The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-23
EXECUTIVES URGE
INDIVIDUAL THRIFT
Governors of Several States
to Attempt to Halt
Prodigal Way
TO ELIMINATE WASTE
Thanksgiving Proclamations
Will Contain Advice Civ
en- By American Society.
TO ELIMINATE WASTE

CHICAGO, Oct. 23.-The governors
of several states, in their annual
Thanksgiving proclamations this year,
will turn the spotlight of discussion
upon the national lack of individual
thrift. They have enlisted on the
Advisory Council of the American So
ciety for Thrift, to help bring the pro
d1gal spirit of he times to a halt by
inquiry concerning thrift, discussion
and education.
Governor Woodbridge n. Ferris, Of
Michigan, and Governor Lee Cruce. Of
Oklahoma, were among the first who
notified the society of their active Co
operation. This was to aid the society
in pointing out that stupendous
changes may be expected in the pro
gress of the nation and particularly
in community thrift If the public
comes to understand better the nature
of thrift, it's principles and its re-
wards.
Chairman s. w. Straus, at the mi
tial conference of the organization
committee of the society, said; "If
this society by education can bring
but the discussion fthe thrift habit
before the people, it will have made
a better people. Thrift does not simp
ly mean that one shall deny himself
food and clothing; no, the thriftier he
is the more money he and his family
will have for these purposes.
Thrift aims at cutting out the use
less and senseless expenditures that
there may be more money for the
things that are sensible and useful,
and thereby makes for better people
and government.
You cannot have national thrift
until you have individual thrift.
Live Up Every Cent.
I'VE have seasons of unusual pros
perity, and yet find so many people no
better Off We boast of our prosper
ity, but when we examine to see how
much better Off we are. we are panied
to find that we have lived up to our
last cent just as we did in less pros
porous times. and then we turn and
blame the whole system of things.
We are swayed by the agitators and
demagogues-strikes and hard times
result. We yell for a condition which
does not demand thrift. We want
system which will enable us to be-
come spendthrifts-to satisfy every
whim and follow every fashion, but
we will never get 1.-THE world and
life is not built on these lines. Thrift
is not a mere forced rule. 1t is vir-
tue. 1t is a principle.
Thrift is not an affair of the poe
ket but an affair of the character.
Thrift is not niggard1iness, but wis
dom. Thrift Is not SO much a matter
of money as an attitude of mind.
"Our people, the community, our
government, all will be better by the
practice of thrift. Little by little was
this country built-little by little was
the wisdom of he world conserved
little by little did the structure of
science grow. Little by little did
wealth accumulate-thatis thrift.
Loose Habit of Mind.
"a spendthrift does not need much
money to be a spendthrift because
that fault isg the result of loose habit
of mind. He may be as much of a
spendthrift with dollar as with a
fortune and thrift does not require a
great deal of money, but only wisdom
in using it.
W"Why not have thrift taught in the
public schools beginning with the
primary grades? We teach the child
rem all the crafts and sciences and
At them for the reign Of government.
Then why not the A B &C of thrift?
II that be done the national state and
country and city waste we now COM
pain OF Will De materially leSSene0
in our future generations.
Another matter l want to dwell on
for moment is an example of shift
lessness caused by the get-rich-quick
schemers who have taken such vast
amounts from the people.
Seek Safe Investments.
'Tf this society could devise some
plan to safeguard our people against
themselves by suggesting to our nat
ional government the thought of per-
haps urging municipalities to offer
bonds for public subscription and in
amounts of $40 or convenient denomi-
nations, 1t would go a long way to-
wards ameliorating this condition.
In the public mind bonds have always
had suggestion as being something
for the large financial institutions,
and investments for the immensely
rich. II our people be taught to seek
safe and sound investments instead
of get-rich-quick ones, I believe the
knowledge will encourage them to
continual thrift and better citizenship
and more enlightened ballot. First