Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-06
A WISE WORD or WARNING.

\ WISE WORD or WARNING.
We are living in a time Of unoxam-
Piled prosperity, although the troubles.
actual and threatened, between labor
ers and employers. in many parts Of
the country, Indicate that all do not
share equally In the benefits thereof
To talk OF the necessity OF caution
and economy in the management OF
both public and private affairs. at such
time, might seem. TO many. 20 be
uncalled for but the time to exercise
care is now. II is too late 60 lock the
stable when the horse IS gone The
time TO look after the shingles on the
roof is before IL rains.
The following article from the New
York World we consider very timely.
"A nation heavily indebted. plunging
rapidly deeper into debt. fast exhaust
ING tne means by which the interest
upon rs debt might be paid. yet living
lhouBhtiess OF tomorrow Ia uneXampled
eNtiaFagancc-such is the strange pic
ture or the United States painted by
the broad facts Of It's internatioual-ex-
change situation.
SIX hundred million dollars were
needed last year 20 pay our balance
que foreign nations. Money spent by
tourists abroad the dOwries of Amer
lcan wives OF noblemen. remittancos
nome by Immigrants. the interest and
dividends on our foreign owned securl-
TIES. must all b. paid ia AN excess OF
exports over Imports. When the pur-
chase N foreign silks and wines and
aulVinooiies ana turs and Jewels grows
Iapldly, exports must also grow or
we fall behind A pIincely husband In
Paris costs so many million POUNDS OF
mess pork. A dog collar Of pearls im-
ported calls for "a cargo OF cotton iu
return
Exports IN 1909 fell nearly Sioo. 900 900
snort Or meeting our requirements Tho
bounty OF our gold and silver mines
reduced the deficit 20 $500. 600 900. So
IN "a year We have $500 600 900 Of fresh
borrowings. and II 20 more chan 4 per
cent interest IA paid on the newly ox-
iled securities. then by Sl2 OOOO 900 more
in interest are this years difficulties
enhanced
With such a balance sheet M New
years one might have looked for
some EFFORT at economy Nothing OF
the sort happened. With January to-
tai Imports for twelve months shot
above 1850 600 900 for the first time iu
history. With February came an cx-
cess OF imports for the first time IN
hftecn years al that season We have
grave warnings from economists that
the food with which heretofore our
lavish bills were met will soon be need
ed al home that cotton, our great ex-
change crop is mcnaced by corners
which provoke foreign spinners to seek
colonial cotton fields But neither peo-
pie nor governments take heed
"ENtravagancc is the national sin.
In the city a mayor with vast powers
Exposes the waste Of millions In the
state We confront an increase Of SIP
100000 In yearly expenditure. and no
official has the power Of rctrenchmcnt.
In the nation Senator Aldrich tells US
~ $500, 900 900 annual waste vet Repre-
sentative Glllett complains that no one
takes any interest In economy. In pri-
vate life a lavish spirit demands every
thing In multiples. from opera houses
to splendid restaurants
Great country and city houses which
n Zola or n Ferrero would likcu to the
mania OF Rome I'm a deca-
dCnce Italian gardens. game preserves,
a hundred foolish forms of aping upon
new soil the feudal excrescences that
Europe was centuries in developing,
exhaust resources The well-to-do fling
their coins about until the very sleep
ing car portors buy automobiles and
break the speed laws driving home
from work.
Lowell before the war thought that
America was 10 be a land Of small es-
tates. In Emerson's Concord IL was a
land " plain living and high thinking
n has been a land Of thrift and mainly |
n steady habits. We need 10 get back |
10 the WAYS ~ our wisest. simplest |
men Extravaganza rohs the future. |
Waste IS unpatriotic. Debt assumed !
for no good cause Is disgrace For |
public and private economy the time |
10 begin is now"
There is no use Of kicking against |
he high cost ~ living as long as we |
elect and support extravagant. in
and dishonest officials In |
positions Of public influence and trust.
The people must pay for their extrav-
lgance. plumbers. ana graft. and that
makes living high