Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-13
UNFAIR FOOD PROFITS
PLACED UNDER BAN
BY j. S. GOVERNMENT
Nations Chief Executive De-
CIareS Profits and Patriotism
Do Not Mix-SQuare Deal for
Big Business

WASHINGTON, July 12.-Americar
business interests today had assurances
from President Wilson that they vii
be paid fair wages during the war, cou'
pied. however. with a warning that at
tenpts TO extort unjust profits will not
be tolerated. In an appeal. addressed
to the country's coal operators and man
ufacturers. the president urged tina
every selfish consideration be abandon
ed in this time OF national peril.
Patriotism" he said. has nothing
10 do with the profits in = case Ike
this. Your patriotism is OF the same
self-denying stuff as the patriotism OF
the men dead and MANNED on the field:
OF France or IL IS no patriotism at all.
The president expressed confidence
that business generally VIII be found In
1ensely loyal There must be but one
price for the government and the public
he emphasizes. The appeal deals gen
orally with the determination OF wal
prices On all commodities.
The president vigorously condemns
snip owners OF the country for main
tanning a schedule Of excessive ocear
freight rates, which has placed almost
4nsuperabls Obstacles IN the govern
ment's path
The fact Is" he said. that those who
the most effective means IN their power
to defeat the armies engaged against
Germany"
The presidents appeal follows in full:
Ny Fellow CONFERENCE.-The gov
eminent is about TO attempt to de-
ternins the prices at which Il will
ask you henceforth 10 furnish va
rfOus 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 adj
vantage OF the nation as a whole;
but justice IS easier to speak Of than
TO arrive at, and there are
some considerations which I hope
we shall all keep steadily in mind
while this particular problem OF
justice is being worked out ],
therefore take the liberty of stating
very candidIy my own view of the
situation and Of the principles
which should guide both the gov
eminent and the mine owners and
manufacturers OF the country IN
this difficult matter.
A Just price must, of course, be
paid for everything the government
buys. BY a just price 1 mean a
price which will sustain the in
dustries concerned in a 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 en-
terprises which will from time TO
time become necessary as the stu
pendous undertakings OF this great
war develop. They are necessary
for the maintenance and develop
ment Of industry. are necessary for
the great task we have in hand.
FACTS ARE MASTERS.
But I trust that we shall not
surround the matter with mist
OF sentiment. Facts are our mas
tiers now. We ought not to put the
acceptance Of such prices on the
ground Of patriotism. Patriotism
has nothing 20 do with profits IN
case like this. Patriotism and
profits ought never in the present
circumstances TO be mentioned to-
gether. Il is perfectly proper TO
discuss profits as a matter Of bust
ness. with a view to maintaining
the integrity Of capital and the eff
fciency of labor in these tragical
months when the liberty of free
men everywhere and OF industry
itself trembles in the balance; but
II would be absurd TO discuss them
as motive for helping TO serve
and save our country
Patriotism leaves profits out OF
the question. 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 be-
hind 10 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 70 take toll of
their herOism in money or seek TO
crow rich by the shedding Of their
blood. He viii give as freely and
with as unstinted self-sacrifice as
they When they are giving their
Ewes. viii he not give at least his
money
hear IL insisted that more than
5uS- price. more than price that
that VIII maintain our Industries
mUs- be paid: that il Is necessary
20 pay very liberal and unusual
profits in order TO Stimulate" pro-
ductiOn; that nothing but pecuniary
rewards VIII 40 it-rewards paid I'm
money. not in the mere liberation OF
the world. I take il for granted
that those who argue thus do not
stop 10 think what that means Do
they mean that you must he paid
must be bribed. TO make your contr!-
button. a contribution that costs you
neither a drop OF blood nor a tear.
when the whole world is i'm travail
and men everywhere depend upon
and call 10 you TO bring them out of
bondage and make the world fit
place TO live in again amidst peace
and justice2 Do they mean that
you Will exact a price. drive a
bargain. with the men who are en-
during the agony OF this war on the
battlefield. in the trenches. amidst
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