Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-13

WY + are at war with a powerful
wv enemy. The President has
advised economy and the
elimination of waste. We are motor
iously a wasteful people and we are
charged with being an eXtravagant
people. The President and the heads
of departments have recommended
the elimination of waste and the
practice of economy. This recon-
mendation was made to initiate a
concerted nationwide effort for the
sources for the purposes of the war.
(These I will term necessaries for
the purpose of this letter.
1t is obvious that in order to win
this war we must conserve the neces-
saries for the use OF our armed
forces and those of our allies and
for our home consumption. OF
course. no one will have the temerity
to advise extravaganza and waste at
any time and particularly at time
like this. The poor we have always
with us and waste is sin against
humanity because it deprives human
kind of the use of that which is
wasted or destroyed.
Extravaganza, however, is a rela-
tive term. What would be extrava-
gance in the case of a man with
very limited means might not be
extravaganc at all on the part OF
one having unlimited means. SO
that when the people of the country
are asked to economize. it. of course,
must be interpreted as meaning to
economize according to their means
and, in this war, with particular re-
spect to necessaries.
Primarily, then, the object of eco
| nomy in this war is to have our peo-
| pie generally conserve as far is pos
sible the necessaries which our peo-
pie, our armed forces and those of
our allies imperatively require and
without which we can neither be
successful in the war abroad or
/ maintain contentment and tranquil
lity at home.
On the other hand, the people of
the country cannot concertedly and
completely change their habits Of
living without bringing disaster upon
the business and industries of the
country and upon the business world
| generally and the consequent disaster
to our people which would follow in
its train. Consequently, the economy
we should practice should be a wise
Intelligent and discriminating econo-
my.
It is this sort of economy which
feel quite sure the President and
others are advocating.
Mistaken Economy
Now, it has come to my atten-
ton that all over the United States
Jealous and patriotic men and wo-
men, in the belief that they are pro-
noting the best interests of the
country and in a praise-worthy at
tempt to join in the nationwide
movement for economy as recon-
mended. are cutting out the use OF
everything but necessaries and are
new eating, and wearing and using
the bare necessaries of life in the
patriotic belief that they are pro-
noting the best interests of the coun-
try and are thereby doing their'"bit
by way of sacrifice to prove theiI
devotion to their country.
But the net result of this move.
ment, however praiseworthy in pur-
pose, instead of alleviating the con-
ditions, can, of course, only aggra.
vate them.
To illustrates: The supply of neces-
saries is limited and. moreover. Is
short of the amount required. There
is not enough. or barely enough now
to supply our people, our army and
navy and our allies with the things
that they must have. Now, oi
course, If all of our people abandon
the use of everything except neces.
SarleS, the drain and drive upon the
supply of necessaries will be greatly
increased. For instance, IL sudden.
ly all of the people of the United
States should resolve to live on
nothing but the plainest of foods
such as meat and potatoes and bread
and butter. there would not be
enough to go around and the keen.
est distress and suffering would fol-
low. Again, if suddenly all of ou:
women and men should decide to
wear only the plainest fabrics, there
would not be enough calicos and de-
MINIS and khakis to go around and
our people of modest means and the
government would be unable to pur-
chase the necessaries imperatively
needed. While this, of course, might
result in reducing the high cost of
living to individuals of ample means.
| 1t is quite clear that 1t would at the
same time intolerably raise the cost
! of living to the people and the gov
| ernment; and the worst and most
fatal of all, it would deprive them
of the means of living and lighting.
Draw Mildly on Supply
This leads me to observe that true
economy under war exigencies would
| be best subserved by those who can