI
round the matter with mist of sci
timcnt Facts ure our masters nov
We ought not to put the acceptanc
Of such prices on the ground of pair
otism."
Patriotism has nothing TO do wit
profits in case like this. PatriotisI
and profits ought never in the preser
circumstances be mentioned togethe
1T is perfectly proper to discus
profits ms matter of business with
view to maintaining the integrity ,
capital and the efficiency of labor
these tragical months. when the Ill
erty of free men everywhere and {
industry itself trembles in the ba
ance: but It would he absurd TO di
cuss them as motive for helping I
serve and save our country.
patriotism leaves profits out of Ii
question. In these days Of our s.
preme trial, when we are sending hui
dreds of thousands of our young me
across the seas To serve great caus
no true man who stays behind
work for them and sustain them |
his labor will ask himself what he
personally going to make out of III;
labor.
mo true patriot will permit himsv
TO take toll OF their heroism in mon,
or seek TO grow rich by the sheddir
of their blood. He will give as free
and with as unstinted self-sacrif,
as they. When they are giving the
lives, will he not at least give h
money?
Asssils bribery"
81 hear 1t insisted that more tn;
just price, more than a price tn
Will sustain our industries, must
paid: that 1t is necessary to pay vel
liberal and Unusual profits in order
stimulate production; that nothii