The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10
Economy Not a
Method Of AccumuIating
Wealth, But a Means
Of Preventing I auperism

through the Recommendations etceteras
with which we have been Quieted until
the soothing syrups have lost their ef-
heacy
The man Is intelligent. and he had be-
gun to take the state Of the market Sc
riously before l awcke 70 the STUBBORN
facts" in the case.
He talked to me OF the increased cost
Of breadstuffs and feed; of the conse-
quent rise In butter and milk, and In
cattle OF all kinds; OF the absolute ne
cessity that farmhGnds and day labor
ers IN other departments should receive
higher wages TO keep the life In them
selves and families.
ITS like row Of bricks-don't you
see. ma'am7" he wound up by saying.
IF one goes down, the rest must tum-
BILE Where Is Il all to end3' with de-
spairing shrug. I've long ago given up
guessing as TO thatr
I thanked him, and (perhaps migrate
fully ordered a piece OF beef for a pot
roast, instead OF the spring lamb l had
promised myself for Sundays dinner.
Then went home deep IN thought. and
sat me down that evening for second
reading Of the editorial | had scarcely
glanced at at breakfast time.
Here IL a lurid sidelight gained by the
second perusal:
"A few weeks ago a New York news
paper reported that hundreds Of small
butcher shops in the city have been
closed simply because the increase from
2 10 cents a pound In the price of meat
has put IL altogether out Of the reach Of
thousands OF people"
A significant and gruesome item OF in
formation succeeds the announcement:
"A Washington estimate was that the
advance amounted TO an increase OF
N.Soo,OOO In the daily receipts OF the Beef
Trust
This very plain and familiar talk with
my INSTRUMENTATION does not soar
COR sinkO 20 the contemplation OF the
stupendous figures / quote In close con-
nection with the paltry rise OF cents
per pound in the poor mans meat.
One phrase In the extract with which
my Talk begins must rivet the attention
OF the least thoughtful reader who has
natural pride In his native land.
The Era OF Waste has ended"
We fell into the habit OF regarding
ourselves as a thrifty people 50 long,agO
Out OF a wilderness we have created q
paradise that challenges the admiration
OF the world. We are proud OF our nat
ural resources and vain Of the genius
and industry that have developed them.
Has prosperity made Us wasteful? No
need 20 put the question 20 those who
have studied the social and domestic
economies OF other countries. American
prodigality abroad is q byWord and a
Kissing among the nations. American
extravaganza az home IS not confined 10
the rich by inheritance and by specula- >
ton. Nor. let me remark. TO the shift
less poor
In my Talk OF last week I defined the
term. Our Great Middle Class. The
Era OF Waste has prevailed with them
as truly as with the rich who have more
money than they know how 20 spend
and the poverty ridden who live from
hand 10 mouth. Our national proverbs
reflect this unfattering truth. We sheer
AZ "eandle-end savers We aver that
such and such one would skin a flea
for his hide and tallow' TIE returned
tourist relates, with scornful glee how
he saw an English ripper IN SwitZer-
land put the remnants OF the candles.