The New York herald., 1921-03-02

Washington. d. O., March 1, 1871. !
President Wilson to-day defended
the war work OF Bernard M. Baruch
and John D. Ryan and in a most en-
phatic manner denied the charges re-
Gently made in the House by Repre-
sentative Mason (Ill.) that they par
ticipated in the fixing of price on
copper to obtain huge profits.
In letter to Representative Fins
Garrett CTenn.) the President de-
clared he personally fixed the price
of copper on recommendations OF the
War Industries Board and the Federal
Trade Commission. in which neither
Mr.. Baruch nor Mr.. Ryan had any
part Resenting the attack by Mr..
Mason, the President declared he was
writing the letter praising Mr.. Baruch
and Mr.. Ryan because he wished be
for the closing days Of this Admins
tration again TO say how admirably
they served the needs Of the nation
and how unselfshly they devoted
their fine talents to the Government
the critical days of the war"
Text or Prcsident's Letter.
The Presidents letter follows.
| "My Dear Mr. Garrett: My attention
| has recently been called to certain at
taclSs made in the House of Represen-
tatives charging that certain men who
l 4,
war had profited out of the Government
| as a result of the fixing OF the price Of
| copper. These charges and intimations
| have been satisfactorily answered, but
| statement of the facts in the ma tier
OF the fixing of the price of copper dur
| ing the war. on my part, may further
| clarity the situation.
"As a matter OF fact Mr.. Bernard NJ.
| Baruch and Mr.. John D. Ryan. whose
names have been linked with irrespon-
! sible gossip in connection with the fix
| ing of the price of copper, had nothing
! whatever to do with the price fixing ne
gotta tions which finally resulted In the
statement / made fixing the price either
at the time the price was fixed or sub
sequent thereto. Judge Lovett acted as
chairman OF the committee which con-
sidered the first price fixing or copper.
ID to the President in September. 1917.
that he had hxed the price OF 2Si5 cents
per pound on condition that the wages
Of the employees of the copper producing
companies should not be reduced below
| tho then prevailing price, which was
| based on 81 cent copper.
"A year later a readjustment OF the
| price was made necessary by an increase
in the railroad rates and costs Of sup
| plies. and after negotiations which cI-
| tended over many months further in
| crease was recommended by Mr.. Robert
Rrool<in, chairman OF the Price Fixing
| Committee OF the War Industries Board.
| Neither Mr. Baruch nor Mr. Ryan had
any part in these two negotiations which
resulted In tho fixing OF the price an
| nounced BY me, and the prices were
| fixed only after an independent exani-
nation and most thorough report by the
\ Federal Trade Commission as to the
\ costs of production.
Loyalty OF the Producers.
For six months after the United
States entered the war the producers
| furnished all the copper necessary for
| our war needs and all that was required
l by our allies without any price being
asked or fixed. the producers taking the
admirable position that they would FUR
| nish all the copper necessary for war
i purposes and adjust their business 70
| whatever prices the Government would
| consider fair and just In the circum-
stances. The full production OF the cop
per mines was placed at the disposal OF
/ the Government and the Allies and with.
/ out unnecessary urging upon the part OF
the Government or the President. the
production OF copper was notably In
4 haf nTO0f
on the part OF the mon at the head OF
the copper industry OF the country OF
| their unselfish patriotism IL was their
/ example OF meeting the needs OF the
| country that gave impetus TO the move
| ment to Increase production in all the
/ Industrial plants OF the country in the
! early stages of the war.
ITO state that either Mr.. Baruch or
Mr. Ryan had influenced tho action OF
the Federal Trade Commission in asccr-
tanning the cost OF production or attempt
| ing to dictate tho recommendations
| either OF the War Industries Board or
any OF the price fixing committees Is
/ utterly foolish and without foundation
OF any kind. The price OF copper was
| fixed solely by me upon the recormen-
| dations of the War Industries Board
and the Federal Trade Commission after
! full examination into the costs OF pro-
duction and without any attempt upon
! the part OF copper producers or yr.
| Bsruch or Mr. Ryan TO exert any
| pressure upon this Government or upon
/ anybody connected with either OF the
boards having to do with these vital
| matters.
II cannot allow this occasion to pass
my dear Garrett, without again ex-
pressing my great confidence In the gen.
tlemen. Mr.. Bernard NJ. Baruch. and Mr..