Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-07-13


fish consideration and to give their aid
to the nation as freely as those who
go out to offer their lives on the bat
tleheld.
In statement addressed to the coal
operators and manufacturers he gave
assurances that just prices will be
paid by the government and the pub
lie during the war but warned that no
attempt to extort unusual profits will
be tolerated.
Presidents Call.
The presidents statement follows:
1.-The government is about to at
tempt to determine the prices at
which it 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 just
Iy and to the best advantage Of the
nation as a whole.
Promises Just Price.
L
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 manu-
facturers Of the country In this diff
ficult matter.
"A Just price must, of course. be
paid for everything the government
buys BY just price l mean price
which win sustain the industries con-
cerned in high state Of efficiency,
provide a 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.
Must Face the Facts.
ave could not wisely or reasonably
do less than pay such prices. They
are necessary for the maintenance aud
development of industry, and the
maintenance and development of in
dustry are necessary for the great
task We have in hand.
But / trust that we shall not sur
round the matter with mist of sem
timent Facts are our masters now.
We ought not to put the acceptance
of such prices on the ground of pa
triotlsm."
Patriotism has nothing to do with
profits in a case like this. Patriotism
and profits ought never in the present
circumstances be mentioned together.
Must Give Money.
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 seas to serve Il 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.
mo 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 as unstinted self-sacritice as
they. When they are giving their
lives. will he not at least give his
money?
Assals Bribery"
Il hear it insisted thatsmore than a
Just price, more than price that
will sustain our industries, must be
paid that it is necessary to pay very
liberal and unusual profits in order to
es&s,,, -
but pecunary rewards viii d0-re-
wards paid in money, not In the mere
liberation of the world.
Il take it for granted that those
who argue thus do not stop to think
what that means.
"Do they mean that you must be
paid, must be bribed to make your
contribution, a contribution that costs
you neither drop of blood nor tear,
VIXEN the whole world is in travail and
men everywhere depend upon and call
80 you to bring them out of bondage
aud make the world a fit place to live
in again, amidst peace and justice?
Appeals to Honor.
DO they mean that you win exact
Il price, drive a bargain. with the men
who are enduring the agony of this
war on the battlefield, in the trenches
atndst the lurking dangers of the sea,
or with the bereaved women and pitt
full children, before you will come for
ward to do your duty and give some
part of your life, IL easy peaceful
fashion, for the things we are fighting
for the things we have pledged our
fortunes, our lives, our sacred honor
TO vindicate and defend-liberty and
justice and fair dealing and the peace
OF nations?
~Of course YOU will not. 1t is in
conceivable. Your patriotism is of the
same self-denying stuff as the patriot
1sm Of the men dead or MANNED on the