East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-08-31
BY WILRUR 5. FORREsT

]
England has entered the second year
of war on a strict basis of economy.
Saving is not only a national duty
but a bald imperative necessity The
| government must have $4,000, 600, 900
a year to carry on the war. The gov
ernments annual revenue is only ST.
S5O,OO0,000. The balances, ESQ.,
,O0O-must be furnished by the
nation-the people
The answer is. Strict economy
starting right away.
This is the keyRote of a stern mes
sage to the people from the parlia-
mentary war savings committee,
headed by Premier Asquith, Bonar
Law and other notables, Assisted by
experts on national economy the
committee is telling the people what
to save and how to save it,
a booklet for nationwide distribu-
ton, soon to be published by the
committee will place the issue be-
fore every British citizen, rich and
poor, high and low, The language
is simple and to the point.
Here is the little problem in arith-
metic that the government economists
write on the national blackboard for
Mr.. John Bull:
Eliminate the millions and just
suppose that the British government
were an every day garden variety OF
man--John Bull. John has been en-
joying a comfortable income of SILL
500 a year. After spending money
for household necessities, week end
trips to the seashore and furnishing
gasoline for his automobile he has
been able to save $500 a year. Then
suppose, suddenly, he finds himself
enmeshed in a lawsuit with his ag-
gressive neighbor, Herr Johann
Schmidt of Berlin. To carry on the
lawsuit he must spend $4,000 a year
How can he find the money?
He has four alternatives, the gov
ernment experts say:
1. Sell his investments.
2. Borrow from other people.
8. Draw on money he has in the
bank.
4. Save out of the money he usu-
ally spends,
But if he employs any of the first
three suggestions he will come out of
the lawsuit poorer than he went in.
There is but one logical suggestion
and that is to save-eliminate the lux
uries. 1t means that he'll have to
economize to eat, drink, smoke and
dress less extensively; keep fewer
servants, travel less, go to the the
ater less; utilize his garden to grow
the flowers that he formerly bought
of the florist, and the potatoes and
vegetables that he previously took
from the grocer; garage his automo-
bile and do without innumerable un-
necessary things that eat into the
family exchequer. If John Bull does
all this he can keep on with his suit
against Johann Schmidt indefinitely
and when it is all over he will be no
poorer He can then revert to the
original and more comfortable mode
of living.
This say the parliamentary econ
omists. is the governments plan in
a nutshell. 1t means to save and
scrape to keep up its battlefield law
suit to the indefinite end and to
emerge with unimpalred credit.
1t is pointed out to John Bull col
lectively and individually that to
sell stocks and bonds abroad means
a poorer England; to borrow from
other nations means a greater and
heavier national debt; to draw on the
prevailing national fund means send
| ing gold abroad and endangers Brit
| ish worldwide banking. The prob
lem that Johann Schmidt's lawsuit
puts I'D to John Bull is the same
problem that the government puts up
to the people. 1t means use less and
save more, all of which makes 1t
possible for the government to i'm
port less and export more.
During the first six months OF
1915. England imported s2,145,OOO'-
600 worth Of goods from other coun-
tries and sold them only $1,175,OOO,-
600 worth. Duly subtracted and di-
| vided these tlguIeS Sho" thdl bhs ieii'
bought from other countries at the
rate Of $1,000 900 daily more than
she sold them
In normal times, normal British
business supplies the deficit, but now
that there is war, the elements Of
trade and commerce that supply the
difference are being used for war.
Thus. say the government economists,
is shown the imperative necessity for
thrift And the only solution Of the
problem is a revolution Of national
! habits
The government thrift campaign Is
to enter every British kitchen ana
| garden.
Each community will elect It's
committee and outline is individual
| thrift campaign" said II. z. Morgan
chairman of the parliamentary com
ittee today. Everyone wants to help
his country at time like this. Flower
gardens and lawns must go. Vegeta-
bles must take their place. Every
lawn must become a potato patch"
arHExUEaVEE &c fCNU AHAN