Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-01
WILSON DEFENDS
(. BARUCH AND RYAN
Denies Either Had Anything to
Do With Fixing Price
Of Copper
LETTER ANSWERS MASON
BY the Associated Press

Washington. March |. --- Prcsideu'
Wilson came today to the defense O
r. NJ. BaruCh and John D. Ryan, who
have been charged by Rcprcscntativ,
Mason, Republican. Illinois. with prof
teering in copper while serving the gov
ernment during the war.
In letter to Representative Gar
rett, Democrat. Tennessee. the Prsi
dent said 'thc chargs cand insinua
tions' had been satisfactorily AN
swercd, but that he thought state
ment of the facts from him as 70 thc
fixing of the price of copper during the
war might clarity the situation.
The President denied fatty that either
Mr.. Baruch or MIR. Ryan had anything
to do with the price fixing ncgotia =
tions for which he said Judge Robert
=. Lovctt, priortcs commissioner for
the government during the war, was
responsible in the initial stages.
''As matter of fact" the Presi
dents letter said. "Nr. Bernard NJ.
BaruCh and Mr.. John u. Ryan, whose
names have been linked with irrcspou.
sibe gossip in connection with tho fix
ing,of the price Of copper, had nothing
whatever TO do with the price fixing
negotiations. which finally resulted in
the statement | made fixing the price.
either Mt the time the price was fixed,
or subsequent thereto
Judge I.ovett acted a. chairman of
the committee which considered the first
price fixing Of copper, and, after due
consideration, recommended To the
President, in September. 10lT that he
Lad fixed the price at twenty three and
one half cents per pound on condition
that the wages Ct the employees Of the
copper producing companies should not
he reduced below the then prevailing
price, which was based on twenty seven
cent copper
"A year later a readjustmcnt Of tho
price was made necessary by an in
crease in the railroad rates and moStS
of supplies. and after negotiations
which extended over many months. a
further increase as recommended by Mr.
Robert Brooking, chairman Of the war
industries board. Neither Mr. Baruch
nor Mr.. Ryan had any part in these
negotiations hich resulted in tn" fixing
of the price announced by me.
The president said that for sly
months after this country entered the
war no price for copper was fixed nnC
that the producers took the admirable
position that they would furnish all th'
copper necessary for war purposes and
adjust their business So whatever price,
the government would consider fair HnC
just in the circumstances
TO state that either MIR. linruch or
Mr.. Ryan had influenced the action Oi
the Federal Trade Commission in as
certaining the cost of production or at
tempting to dictate the rcrommcnda
tions either Of the war industries board
or any of the price fixing committees
is utterly foolish and without founda
tion of any kind" the President con
tinued. THE price Of copper was tixcd
without any attempt on the part oi
copper producers or Mr.. Baruch or Mr.
Ryan to exert any pressure upon this
government.
Il cannot allow this orcusion 10 pass
my dear Garrett, without again express
ing my great confidence in the gentle.
men, Mr.. Bernard VI. Baruch and Mr.
John y. Ryan, whose names have bC"r
unfortunately connected with thi,
matter.
There was not suggestion o.
scandal connected with either of theS,
gentlemen IN any Of the war activities il
which they played so notable II part
and | wish before the closing days o
this administration, again to say how
admirably they served the needs Of tht
nation, aud how unscIfshly they devote,
thelf fine talents to the government IL
every crisis which faced Us during III,
critical days Of the war.
In every transaction which they
handled for the government in III,
varied activities in which they played
80 distinguished part. they wcr,
Rctuated by the highest patriotism.