South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-31
By q. Bernard Shaw,

the Distinguished Irish Social Philosopher.
CUPPOSE that an angel were to come down
to have a look at England and we were
10 ask the angels advice in regard TO
the difficulty we in at this moment, the
difficulty Of economy sufficient TO meet the eK.
Penses Of a tremendous war the largest war
in point Of size and extent that perhaps has
ever taken place in the history Of the world
on the earth before; well. the angel. being an
innocent person. would Immediately say:
Well. it is very simple; stop the war"
We should have TO reply to the angel: We
are very sorry we cannot stop the war; we
did not begin the war the war was practically
forced upon US and we have got TO go through
with that war and come out at the end the
best way we can" In other words we cannot
stop the war until the enemy has had enough
Of IT, and We Will find in the meantime every
cornbatant has concealed to the best OF his
ability the fact that he already has had enough
Of t. and will be very glad when it is over
Both parties are prepared to go right until
they both see some way out of the difficulty
either the way out By being hopelessly de-
feated. or being triumphantly victorious, or
having TO admit that neither defeat nor vic
y is possible.
20 the angels advice is no use We cannot
stG, the war, and we have got TO consider
how best we can organize ourselves to meet
the expenses. Before ! come to the genuine
the curious instinct in human nature which
has taken advantage Of the war. There are
people who have the curious idea that the
moment you are in danger you should mortify
yourself In some way. and so you have these
people protesting against having anything that
has the aspect Of pleasure or recreation.
When they say: Eat less meat" what they
really mean can be put in one word, you are
20 fast. you are to humiliate yourselves. you
TO mortify yourselves, you are to crawl
about Ike worms, you are to be unhappy and
then God will be happy with you. But II you
stand up and look daring and take large meals,
then you will provoke God.
What is being preached to you In the name
Of economy to-day is nothing but the preach
ING OF that instinct and it Is extremely
dangerous sort Of preaching That is the thing
on which, you really think you are going
10 get through tho with any sort OF credit
and any sort Of prospect OF success-that is
the one thing which you will resolutely have
TO turn your back on, because economy does
not mean Standardization in any way; II
does not mean saving. Ii you ask yourse1 the
question, Can we save anything? l say we
cannot for the mass Of the nation not only
has not enough money TO save, but has not
hitherto had enough to spend. and even at the
present moment has not enough money to
spend.
Then comes the question, Can we work any
more? No. we cannot because we are over
worked already. Then we come TO the real
vital question OF economy, Can we produce
mOre2 There Is not the snshteSI uOuOt We
can Can we waste less? Certainly we can
The secret Of producing more Is to spend more.
Production in itself is an expensive tnlng
When nations have been poor il has meant that
they have had very little capital. When nations
have been rich. and / may add, incidentally
when commodities have been cheap, II mas al
wavs meant that they have spent great deal
Of money in producing
Before we 20 into the question OF general
economy let me deal with false economy. rake,
for instance the question of food. What does
economy in food mean? II means the produc-
lion OF a great deal more food than we nave
been hitherto producing. and the consumption