The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-11-16
PATRIOTIC ECONOMY
BECOMES A NECESSITY

~
and we have capital invested IN the
tools Of production, but even with
these facilities our productive ca
pacily is limited by the supply Of
labor. ny labor we moan the per-
sonal service, whether OF brain or
Of Drawn, ~ the forty million OF rs
who are engaged in gainrul occu-
patton.
To carry on the war we shall
spend ai least twelve billion dollars
pei year, or thrity-ihrec million
dollars per day This is as much
rs Great Britain Is spending and
illiy per cent morC than Germany
Is spending, and the figures are 80
huge that few Of US appreciate what
they really mean
Europe is already 30 deeply in
debt that she may never be able
TO pay, aud we are on the road 10
The same condition. Balance Of
trade statistics indicate that we
have made an extra profit from for
cign business since 1914 Of Ave
billion dollars, or about Two billion
dollars per year. The effect Of this
IN enriching the country Is sugges-
tive Of The result Of three years
Of nnpoverishmeni at the rate Of
eight billion dollars.
Our normal annual savings are
about four billion dollars, and not
only win our war expenditure alb
sorb all of these savings. hut We
must lind eight billion dollars in
addition. During the past three
ycars our present allies have OBJ
lained much assistance from us,
but as there is no country 10 whom
We can turn We must carry our
burden alone.
Our savings so into public and
private improvements, including
The extension Of business enter
Iniscs. These savings will not be
assik,hle. for war untn Va sopl
hsdcral, municipal and privRte inn
proyemcnts; until we forbid all is
sue Of securities except under fed
cral license. following the example
whereby England reduced the issue
OF industrial securities from si6s.-
100000 In the ilrst half Of 1914, 20
sii.OO0,0OO in the same period OF
1917.
The danger Of food fnmine he's
been brought home 10 us and We
are making a real effort n rudure
consumption, though our efforts 10
increase production are being scri-
ously handicapped by the high price
NJ labor.
Immediately after the war was
declared the president warned the
country that everyone should pro-
luce more and consume less. The
idea business was 20 he suddenly
reduced by a wave OF economy was
a shock 10 business men aud cry
business as ususal' was spread
over the country and caused the
presidents appeal 10 be forgotten.
Sot only are people spending as
usual, hut many eonscientiously be-
lieVe II their duty so 10 do.
Every dollar spent means the
consumption of labor. We shall
not be far wrong n we say that
cvery four dollars spent consumes
a days labor, and that every twelve
hundred dollars will consume the
labor Of ten million people; twenty
i've per cent Of our total labor sup
ply. This added demand comes
during the greatest labor famine In
our history. which has increased
commodity prices eight-nve per
cent since 1914.
We have reached a point where
the increasing demand reduces
the cnleieney Of labor and thereby
reduces The supply. and We are fac
ing a furlehr disc In commodity
prices, perhaps 10 exceed present
conditions in England, where prices
are up one hundrded and twenty
per cent FL
The most effective rhmedy Is 20.
decrease consumption. and il b I'M
peratiye that every ono should
make a drastic reduction In per-
sonal expenditures. The example
must be set by the rich, but every
man, woman and child must be
drawn into the movement until
patriotic economy. becomes the
greatest fad the country has ever
known. 0
Our young men who try 10 avoid
military service are "slac kers. !"
Every one OF US who will not econo-
miEe 10 help the war Is a Stacker" {"
Who will fail 10 spend less when he
realizes that every four dollars
I ana4t.N l. 4. A.. a