Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-17
PATRIOTISM

The members of the National Au-
tomobile Chamber of Commerce as
sembled here to-day offer and
pledge you their fullest co-opera-
tion in the present crisis. The au-
tomobile industry, which is the
third largest in the United States,
is ready to serve its country with
all its resources of trained mechan-
modern factories. We know our in
dustry can be of immediate help in
pdGn preparing our our Sosire Ssoninery m for any any
our membership of 101 manufacture
ers is ready and available subject
to your call.
This message, sent by the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce TO
President Wilson, typifes American
patriotism of a new type. There was
day when business did not hesitate
to take what profit it could from every
adverse condition in which the gov
ernment found itself. "War contracts
were taken at figures that were the
foundation of many great fortunes
take the last dollar that could be ex-
acted.
Now how different! In the crisis
now confronting this country, the
spontaneous and universal tenders of
assistance made to our government
form one of the most inspiring Incl
dents in our history. The melting pot
of American citizenship has done its
work well. In this respect, the fol-
Lowing from a letter of the Youngs-
town Sheet and Tube Company, of
Youngstown, Ohio, to its stockholders
is interesting and enlightening:
It is worthy of note that in the
front rank of those who have ten
dered unreserVed support to the
nation in time of possible need
are to be found the great industrial
organizations of the country. Many
months ago this company furnished
to the War Department a detailed
statement of its equipment and re\
reservation to the national defense.
Many others followed the same
These pledges still stand, await
ing only the call of the country
for their redemption. The indus
trial organizations of America hold
their patriotic obligations above all
otherS-to be fulfilled first at any
cost. This policy reflects the spirit
and, in the highest sense, protects
and customers, whose most solemn
obligations and most fundamental
welfare are served by perpetuation
of our national safety and our ma
tional ideals.
In the voluntary enlistment of
our great industries for national
defense, even before the people had
been heard from, may be found a
lesson for those who have been un-
willing to concede to corporations
the civic virtues they claim for
themselves. These large aggrega-
tions of capital, necessary to effici-
emily carry on the business of the
country, have demonstrated that
they are owned and directed by
men who represent the highest
type of citizenship, are animated by
deepest concern for the national
welfare, and are willing to make
for that end sacrifices that repre-
sent the supreme limit of patriotic
devotion.
1t is hot unreasonable to hope
that, out of fNthe universal manifes-
tation of these virtues brought
about by the present situation. may
among ali our people. rich and poor,
employer and employed. This would
prove some compensation should
peace, so ardently desired by all
Americans, eventually become im-
possible.
Here we have the message of a
great manufacturing concern to its
own stockholders. Could anything be
more inspiring? Could anything more
clearly or more definitely disprove that
Americans are dollar-crazy and that