The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-05-24
TO KILL PROSPERITY

The surest way OF Killing prosperity
anywhere or at any time is to be al
ways talking about hard times and
continually worrying about the future.
The coming months-in fact as long
as the war lasts--will be the most
sensationally prosperous period in the
whole history of the United States UNI
less the people persist in being
scared and afraid to do business.
The following editorial from the
New York Evening World tells the
story well and in few words:
For the people of the United States
in the present crisis, to kill prosperity
by reacting to hysterical extremes OF
economy and boarding would be ma
tional madness.
The prosperity Of the United States.
is what has put it in the proud posi-
ton it now occupies as an all-poWerful
reinforcement for the cause of world
democracy.
From its busy factories, its 'thriying
industries, its unimpeded business
currents. its millions of steadily EN-
ployed wage earners, have come ana
must continue to come its strength
and its endurance.
To turn prosperity into panic, to re-
place confidence with fear, would be
to make this nation a weak ally in
stead of strong one.
Nothing is so certain to arm it with
indomitable courage for battle abroad
as the steady hum Of industry at
home.
Let Americans think this over So
berly and sanely before they rush to
foolish extremes of retrenchment,
Let them study out what 1t would
mean if, by suddenly ceasins to buy
certain more or less necessary com
modities they have been accustomed
to buy. they threw thousands of men
and women out OF employment,
checked the normal flow of money and
produced that uneasiness, apprehen-
sion and contraction of credit which
are the forerunners OF panic ana
disaster.
Let them ask themselves whether
economy is not rather to be practiced
only with great deliberation and good
sense.
When the President urged Ameri-
cans to correct wasteful habits he al
so declared it evident to every think
ing man that our industries, on the
farms, in the shipyards, in the mines,
in the factories. must be made more
prolific and more efficient than ever
and that they must be more eco
nomically managed"
There is where American economic
ing can best begin:
With needlessly expensive methods
of management, with highly paid di-
rectors who direct nothing, with fat
dividends derived from slovenly work
manship and Unfinished work, With
unealned profits made by turning out
inferior products and selling them for
twice their value to those who have to
have them and who suffer serious loss
because OF the poor quality of mater
ials upon which their own industries
depend.
by eliminating waste and unearned
profit in these directions Americans
can do far more toward strengthening
the economic resistance of the nation
than by hasty, indiscriminate resolves
to buy as little as possible"
On the contrary, buy as much as
possible--without waste or reckless
selfindulgence.
SO far as may be, keep prosperity
the dominant force and confidence the
ruling spirit in industry and business
throughout the nation.
Therein is our present strength.
Therein lie the best guarantees Of
energy and endurance for tasks ahead.