The Green Forest tribune., 1917-07-20
FORGET PROFITS;
 WIN THE WAR
President Wilson Appeals to Bus
 mess Interests of Country.
JUST PRICES IS HIS DEMAND
Business Should Not Take Toll Off Men in Trenches, Says the Chief Executive-Ship Owners
 Are Condemned.

GtCCutiSC-Sihf OVhS'S
 Are Condemned.
 Washington.-Pres Wilson ap- pealed to the cOuntry'S business ln- terests 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 tlefield.
 In statement addressed to the coal operators and manufacturers he gtNe assurance that just prices will be paid by the government and the public dur ing the war but warned that no at tempt to extort unusual profits will be toIe. ated.
 "Your patriotism" said the presi- dents appeal, 'is of the same self denying stuff as the patriotism of the men dead and maimed on the fields of France, or it is no patriotism at all. Let us never speak, then, of profits and patriotism in the same sentence. 'I shall expect every man who is not a stacker to be at my side throughout this great enterprise. In it no man can win honor who thinks of himself.'
 Condemns Ship Owners.
 The president declared there must be but one price for the government and for the public. He expressed con fidence that business generally would 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.
 In unmeasured terms, however, MT. Wilson condemned the ship owners of the country for maintaining schedule of ocean freight rates which has placed "aimost insuperable obstacles in the path of the government.
 Presidents Gall.
 The presidents statement follows l: 'The government is about to attempt to determine the prices at which it will ask you henceforth to furnish va rious supplies which are necessary for the prosecution of the war, and vari- ois materials which will be needed in the industries by which the war must Dt suStui1tO WI ol toul u ' to deter1nine them justly and to the best advantage 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 keep steadily in mind while this particular problem of justice is being worked out.
 Promises Just Price.
 Therefore I take the liberty of stating very candidly my own view of the situation and of the principles which should guide both the govern ment and the mine owners and man. ufacturers of the country in this diff. ficult matter.
 "A just price must, of course, be paid for everything the government buys. By just price I mean price which will sustain the industries con cerned in a high state of efficiency provide living for those who con : '6<ct them, enable them to pay good wages, and make possible the eX pensions of their enterprises which will from time to time become neces sary as the stupendous undertakings of this great war develop.
 Must Face the Facts.
 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 development of in dustry 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 timent. 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 witt profits in case like this. Patriotism and profits ought never in the present circumstances be mentioned together
 Ut Is perfectly proper to discus: profits as a matter of business, with { view to maintaining the integrity o1 capital and the efficiency of labor 1T these tragical months, when the lib erty of free men everywhere and o1 industry itself trembles In the bal Rnce; but it would be absurd to dis cuSS them as motive for helping tC serve and save our country.
 Patriotism leaves profits out of tht question. In these days of our .su preme trial, when we are sending hun dreds of thousands of our young mer across the seas to serve great cause no true man who stays behind tt work for them and sustain them b! his labor will ask himself what he i! personally going to make out of tha labor.
 No true patriot will permit himsel to take toll of their heroism in none, or seek to grow rich by the shedding of their blood. He will give as freel, and with as unstinted self-sacrific, as they. When they are giving thei lives, will he not at least give hi money?
 AssaiIs Bribery"
 T hear 1t insisted that more thai just price, more than price tha will sustain our industries, must b, paid; that it is necessary to pay yer, liberal and unusual profits in order t, 'stimulate' production; that nothin, but pecuniary rewards will do-re