Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-05-04

bad, but an undiscriminating 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 economy. So
savings are being withdrawn from the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.
Unemployment and closed factories,
brought about by itful and i'll advised
campaigns for public and private econ
omy, will prove a veritable foundation
of quicksand for the serious work we
have at hand.
"It is true the president has said
this is a time to correct our habits of
wastefulness.' Certainly, but the key
note of his message to the people was
this paragraph:
att is evident to every thinking mar
that our industries, OF the farm, in the
s%hipyards, in the mines, in the facto-
ries, must be made more prolific and
more efficient
1--WE need prosperity in wartime even
more than when we are at peace.
Business depressions always are 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 psychological and largely of
our own foolish making. For u mar
kets are the same in April as they
were In March. We need more bust
ness. not less. There is real danger
In hysteria. Indiscriminate economy
would be ruinous. Now is the time to
open the throttle"
May Have Food Dictator.
Legislation to give the government a
firm grasp on food control has been
introduced in congress.
Power is asked for the government
not only to supervise production, but
to lea with distribution, to insure a
fair supply of food to every part of
the country at reasonable prices. De-
tails of the Administrations plan have
not become known, but it Is believed
actual price fixing may have a place
in laws to be asked and that authority
will be requested to establish a virtual
food dictatorship If that becomes nee
essary.
AS outlined by Mr.. Houston, the de-
partment of agriculture's plans for
meeting the food problem contemplate
a central organization in the depart
ment, with state and county branches.
A food committee of the Council OF
National Defense, which will be head
ed by Herbert G. Hoover. will work
with the department.
Many Patriotic Offers.
From all parts of the country offers
Of services of material assistance to
TONS leading men. A wonderful spir-
1t of unselish loyalty is bringing to
Washington swarms of millionaires,
captains of industry and master execu-
tives, all anxious to do something to
aid the nation.
One of California's prominent men
has come to Washington as a volunteer
to relieve Secretary Lane of some of
his manifold duties in the interior de-
partment. A coal magnate from the
middle west is working in the navy
department, organizing the coal supply
for ships.
The best expert on munitions from
J.. P. Morgan's office, trained in pur-
chases for the allies, is serving the Ma
tional Council of Defense in gathering
Americas supplies.
A remarkable offer by a prominent
oil company has become known. The
question having arisen whether the
government could be assured of ade-
quate supplies of oil, an emissary call
ed on the president of the company to
make inquiries. He is quoted as re
plying:
"There are just three conditions in
volved-how much, when and where
the government want its oil. Let
US know that and we will attend to
the rest"
AS to price, the company is under
stood to have left that to the govern
ment to determine.
aTEr-.