The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-06-09
KEEP BUSINESS GOING.
Timely Warning Against Hysteria
and Ill-Advised Economy.

A timely note sof warning is sound.
ed by Howard b. Coffin of the Ma.
tional Defense Board against the dan
GER of hysterical and ill-advised
economy being praeticed by the peo.
.ple of the United States in the pres
ent national and International emer-
gency, when the need of proper con-
seryation and increased production of
foodstuffs is being impressed upon the
public mind in al countries in antici-
nation of the abrJ11sal conditions ex-
.pected to grow out Of the pending
world-War.
Mr.. Coffin dep1ores the fact that
conditions of unemployment and clos
ed factories should arise as a result
of indiscriminate efforts toward war
time economies, and he forcibly de-
clares that Waste is bad, but an un-
discriminating economy is worse.
.sSome states and municipalities" he
continues, are stopping road build
ing. General business is being slow
ed down; savings are being withdrawn
from banks; reports show that some
people have begun 80 hoard food sup
plies and thousands Of workers are be-
ing needlessly thrown out of employ
ment. All this is wrong"
Noting that President Wilson'S ad-
dress to the people Of the country
says that this is a time to correct our
habits of Wastefulness, Mr.. Coffin full
" indorses the suggestion, but points
to the following paragraph as the
keynote of the presidents message:
1T is evident to every thinking man
that our industries, on the farm, in
the shipyards, in the mines, in the
factories, must be made more prolific
and more efficient 3
The remainder Of Mr.. Coffin's state
ment is so lucid aud convincing that
we quote it in full
Business depressions are always
bad, but doubly So when we have a
fight on our hands, The declaration
of war can have no real evil effect on
business. We need more business, not
less. There is real danger in hysteria,
Indiscriminate ecolsamy will be ruin
Gus.
Many firms are aesitating to close
ordinary business contracts because
of desire to hold capacity open to
meet possible early government need.
This spirit and lss willingness to
meet sacrifice and aVen financial loss
in the governrne enf service is most
encouraging tribu 10 American pa.
triotism, but we u gist remember thai
in the great struggl eof which we have
now become d par there is much tx
consider besides munitions, troops
and battleships.
It seems 10 n Iherefore, that ;
plain state eneral policy i
most desiral
ssI non the IL ef the WA
three great tssassss u II front us. Frs
and foremost, we must facilitate tn
| flow of raw materials and finished pro
ducts to our allies and must provid
the means Of water and rail transpor
tation therefor.
Second, we must meet our oW.
great military and naval buildin
schedules.
"Third, we must plan to do all thl
with the least possible disarfange
ment of our own vast commercial an
industrial machines.
Through it all we must keep
close eye upon the possible condition
/ Of peace following the war. We mus
/ insure the business success and ger
eral prosperity of the country durin
the war, if we are to hold our preser
strong place among nations in tn
commercial competition of the futur'
aThere is no doubt of the willing
ness Of any manufacturing plant {
Individual 10 serve should the ca
i come, but until the call does come,
| is best to stick TO the job. Let ,
make better business our watchwof
and keep our factory tres burnin'
/ State activities, road building, publ
work, private industries, all must 6
on as before. Business must be il
creased, labor employed, and q
country kept gong strongly ahead
a successful economic machine. "
must have successful industries If su
cessful tax levies are to be raised"