The Ordway new era., 1917-07-20
PRESIDENT HITS
DOLLAR PATRIOTS
Asks Business interests to Put
Aside SeIfishness and Give
Aid to Nation.
sHIPOWNERs CONDEMNED
There Must Be but One Price for Gov
ernment and for Public, Says
WiIson-Justlce Is Keynote
Of Appeal.

" VPPSas
Washington.-Presd Wilson up
pealed to the country's business In
| .erests Wednesday to put aside every
selfish consideration and to give their
aid to the nation as freely as those
who go to offer their lives on the bat
tletield.
The presidents statement follows:
'The government is about to attempt
to determine the prices ut which 1t
Will ask you henceforth to furnish va
rious supplies which are necessary for
the prosecution of the war, and vari-
ous 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 nation ms a
whole; but justice is easier to speak
of than to arrive at, and there are
some considerations which hope we
shall keep steadily In mind while this
particular problem Of justice is being
worked out.
Promises Just Price.
Therefore / take the liberty of
stating very candidly my own view of
the situation and of the principles
which should guide both the govern
nent and the mine owners and man.
1facturers of the country in this diff
icult matter.
"A just price must of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. BY just price mean price
| which will SnSfofn IN fpI cfrin
,erned in high state of efficiency.
provide n living for those who con-
iuct them, enable them to pay good
wages. and make possible the eX-
,ansiOns Of their enterprises which
Will from time to time become neces-
,ary as the stupendOus undertakings
,f this great war develop.
Must Face the Facts.
1--WE could not wisely or reasonably
10 less than pay such prices. They
are necessary for the maintenance
and development Of industry, and the
maintenance and development of in
lustry are necessary for the great task
We have in hand.
"But I trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with mist Of SEN
iment. Facts are our masters now.
We ought not to put the acceptance
If such prices on the ground Of patri-
,tism."
patriotism has nothing to do with
profits In a case like this. Patriotism
and profits ought never in the present
circumstances be mentioned together
at Is perfectly proper to discuss
.,rofits as n matter Of business, with n
view to maintaining the integrity Of
capital and the efficiency Of labor In
these traglcal months, when the lib
,rty of free men everywhere md Of
Industry itself trembles In the bull
ance; but it would be absurd to dis
.uss them as n motive for helping to
serve and snve our country.
patriotism leaves profits out Of the
question. In these days Of our su-
preme trial, when we are sending hun
dreds of thousands Of our young men
across the sens to serve great cause,
no true man who stays behind to
work for them and sustain them by
his labor will ask himself what he Is
personally going to make out Of that
labor.
"No true patriot will permit himself
to take toll Of their heroism in money
or seek to grow rich by the shedding
of their blood. He will give as freely
and with ms unstintetl self-sncrifice
MS they. When they are giving their
lives, will he not mt least give his
money?
AssaIis bribery"
"I hear 1t insisted that more than
a Just price, more than a price that
will sustain our Industries, must be
paid; that 1t Is necessary to pay very
liberal and unusual profits in order to
Stimulate production; that nothing
hut pecuniary rewards will do-re-
wards paid In money. not In the mere
liberation Of the world.
81 take 1t for granted that those
who argue thus do not stop to think
what that means.
"Do they mean that you must be
mid. must be bribed. to make your
contribution, a contribution that costs
YOU neither drop Of blood nor a tear,
when the whole world is In travail and
men everywhere depend upon and call
to YOU to bring them out of bondage
and make the world a flt place to live
in again, amidst peace and Justice?
@ Appeals to Honor.
"Do they mean that you will exact
a price, drive bargain, with the men
! ~~e--.~~-~se-ec~-~-e--e.e