Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-20

teT MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LsAsEn wtRgI
Wy ashington, April i9.---WarninE to
t3A 0ation against a real danger in
IL cal and ill-advised economy
"a@ ference with normal pursuits
OF i1a people Is given by Howard r.
Coffin of the advisory commission of
the Council of National Defense in a
statement made public tonight as the
first enterprise of the governments
new committee on public information.
Just returned from a trip through
several middle western states, Mr..
Coffin deplores the fact that condi-
tions of unemployment and closed fac
tories should arise as a result of in
discriminate efforts, public and pri-
vate, toward war time economies.
Feverish Action DepIored.
After nearly three years of re-
fusal to take the European war and
its lesson seriously" Mr. Coffin SAYS.
I'VE suddenly launched forth in a most
feverish activity to save the country
over night. Patriotic organizations
almost without number are milling
around nolsily and while intentions
are good the results are often far
from practical.
Because of an impending and pos
sible shortage of foodstuffs we have
hystericai demands for economy in
every line of human endeavor Waste
is bad, but an undiscriminating econ
omy is worse.
Misguided Economy.
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 economy:
savings are being withdrawn from the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
Prosperity Is Needed.
1--WE need prosperity in war time
even more than when we are at peace.
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 bust
ness, What bad effects are apparent
are purely psychologist and largely of
our own foolish making. For our
markets are the same in April that
they were in March. We need moro
business, not less. There is real dan
ger in hysteria. Indiscriminate econ
omy will be ruinous. Now is the tins
to open the throttle.
Much TO BE Considered.
Every day the advisory commits
sion of tho Council of National De-
fense receives offers Of service from
business firms and individuals with
requests for immediate information
as to how this service may best be rem
dered. This spirit is a most encourag-
ing tribute to American patriotism.
But We must remember that In the
great struggle in which we have now
become part there is much to con-
slider besides munitions, troops and
battleships
I'm this country of vast resources
we already have tremendous equip
ment for munitions making, built up
on foreign orders and now Immediate
ly available through expiration of
those orders. Except in limited cases
there is little need for the develop
mnnt of new sources of supply. The
dictates of common business sense re.
mira he utilization, as far as pc
5la, Of existing machinery q
Plain Statement Given.
1T seems, therefore, that al
statement of general policy Wnp
desirable
Upon the industrial side of