El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-16
Thrift Is National Mainstay
If More People Were Thrifty, There
Would BE Less incompetence
and More Happiness.
BY z. D. MaeGREGOR-

~ HRIFT in the individual and thrift in
the government are more closely re-
lated than Is often realized
Here is a great truth, a truth which
II was high tine several million people
we're beginning 10 realize. Ihey cry Tor
economy for the elimination OF waste IN gov
e-D71enf and they do not practice economy,
thew do not eliminate waste in their business
- n +bsfr nrfvate affairs. Only as we a
0eople become individually more thrifty
mai is more saving, more economical more
conserviug-can we expect our councils, our
Iepfslatures our congress to be likewise.
Consider thrift in its relation TO the in
r. everybody should spend his entire in
come every year there never would be any
Canital for Investment beyond that which
Is already invested; no new enterprises
-,,,1d he floated and improvements of all
kinds. public and private, would be at an
end The worlds supply OF new capital is
simply the margin between the worlds IN
come and its expenditures.
Thrift and Temperance.
II we had more thrift We would have more
temperance. How genuinely useful the money
spent for the 70,0OOOOO gallons OF whisky We
drank In the last half of 1913 would be II
turned into constructive industry now!
Nor are the benefits Of thrift to be meas
ured wholly in terms Of economies. The
steadiness. the industry, the sobriety, the
respect for property, which are 1ostered
among thrifty and frugal people are poltu-
cal ,irtues that make for stability and per
manence OF government
The habitual spendthrtft IS a menace to
the community and the nation the careful
citizen, guided by sense Of the true value
Of property IS a safeguard TO our institu-
tions Habits Of extravaganza tend to make
trouble in the family, the community, the
NAHUM Society for Thrift.
An American Society for Thrift has
been organized in Chicago with the avowed
purpose of promoting nationally the indi-
vidual thrift which is the basis Of good citi-
zenship and community prosperity" Men Of
prominence, including governors Of several
states are back Of this movement. which
aims to advocate a broad and sensible view
Of economy, pointing out to the people that
as a great English statesman said, Thrift
Is not rneanness, but management"
The continued rise in the cost Of living,
unaccompanied to any great extent by a cor
responding increase OF individual incomes is
making many American family right
about-face in the matter OF personal and do
nestle economy.
No Relief Yet.
Perhaps the new tariff will reduce the
cost of living eventually, but it hasn't yet.
Possibly governmental investigating COM
missions may lead TO that contamination. but
there are no signs Of / tyet. And no other
panacea has been found for it. Apparently,
therefore, for the present at least, there is
no hope Of abating the steady rise in the
price Of everyday necessities, and, so far. no
way has been found to beat the high cost
Of living except TO stop living so high.
Is it not quite possible that in good old
fashioned thrift may be found the solution
Of the difficult. problem Of living UP to mod
ern standards under modern conditions?