Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-12
PATRIOTISM Is LIKE THAT,
OR IT Is NOT PATRIOTISM
Expects Every Man Who Is Not
Stacker to Be at His Side
in Carrying on War.
SHARPLY AssAILs sHpowNERs
Unusual Profits Will BE
Tolerated.
tny AEsoc,a,.d press.l

tBy Associated Press.]
WASHINGTON. July ll.-Prcsident
Wilson appealed to the country's busi-
ness interests tonight TO put aside
every selfish considerati ton and 10 give
their aid to the nation as freely as
those who go out to offer their lives
on the battle. field.
In a statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers. he gave
assurances that just prices will be paid
by the government and the public dur
ing the war. but warned that no at
tempt to e1tort unusual profits will be
tolerated.
Your patriotism" said the presi-
dents appeal. .'is OF the same self
denying stun 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.
Il shall expect every man who Is not
Stacker to be at my side throughout
this great enterprise. In II no man
can win honor who thinks Of himself"
The President declared there must be
but one price for the government and
for the public. He expressed confidence
that business generally will be found
loyal to the last degree. and that the
problem OF wartime prices, which. he
declared. will mean victory or defeat"
will be solved rightly through patriotic
cooperation.
CONDEMNS SHIPOwNERs
IN UNMEAsURED TERMS
In unmeasured terms Mr.. Wilson con-
demned the shipowners of the country
for maintaining schedule OF ocean
freight rates which has placed almost
insuperable obstacles" in the path of
tho government. THE fact is," he as
serted. that those who have fixed war
freight rates have taken the most ef
cective means In their power to defeat
the armies engaged against Germany"
Coal production and other industries
for whose products the government has
negotiated price agreements are not
taken UP In detail by the President, his
appeal dealing only with the general
principles involved in the determine
tion OF war prices. 1t follows:
MY ellow-countrymen:
1.-THE government Is about to attempt
to determine the prices at which II will
ask you henccforth 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 nation as whole:
but justice is easier to speak OF than
to arrive at and thore arc some con-
siderations which hope we shall all
keep steadily in mind while this par
ticular problem OF justice is being
worked out. I. therefore. take the
etc ttx- nd y1,1y
cwn view 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 MUST BE
PAID BY GOVERNMENT
"a just price must, of course. be
paid for everything the government
buys. BY just price. I mean a price
which will sustain the industries con-
cerned In a high state of efficiency.
provide living for those who con-
duct them, enable them to pay good
wages, and make possible the expan-
sions of their enterprises which will
from time to time become necessary
as the stupendous undertakings of this
great war, develop. We could not
wisely or reasonably do less than pay
such prices. They are necessary for
the maintenance and development of
industry. and the maintenance and de-
valopment Of industry are necessary
for the great task we have in hand
But trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with a mist of SEN
timent. Facts are our masters now
We ought not to put the acceptance
of such prices on the ground Of patriot
ism. Patriotism has nothing to do
with profits in case like this. Pa
present circumstances to be mentioned
together. 1t Is perfectly proper to
discuss profits as a matter of business
with a view to maintaining the integ-
rity OF capital, and the efficiency Of
labor in these tragical months when
the liberty of free men everywhere and
Of industry itself trembles in the bal
ance; but 1t would be absurd 10 dis
cuss them as a motive for helping to
serve and save our country. Patriot
ism leaves profits out of the question.
I'm these days of our supreme trial,
when we are sending hundreds Of thou
sands Of our young men across the
seas to serve a 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 mako out Of that labor. No
true patriot will permit himself to
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