The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-11-16
NO SHAM ECONOMY
DURING The WAR
Whole Process Must Be Done
Under Scientific Principles.
WASTE MUST Be ELIMINATED
Our Social and Political institutions
During Peace Times Were Loosely
o-ordinsted-To Meet the Demands
of War Needs this Spirit and Purpose
of the Whole Nation Must BE Unified.
BY SAMUEL eoMPERs.

&y DAM ~ EL- 1OMFEHSs
Much has been said on the subject of
economy since the beginning OF the
war. Some have advocated that every
citizen organize his living along lines
OF rigid economy. No sooner was this
idea set forth than others declared that
we must not radically change our mode
OF living lest we unsettle the indus
trial and commercial world. They
pointed out the fact that nothing is so
sensitive as the credit organization of
business and that sudden changes In
national mode of living would react
otsastrously. This latter advice SEEM
er bit ironical to the great masses OF
the nation who are wage earners and
who compared the swiftly rising prices
with their almost stationary wages.
Out of the discussion there devel.
oped this fact: The nation is preparing
itself for the greatest test it has ever
endured. 1t is stripping itself for the
6ght and, like an athlete, getting into
training to develop hard sinews of en-
durance. Weak places are disclosed
that they may be eliminated. The
whole process must go on under rigid,
scientific principles We must know
the truth of our weakness in order to
achieve our greatest strength. So our
nation is passing through a period Of
shifting values and changing econo-
mics The purpose is TO eliminate the
waste and to make everything count
for national effectiveness.
As a nation we must get rid Of those
qualities and customs that are assocf-
ated with soft living in the times of
peace and national luxury. We must
develop endurance, power spiritual In
sight and creative ability. With this
changing OF values there must come 8
readjustment In the commercial and
industrial world Occupations and IN
dustrles may for time disappear COM
pletely and new ones be developed to
meet war necessities.
The guiding thought of new econo-
mics will be the elimination OF waste
and the enhancement Of effectiveness.
! Our economic, social and political in
stitutions as they existed In peace
times were loosely co-ordinated and
widely differentiated
In order to meet war needs and serve
war purposes these must be co-ordinat-
ed and unified. The spirit and purpose
Of the whole nation must be unified
In a democratic people this cannot be
| accomplished by conpllsion. but ii
must come through the voluntary re-
sponse OF every citizen In each house-
hold there must develop the purpose TO
| adjust the household economy to The
| national economy The elimination of
waste in the household will contribute
/ to the elimination Of national waste
/ Waste here refers not only to the ma
| terial things but to the spiritual and
creative abilities of the members Of
! the household No one must be a
waster or a shirker The effort must
be a genuine one and not a pretense.
Among certain families has been in-
augurated with striking publicity a
conspicuous program of economy fea-
/ tured by a three course dinner. With
! the accounts OF this conspicuous econ
omy, enumerating the articles compr1s-
ing the menu, the whole sham was dis
closed. It was mockery to those
thousands of families who must live
in most rigid economy in order TO make
ends meet. The war must be won by
genuine efforts based upon the right
principles. 1t is of no advantage nor
does it further our purpose to deceive
ourselves or try to deceive our neigh
bors. Every effort must be genuine
and must be intelligently directed to
further the best interests of the whole
people Personal interests and person
al activities must be subordinated to
national welfare.