Bisbee daily review., 1913-11-01
THRIFT CRUSADE ID
 HALT THE PROD|GAL
 SPIRIT 0F NATION
Society Formed to Cultivate the Saving Habit Among People


 Of several states. in their annual Thanksgiving prociamatious this year, turned the spotlight of discussion upon the national lack of individual thrift They have enlisted the Ad- yisory Council of the American So- ciety for Thrift, to help bring the prodigal spirit of the times to halt by inquiry concerning thrift, discus sion and education.
 Governor Goodbridge N Ferris of Michigan and Governor Lee CTuce of | Oklahoma were among the first who
 notified the Society of their active 7 cooperation. This was to aid the Society in pointing out that stupend- ous changes may be expected in the progress of the nation and particular ly in community thrift if the public comes to understand better the na- ture of thrift, its principles and its rewards.
 Chairman s. W. Strars at the initial conference of tho organization com mittee of the society said: ''If this So ciety by education can bring but the discussion of the thrift habit before the people it will have made a bet ter people. Thrift does not simply
 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 useless and .censeless expenditures that there mSy be more money tor the things that are sensible and useful. and thereby makes for a letter people and gov ernment.
 You cannot have national thrift un- til you have individual thrift
 We have seasons of unusual pros perity. and yet find so many people no better off We boast of Our pros perity, but when VIC examine to see how much better off we are, We are pained to find that VIC have lived up to our last cent just as We did in less prosperous times, and then We turE around and blame the whole sys- tenn of things. We are swayed by the agltators and demagogues--stri and hard times result. We yell for condition which does not demand thrift. We want system which will enable us to become spendthrifts--to satisfy every whim and follow every fashion, but We will never get it, the world and life Is not built on those IiLes. Thrift is not a mere forced rule It is a virtue. It is a principle.
 Thrift Is not an affair of the pocll. ct, but an affair Of character. Thrift is not uigardlincss, but wisdom Thrift is not so much a matter of money as au attitude of mind.
 Our people, the community, our government all will De better by tho of thrift, Little by little was this country built-Iittle by little was the wisdom of the world conserved. Little by little did the structure of scieLce grow. Little by little did wealth accumulate-that is thrift
 "A spendthrift does not need much money to be a spendthrift, because that fault is the result of loose habit of mind. He may be as much spend thrift with a dollar as Sith d fortune and thrift does not require great deal of money. but only wisdom in using it.
 Why net have thrift taught in the public schools begiEing in the primary grades? We teach the children all the crafts and sciences and 1t them for the reign Of government. Then why not the 4. F. C.'s of thrift? If that be done the national, state and county and city waste We now com plaiL of will be materially lessened in our future generations.
 Another matter I want to dwell on for a moment is an example of shift le5sness caused by the get-rich-quick schemers who have taken such vast amounts from the people
 If this Society could devise some plan to safeguard our people against themselves by suggesting to our na- tional government tko thought of per hops urging municipalities to offer bonds for public subscription and in amounts of S20 or convenient demnomi nations, it would so long way to. wards smelioratiEg this condition. In the public minds bonds have always had a suggestion as being something fer the large financial institutions, and investments for the immensely rich. If our people be taught to seek safe and sound investments instead of get rich-quick ones. [ believe the knowl- edge will encourage them to continual thrift and better citizenship and more enlightened ballot First the little by little becomes a houe-next the little by little becomes a bank account and that the viewpoint chaEges-the bet tesment of our neighbor and the com munity aI large.
 Thrift is a creative economy-and as Emerson Creative economy is the essence Of magnilcence'-and nOw that VIC have the high cost of Iiv- ing to contend with. l believe this the Psychological time for the proinulga- ton Of LIEitt py Jifis Socie4y.i t.x
 OKLAHOMA IS ENDORSED