Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-27
HISTORICAL SAVING
A PERIL TO NATION
Howard E. Coffin Of Defense
Board Sees Grave Danger
in Indiscriminate
Economy
MIGHT UPSET BUSINESS
Warming Contained in First Statement
Issued by the Public 1nfor-
nation Committee
(specia1 to New York Times.)

Especial to New York Times)
wA a,In Ap5r tbs 1s adSIssrS
commission of the Council OF Nation
al Defense. issued warning to the
country to-day against indiscrtminate
economy. calling attention to the
need for continued prosperity as we'll
as for the elimination OF waste. IN
newly organized committee on public
information, the first statement which
trip through. the west. Mr. Coffin
expressed the fear that the country
might be injured In hysterical wave
OF misguided patriotism.
After nearly three years OF refusal
to take the Europ ,s 90. war and at. II.
denly launched forth in most fever
ish activity to save the country over
night. Patriotic organizations. almost
noisily. and, while intentions are
good. the results are often far from
nnd poasbe Of on
economy in every line Of human en-
eliminating economy is worse.
Some states and municipalities are
lie work f0aG BUSINESS ane is peng
slowed down because Of the emotional
response OF the trading public to
omy; savings are being withdrawn
from the banks; reports show, that
some people have begun to hoard food
employment Ali this is wrong. I'm
sm rougSt ebout by tfui 0s and i,iadSsed
eSnSnon Sf oueFsssa for Il. ssl
ious work we have at hand. It is true
that the President has said that this
Masterui ne c sHrrI 9I But the keS-
note OF his message TO the people was
this paragraph:
man that our industries, OIL the farm,
In the shipyards, in the mines. in the
factories, must be made more prolific
and more efficient
Need Prosperity in War.
I'VE need prosperity in war TINA
even more than when we are at peace.
Business depressions always bad,
ON ON" onr hands The
can have no real evil effect on bust
ness. What bad effects are apparent
our own foolish making. for our mar
kets are the same; in April that they
were In March We need more bust
in hysteria. Undergraduates economy
will be ruinons Now is the time to
Every day the advisory commission
OF the council of national defense re-
eeives offers Of service from business
for immediate information as to how
this service may best be rendered
Now and then great dissatisfaction
expressed because instant advantage
is not taken of such offers. Many
business contracts because OF a de-
sire TO hold capacity open to meet
Ths s spr and ms W ling
meet sacrifice and even financial loss.
in the government service. is n most
s ,r,c,,I.a tribute to American pa
tTlOttStn. but we must remember that
IN the great struggle In which we
nnwg now no co become part there I.
troops and battleships Few Of us can
serve in any heroic. role. or even in
the supply OF munitions to the mill
tary arms of the service.
IN this country of vast resources
we already have tremendous equip
ment for munitions making. built UP
on foreign orders. and now Immediate
y available through expiration Of
ess IS 1e neea for IN n. S.Sson
ment of new sources OF supply. The
dictates OF common business sense
require the utilization as far as pos
sible, OF existing machinery.
"Keep the Fires Burning,
cit seems to me. therefore. that n
plain statement OF general policy is
most desirable. Upon the Industrial
or perhaps l should better say tasks
First and foremost we must facln-
ishcd products to our allies, and must
provide the means Of rail and water
transportation therefor
Second. we must meet our own
great military and naval building
Third We must plan to do all this
with the least possible disarrange-
ment OF our own vast commercial and
Industrial machines
Through 1t all we must keen
close eye upon the possible conditions
OF peace following the present war.
we must insure the business success
and general prosperity Of the coun
our present strong place among ma
lions in the commercial competition Of
the future. -
There is no doubt OF the willing.
m iai, OF any manufacturing plant or
come. But until the call does come.
1t Is best to stick to the job Let us
word and keep our factory fires burn
inR. NO radically new conditions CON
front MS We are still cut Off from
business relations with the Central
Powers, but that does not mean that
we have lost any markets. with the
rest OF the world we will continue to
do volume of business greater than
have been spent here by foreign pow
ers are now to be added the billions
of our own. State activities. road
huildi nE, public works. private in
dustries. all must go on as before.
Business must be increased. labor en-
ployed, and the cor :ry kept going
strongly ahead as successful eco
ccssful industries 1ass successful tar
leyieS are to be received"