Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-05-15
MAlNSTAY
OF THE NATION


When he threw himself so energet-
ically into the movements for the
conservation of her natural resour-
ces, Theodore Roosevelt, with states
manlike pertinacity, compelled the
nation to heed his warning and by
dint of persistent reiteration awoke
the public conscience to a realiza-
ton of conditions that were fast lead
ing to bankruptcy and ruin.-The Lit
erary Digest.
Thrift in the individual and thrift
in the government are more closely
related than is often realized.
Here is great truth, a truth
which it was high time several mil
lion people were beginning to real
ize. They cry for economy for the
elimination of waste in government,
and they do not practise economy,
they do not eliminate waste in their
business Or in their private affairs.
Only as we as people become in
dividually more thrifty-that is, more
saving, more economical, more con-
serving-can we expect our councils,
our legislatures, our congress to be
likewise.
II everybody should spend his en-
tire income every year there never
no fa1 IN, +
beyond that which is already invest
ed; no new enterprises could be
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 income and it's expendi-
lures.
Nor are the benefits of thrift to
be measured wholly in terms of
economics. The steadiness, the in
dustry, the sobriety, the respect for
property, which are fostered among
thrifty and frugal people are political
virtues that make for stability and
permanence of government.
The habitual spendthrift is men
ace to the community and the ma
ton; the careful citizen, guided by
sense of the true value of prop
erty is a safeguard to our institu-
tions. Habits of extravaganza tend
to make trouble in the family, the
community, the nation.
An american Society for Thrift"
has been organized in Chicago with
the avowed purpose of promoting
nationally the individual thrift which
is the basis of good citizenship and
community prosperity" Men of prom
inence including governors of several
states, are back of this movement,
which aims to advocate broad and
sensible view of economy, pointing
out to the people that, as great
English statesman said, Thrift is
not meanness, but management
The continued rise in the cost of
living, unaccompanied to any great
extent by corresponding increase
of individual incomes, is making
many an American family right
face in the matter of personal and
domestic economy.
Perhaps the new tariff will reduce
the cost of living eventually, but it
hasn't yet. Possibly governmental in
vestigating commissions may lead to
that consummation, but there are no
signs of it yet. And no other panacea
has been found for it. Apparently,
therefore, for the present at least,
there is no hope of abatlng 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 modern
standards under modern conditions?