Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-07-04
AMERICANS MUST
LEARN ECONOMY
"What the Americans Throw Away the
French Live On, Says Simon W..
Straus, Of Chicago.
By william Philip simms.

ny Whhdhl II hAAAp oAulAAlS.
Paris, June Co" What Americans
throw away the French live on, - de-
clarcd Simon w. Straus, of Chicago,
President of the American Society for
Thrift, in an interview with the United
Press, Mr.. Straus is investigating con
ditions in Europe with the approval
of the United States government.
"Thc French, " the Investigator con
tinued, "are the most economical pco-
Pile on the face of the earth and |
wish every American could come over
and take lesson from them. The
Swiss are next, and after them come
the Germans. But l want to say this:
After seeing these people, am more
than impressed with the wastefulncss
of the American individual and that
unless he calls halt the nation is in
for serious times. Dark days will be
the result. More than any other fac
tor, this wastcfulncss with us is re-
sponsible for the high cost of living.
The French, Swiss and Germans throw
away nothing; everything is of some
use. We throw away all save the best
We are spendthrifts in money, in ener-
gy, health and everything.
''I see but one remedy; we must
commence at the bottom and work our
way up. Reform must start among the
people and work higher. We can not
have an economical nation, or states,
counties, cities, towns or communities
until we have economical individuals,
and my doctrine is that there lies the
key to the ituation-cducate the indi.
vidual If we can manage to have eco.
n0mieal, thrifty units, the community,
town, city, county, state and nation
will be economical and thrifty.
Next year at the Panama Pacific
exposition, we plan to hold an inter.
national thrift congress. hope to see
France, Germany, England and Switzer,
land and other countries represented,
for since l have been over here | have
discovered that the cost of living is
increasing in Europe, fact coineiding
with growing inclnations, especially
in the capitals, to spend money lavish.
ly. Especially is this spendthrift hab-
it conspicuous in Berlin. We will urge
] thN NuuCuiiOu VI lHt lHulNluuul Ill
thrift. This education, of course, must
start early, with the child in school.
We will encourage school gardens. Ex-
periments have shown that young chill
dren can earn in this playwork some
$50 Il year. If every school child earn
ed even $40 n year or 70 year, there
would be a national economy of mil
lions.
"We will encourage savings banks
in schools. Deposits of nickels and
dimes given to the children by parents
we would encourage, but rather would
we have the children earn the money
doing some sort of work or performing
some honorable act. Pittsburg has tried
this plan to some extent and Michi-
gan school has experimental little
along this line with the most excellent
results. School buildings are idle for
n great part of the year, this property
representing millions of dollars invest.
ed. Here is a big loss. We. will try
AMI Ind a way in which the schools
MAJ te utilized for the good of the
Communities of which they are centers
AANiN WIZ w Il blE NNuHVulls W. VIII
encourage employers to give more
thought to their employees. know Oh
one concern which demands that each
employc save dollar of each SIC
earned. The money is placed in a say
ngs bank and draws interest. The on
ly excuse accepted for not saving Is
actual need for the money, as during
illnesses of employe or family.
"Thc manner of floating bonds ovel
here should be copied by US. | consider
it one OF the greatest possible meanl
Of encouraging thrift When the gov
ernment wishes TO borrow money, l0t
franc ($20) bonds are scattered all owe
the country and offered for sale by
the banks. A bond may be had OF
payment of first 90 francs 49, TO
instance, and the balance on install
monts as the government needs tn
> money What is the result Why Their
is scarcely a rag.picker in France VIII,