New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-14
Simon Straus, After Ton
Finds the French the
Thriftiest.
PROMOTING THRIFT
CONGRESS AT FAN
Chicagoan Overcome WITH A
miration for Cooperate
Store Plan in England.
rBy Cable to The Tribun..I

London. June -3.--"Americans are 5
most prodigal people on earth" en-,
w. straus. president Of the Americs,
ciety OF Thrift. told The Tribune o..
spondent the Carlton Hotel yes.s:.
Five months investigation OF ecos,-,
conditions on the Continent have sbs,.
Mr.. Straus that the French are the ira
Jest OF the big nations He says tia; Al
French family could live on the vss,. \
an American family Of the same cIza
Mr.. Straus is promoting an Insfr.I
tional thrift congress, to meet at "A
Panama Pacific Exposition He has 4
tanned already promises Of economic 4 i
cieties in England and the Continent i
send delegates. and hopes TO form Il
gantic international association TO des,r
wastefulness, both industrial and dors,l
tic.
THE people Of the United States toes
are the most wasteful in the world. is-|
as the American government is the lad
thrifty" said Mr.. straus. There Is ha
Of thrift also among the big corporatiss
though they are improving. The mlif.
man is getting more than he earns, AL
until the principle of scientific saving !,
brought home to the people no reform !,
possible.
During my brief Engli-h stay hsa
been overcome with admiration over u.
progress OF the cooperative selling socs
ties here. Americans do not realize tai
these have a membership Of two milln|
and a half. and that the annual turnow|
is about s7O0,OO0.coo little less than N
turnover OF the steel trust. In America ~
operation is unknown comparatively. III
cooperative societies membership tben
is less than $500 and the turnover undg
$4,000. Cooperation should and III
become great and powerful in the Unite.
States.
Scientific cooperation Is the creates
blow administered TO socialism. A ma,
saving money ceases 10 listen 10 wind
socialist promises An Engishman wit
no capital, who has joined a co-operatia
society, buys all his supplies there a.
at the end of the year receives snsl
dividend, assumes a different viewpoiri
becomes ambitious and better citizen
1T is most important to the America
public to accept the idea of teachirl
thrift in the schools. School equipmer
valued at over s2.OOO.Ooo,oOo stands idle
quarter OF the year In three month
hundreds of thousands of children coul
learn thrifty habits through systeman
instruction. Gardening, the cost Of fo'
and clothing and general househoA
economies could be taught When TIA
idea is adopted widely Americans VI
be able to show the old countries how
acquire thrift"
Mr. Straus found Switzerland the thru
lest country. but that is largely due
the happy economic conditions there. ID
French really are the most praisewortn
savers. although the French governmsn
is not economical. The German navy, G
the contrary, is thriftier than individu
Germans.
Economic authorities in all Europes'
countries are enthusiastic over the pe
posed congress and hope for its success
THE great trouble with Americans ,
not with the poorer classes" Mr.. strss
said, but with men with a salary
5000 or $1,000. who are seeking to live IN
same as a $4,000 man. The only thru
idea of that class is to sink their ssVIns'
in get-rich-quick schemes. Americas
must learn that saving is the only re-
thrift" Mr.. Straus is head OF the o''
cago banking firm of S. W. Straus Co