Evening star., 1917-04-26
HYSTERICAL SAVING
APERIL TO NATION
Howard E. Coffin of Defence
Board Sees Grave Danger
in Indiscriminate
Economy
MIGHT UPSET BUSINESS
Warning Contained in First Statement
Issued by the Public InfOr-
nation Committee

Especial to New York Times.)
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Howard
E. Coffin. member of the advisory
commission of the council of nation
al defense. issued a warning to the
country today against indiscriminate
economy. calling attention to the
need for continued prosperity as well
as for the elimination of waste. In
an interview given out today by the
newly organized committee on public
information. the first statement which
the committee has issued following
a trip through the west, Mr.. Coffin
expressed the fear that the country
might be injured in a hysterical wave
of misguided patriotism.
After nearly three years of refusal
to take the European war and it's
lessons seriously" he said, I'VE sud
denly launched forth in a most fever
ish activity to save the country over
night. Patriotic organizations, almost
without number, are milling around,
noisily. and, while intentions are
good. the results are often far from
practical. Because of an impending
and possible shortage Of foodstuffs
we have hysterical demands for
economy in every line of human en-
deavor. Waste is bad, but an undis-
eliminating economy is worse.
Some states and municipalities are
stopping road building and other pub
lie work. General business is being
slowed down because of the emotional
response of the trading public to
these misguided campaigns for econ
omy: savings are being withdrawn
from the banks; reports show that
some people have begun to hoard food
supplies. and thousands of workers
are being, thrown needlessly out of
employment. All this is wrong. I'm
employment and closed factories.
brought about by fitful and ill-advised
economy, will prove a veritable
foundation of quicksand for the seri-
Gus work we have at hand. 1t is true
that the President has said that this
is time to correct our habits of
wastefulness. Certainly. But the key
note of his message to the people
was this paragraph:
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
Need Prosperity in War.
I'VE need prosperity in war time
even more than when we are at peace.
Business depressions are always bad,
but doubly so when we have q fight
on our hands. The declaration of war
can have no real evil effect on busf-
ness. What bad effects are apparent
are purely psychologist and largely of
our own foolish making. for our mar
kets are the same in April that they
were in March. We need more busi-
ness. not less. There is real danger
in hysteria 1ndiscriminate economy
will be ruinous. Now is the time to
open the throttle.
Every day the advisory commission
of the council of national defense re-
ceives offers of service from business
firms and individuals. with requests
for immediate information as to how
this service may best be rendered.
Now and then great dissatisfaction
with the governmental departments Is
EXPRESSED because instant advantage
is not taken of such offers. Many
firms are hesitating to close ordinary
business contracts because OF a de-
sire to hold capacity open to meet
possible early government need.
This spirit and this willingness to
meet sacrifice and even financial loss,
in the government service. is a most
encouraging tribute to American pa
triotism. But we must remember that
In the great struggle in which we
have now become a part there is
much to consider besides munitions.
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.
I'm this country of vast resources
we already have a tremendous equip
ment for munitions making, built up
on foreign orders. and now immedl-
ately availa BILE through expiration OF
these orders. Except in limited cases.
there is little need for the develop
ment of new sources of supply. The
dictates of common business sense re-
quire the utilization. as far as pos
sible. of existing machinery.
.kcep the Fire. Burning"
1T seems to me. therefore. that
plain statement of general policy is
most desirable. Upon the industrial
side of the war three great problems.
or perhaps l should better say tasks.
confront US.
First and foremost. we must facili-
tate the flow of raw materials and nm
ished 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
schedules.
Third. we must plan to do all this
with the least possible disarrange-
ment of our own vast commercial and
industrial machines.
Through it all we must keep a
close eye upon the possible conditions
of peace following the present war.
We must insure the business success
and general prosperity of the coun-
try during the war if we are to hold
our present strong place among ma
tions in the commercial competition
of the future.
There is no doubt of the willing
ness of any manufacturing plant or
individual to serve should the call
come. But until the call does come.
it is best to stick to the job. Let us
make Better Business our watch
word and keep our factory fires burn
ing. No radically new conditions con-
front u.s. 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 a volume of business greater than
ever before. To the billions which
have been spent here by foreign pow
ers are now to be added the billions
of our own. State activities. road
building, public works. private in
dustries, all must so on as before.
Business must be increased. labor en-
ployed. and the country kept going
strongly ahead as a successful eco
nomic machine. We must have sue
cessful Industries IL successful tax
la, TO !,