Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-10
THE PHILANTHRoPIC sPENDTHRIFT

Thrift and economy preached at all times and on
all occasions Just now England is telling her people to
economize; that the great struggle the country is
gagged in demands this and they must if true patriots
respond Is this wisdom or otherwise?
Thrift is all right and is economy but it depends
entirely the circumstances and conditions of ndvdu
ais To the small wage earners those who at the best
have to watch expenditures closely in order to make ends
meet economy and careful spending are necessary but
this class generally needs advice on the subject having
it impressed on them by their condition, and by the
merchants with whom they deal.
1t becomes entirely different matter when it comes
TO the wealthy When they economic and grow tight"
hard times are at hand.
The praises of the economical and saving have been
sung long and loudly that it is high time the spend
thrift received proper recognition
1t is money that makes the world go round" and it
is the spendthrt that puts and keeps the money in cir
cuation, here's three cheers and tiger to the fellow
that has money and spends it,
Money is "the circulating medium and the spendthrift
is the medium for circulating it, Nature recognizes this
fact and every family that has grown rich by saving and
industry IN the course of generation two develops
spendhrft who scatters the carefully garnered hoard
and sends it back into the pockets of the wage
where it will do the most good. When man INDUCES
in uXuriant wardrobe lust because he can afford he
is doing something for the great mass of mankind for he
is providing work for those who need it. is the spend
thrift who pays for flowers music and dancers at his
meals, all OF which ne could get along without we'll
enough but he has the money and instead of sitting tight
on it ne sends it back into the channels of trade where
it belongs and gives employment to those who other
wise might be in need.
The more money there is spent the better times are
and yet instead of encouraging the spendhrft in his
audabe efforts to keep the gudgeons of industry well
creased and the machinery of business running smoothly
we hold him up a fearful example. He is the enemy
OF no man unless is himself and yet he pointed out as
thing to be Stunned and his example is held up as a.
warning to others Suppose he goes broke in his efforts
has ne injured anyone but himself? And if he does has
he travelled along an unmarked lonesome road? Of
course ne might spend his money for evil purposes or for
those which would nure himself Others but that part
of it is not defended man can be fool and a miser
at the same time just he be fool and spendthrift
We are speaking of innocent even though foolish ex-
pendtures not criminal quasi criminal ones Lucuus
who gave feast to his friends and served canary birds
tongues as of the Dishes outside of the cruelty to the
birds did better than he would have pulled his purse
strings tight and served coned beef and cabbage instead
He did not need the canaries tongues nor did his
friends but he had the money and he put it back into
circulation We have just had period of enforced saw
ing and economy and surely it not and is not or it'll
not yet entirely vanished from the coast) anything
that we desire any more of than we can help.
AS the starter for this period Of depression the rail-
roads and big companies began to practice economy they
bought ties for their roads, but let them deteorate
to expenses and the Oregon mills shut down. With
this industry closed lots of others beside the mill en-
poyes began to practice economy because they had to-
Every business soon felt the effect of it.
If England insists on her people getting economical
she will have period of stagnaon on her hands when