Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-23
Business Helps to Win the War

4 CCORDING TO DR.. Henry Van Dyke. whose
\ tenure OF Office as United States minister
10 the Netherlands gave him unusual oppor-
iunitieS for observation and accurate deduc-
ton. more than 100000 men already have
laid down their lives in this war. That de-
spite all these sacrifices the struggle con-
Nnres with undated fury. the world knows.
We in America are but beginning 10 under
'iand. however, that ii we are TO bring the
dreadf | sacrifice 10 an end and restore peace.
justice and happiness to mankind. we must
eXpend every ounce Of national energy. In
dividuaNy we must serve and sacrifice with
out consideration OF self.
Americas business is the winning Of the
war. When we think OF other ,hings-as
We should-it must be always with war as
the ruling consideration. Trade and COM
merce must go on, not as usual, perhaps. but
with redoubled energy One OF our great
and pressing duties, which we have begun
10 PERFORM. is TO be the banker OF the allied
cause. Money must be provided in limitless
quantities. and not all OF it can come from
accumulated savings. Much OF it must be
derived from the profits OF our industries
and OF the countless mercantile establish
ments that dot the cities. towns and villages
OF the land The war revenue bill is framed
10 raise Si.500.000,000. In one form or
another. the taxes imposed are taxes on earn
inss or consumption. and il goes without
saying tina: If earnings largely dwindle or
consumption is greatly decrea sed. the meas
ure Will not serve its intended purpose.
The s-ea. fortunes OF the country are in
vested ii industrial securities Should these
securities pay 10 diyd ends. the excess profits
tax Will he failure and supertaxes on large
Income Will be meaningless. The same rule
holds il enterprises OF every character. large
and small. II department store. for ex-
ample, is forced to suspend. because its
operation has become Improbable. its hun
dreds or thousands OF employees will be
thrown OF. OF work. They will be unable
10 pay the debts they have contracted. and
house owners and minor tradesmen will be-
gin 10 suffer. The war problem OF the gov
eminent, sufficiently difficult as matters
stand, will be complicated by the necessity
OF providing al least TEN pcra rily, for great
army OF unemployed. a in Gerr any to-day
there Will be soup kitchens III every town
II thus appears that 10 keep the wheels
o. industry moving is a necessary part OF our
war duty. Economy there must be. but III
the broad sense this is 4 time for spending
rather than for saving. The boarding OF
money is real dsservice to the nation
Is the boarding OF food II such a habit be
came universal. our doom would be sounded
for business disasters. Unemployment food
riots and actual starvation would be our
countr:'s portion.
Don't become a Iniser with any thought
that thereby you become 4 better patriot
Mix sense and discretion with your expendi-
lures but continue TO make them Buy
sanelE and proyitepl!v. but buy what YOU
need. Thus will YOU assure the prosperity
OF your community and OF your country, even
in war and American crity-Amercan
capacity TO ill depleted war chests-is to-day
one OF the greatest assets o. the allied cause
~. lc Inv hut