A TOLL ON PATRIOTISM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14391, 1 September 1917, Page 3

A TOLL ON PATRIOTISM.

. WASHINGTON, July 11. President Wilson to-day delivered a rousing speech to the coal workers and manufacturers. He made it plain that the Government would fix reasonable prices for war materials, and that the demands of the public \vouWiilso receive attention.

"The public," he said, "are just now as much, a part of the Government as the army and navy." He declared that tlie 1 high ocean freight rates were doing much that was probably not fully realised to defeat the Allies. Prices mean the same oVery where now, he continued. "They mean the efficiency or the inefficiency of v nation ; they mean victory or defeat. They mean that America will take her. place foremost among the free nations of tho world, or s-"nk tinder defeat and become a second-rato : Power. I ' summon you, not only to a great duty, but to a great privilege, shining with dignity and distinction. I expect every mail who is not a slacker to take his place ait my side through this great enterprise. In this enterprise, no man will win honor who thinks only of self. Patriotism leaves profits out of the question. In these days .of . supreme trial, when we aro sending hundreds oT thousands of young men across the seas to serve our great cause, Ulo true man who stays behind to work for them and to sustain -them by his labor will, ask himself what he is going. to make out of it. "No true patriot, will permit himself to take a toll of- ;' their' patriotism m money, or seek to grow rich by the shedding of t.hfiir blood. He, will give freely \?ith unstinted self-sacrifice."