The Detroit times., 1917-05-26
Unwise Economy Is
The Thing We Have Most
To Fear From the War
Business as usual-and more Of it.


buy now" very foolishly suggested by
someone who could not have given the
matter very deep thought
To understand the great damage that
would be done by a general acceptance
of the suggestion. which is altogether
too broad and sweeping. one has. only to
consider what the result would he I'M rs
effect upon our industries and those.
who depend upon these industrie, for
livelihood
Our country is prosperous
It was never so prosperous as 1T rs at
the present time
Take Detroit, for instance.
Factories are humming -humming
factories mean work for tens Of thou-'
sands of men.
Wages are high
The hammer and the saw are heard
everywhere as new houses, representing
the savings from these high wages, are
going up in all parts Of the city
Our stores are busy and busy stores
mean employment to another class OF
workers in the stores, and to workers
who make the things that are sold IN
the stores.
In all lines, capital is encouraged by
the times, and the thing TO be done IS to
keep times as they are.
War should cause not the least oppres-
sion, anywhere-in Detroit least Of all.
The huge amount of money that it
costs TO wage war will be, MUST be
spent AT HOME
Every billion of dollars that war will
cost the United States will mean an add
ed billion of dollars in circulation at the
disposal of EVERYBODY who is will
ing to hustle for his proportionate
share.
The Don't buy now cry, raised by
impulsive, panic-stricken individuals
wo i'd shut up our industries. throw our
workers out of employment, make them
and their dependents public charges
and paralyze conditions generally.
A city that is exceptionally prosper
GUS, as Detroit is, would feel the blow
quickest and hardest.
Detroit's case calls urgently for "bus-
mess as usual-and more of it.
Detroit's case urges YOU to sit
tight and not to be tight
There are instances where advice not
to buy now is good advice.
A let-up in the buying of food is Of
course. absolutely imperative from the
standpoint of conversation.
Besides, wise buyers are not stocking
up with foods at this time.
There are hopeful signs from Wash
ington that the government intends
to see that everybody has enough to eat
and that this enough will be procurable
at fair prices.
The greatest stress has been laid by
the government on the matter of waste.
We are asked to practice wise econ
omy.
There is such a thing as false and un-
wise economy.
There is also such a thing as ruinous
economy.
The matter of food represents only a
small fraction of our business as a ma
ton, and has passed, as a matter of fact.
from consideration as a legitimate ar
ticle.
The people are at the mercy Of gam
blers in it and until Uncle Sam has re-
stored it, ones pocketbook must be cum
ningly handled against it.
Home building should not cease.
The identification Of homes should
not cease.
Comfort in the home should not be de-
MED ones self or his family. -
There should be no thought Of fore
going suitable and proper clothing.
The man who can afford an sutomo-
bile should buy i. as quickly now as he
would if the country were not in war
we do not know but that he should buy
it even more quickly, as a matter Of
civic patriotism.
What Detroit and every other city il
the United States has 10 fear most from
war is that people viii CEASE buying
the things they have been in the habit
of buying; will start boarding wher