The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-12-05
Thrift Stamps

Ben Franklin'S imperiShable max
inns salted with humOr taught some
OF the American people to save, but
in the mass they remained improvi-
dent. They will be less and less 50
as this great war goes Oil. AS a
teacher OF thrift Uncle Sam eciipses
Franklin, who could appeal only to
self-interest in a day of plenty ana
ilIimitable natural resources. Uncle
Sans appeal is to patriotism as well
as to self-interest. and the American
people are beginning TO realize that
it must be needed.
AS an educator or monitor the Lib
erty Bond blazed the way, but it did
not wake up everybody. It's solicita-
ton was mainly to the adult popula-
ton. Men and women who never
saved before are now practiCing thrift
to pay for their bonds. But Liberty
bond issues do not CLEAN very close,
or they have not done so yet. The
pennies of the people are needed as
well as their dollars. Hence the war
saving certificates and the thrift
stamps which have been put on sale.
They will wake up all of lis to the
emergency and We shall better un
derstand the dire consequences of
defeat. The little red schoolhouse,'
using the term as a symbol. is going
to play a leading part in the new
loans. In devastated France the
children do not have to be told what
the war means. They are the great
est sufferers. Here in America, the
most favored of lands, more favored
than lever before, the war has not
efsdafJhe-cnIIdren appreciably. Ii
is at the most an echo to them of
something mysterious and terrible,
and no one would want them to Wis
ualize it; but even American chill
dren now have 10 learn the lesson of
sacrifice in the shadow of conflict
that spares no one.
In most families the school chill
dren have spending money, although
it may be a trifle. They are to be
encouraged to buy the 25-cent thrift
stamps, and it will be sorry kind
of parent who fails to increase the
spending money of the boy or girl
for a purpose so laudable. A demon
stration of patriotism in the schools
that will be a spur to adults to con-
tribute their dollars to the Govern
ment may be expected. If a school
child can save pennies to accumulate
thrift stamps, those of the grown
ups who have not yet bought Lib
erty bond-there are good many of
them-can take one of the next is
sue. This war cannot be financed"
says Secretary McAdoo, unless the
American people Immediately stop
waste, practice self-denial, econo-
mize in every possible way, and lend
the money they save to the Govern
ment." Many OF them nave come
handsomely to its aid already, but
many others have not responded.
The children are going to be an eX-
ample to the unheeding. Make no
mistake, the schools will enter intel
ligently and generously into the spir-
it of the patriotic undertaking.
Adults who find the struggle of
life too hard to put aside money to
buy a Liberty bond will be able to
help by putting quarter saved into
a thrift stamp. 1t will be felt like a
reproach if as time goes on every
man or woman does not own war
saving stamp (made up Of the thrift
stamps) costing $4.12 and redeem
able by the Government for IS on
Jan. l, 1928, or at any time earlier,
for the amount paid in, with per
cent. interest if presented at a post
office. On postal savings 2 per cent.
interest has been paid. War savings
under the stamp plan will pay per
cent. interest compounded quarterly.
This is a distinction to be kept In
mind. In saving the Republic the
American people will turn from i'm
providence to thrift, and it will be-
come a habit With their allies they
are going to win the war, and from
the ordeal they will emerge stronger
in character than they ever were be-
fore-New York Times.
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