Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-12
URGED
TO DO ITS BIT"
Patriotism and Profit Cannot
Go Together, Wilson De-
clares in Open Appeal.
CONDEMN SHIPPING BARONS
High Ocean Freight Rates Do
ing Great Damage to Ar
mics Fighting Germany.

WASHINGTON, July II. - Presi-
dent Wilson appealed to the coun-
try's business interests tonight to put
aside every selfish confederation ana
to give their aid TO the nation as
freely as those who go out to osfer
their lives on the battlefield.
In statement addressed to the To-
cal operators and manufacturers he
gave assurance that just prices would
be paid by the government and the
that no attempt to extort unusual
profits will be tolerated.
Profits and Patriotism Enemies.
Your patriotism" said the presi-
dents appeal. '"is of the same self
denying stuff as the patriotism of the
men dead and manned on the fields
of France, or 1t is no patriotism AT
all. Let us never speak, then. of
profits and patriotism in the same
sentence.
81 shall expect every man who Is
not a Stacker to be at my side thru
out this great enterprise. In 1t no
man can win honUr who thinks of
himself"
The president declared there must
be but one price for the government
for the public. He expressed con-
fidence that business would be found
loyal to the last degree and that the
problem of wartime prices, which he
declared will mean victory or de-
feat" will be solved rightly thru pa
triotic cooperation
Ship Owners Condemned.
In unmeasured terms, however, Mr..
Wilson condemned the ship owners
N hA nr M n n
schedule OF ocean freight rates, which
has placed almost insurmountable
Obstacles In the path of the govern
ment
THE fact is" he asserted. that
those who have fixed war freight
rates have taken the most effective
means in their power to defeat the
armies engaged against Germany"
Coal production and other indust-
ries, for whose products the govern
ment has negotiated price agreements.
are not taken up In detail by the
president, his appeal dealing only with
the general principles involved in the
determination OF war prices.
1t follows in full:
my fellow countrymen:
"The government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices at
which 1t will ask you henceforth to
furnish various supplies which are
necessary for the prosecution of the
war and various 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 ma
tion as a whole; but justice Is easier
to speak than to arrive at and there
are some considerations which l hope
Va. uhul1 kaan ~ div In mind xyhilp
this particular problem Of justice is
being worked out. Therefore. / take
the liberty of stating veiy candidly nv
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.
just Price Promised.
"A just price must, OF course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. By just, / mean a price which
will sustain the industries concerned
in n high state OF efficiency. provide
a living for those who conduct them.
enable them to pay good wages and
make possible the expansion of their
enterprises which will from time to
time become necessary as the stu
pendous undertakings OF this great
war develop. we coulu not wisely or
reasonably do less than pay such
prices. They are necessary for the
maintenance and development OF in
dustry and the maintenance and de-
velopment of industry are necessary
for the great task we have In hand.
But | trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with mist Of senti>,
ment. 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 n case like this. Patrl-
otism and profits ought mover In the
present circumstances to be men
toned together. 1t Is perfectly
proper to discuss profits as n matter
of business with view to maintain
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