Evening journal., 1917-05-16


ern war. In the present posture Of the
affairs Of the Alliance of which we
have become members these things
are war materials on the one side and
foodstuffs on the other. Nothing else
really matters, so long as the war
continues. But in order that our I'M
divided energies may be given to the
production Of these things, the closest
economy must speedily be brought
about in the consumption, and hence
in the production, of the goods and
articles Of consumption that may be
dispensed with for a time by the
population without permanent detri
ment to itself. Accordingly, we agree
with Professor Sprague that economy
in railroad travel and in the transpor-
tation OF commodities and articles Of
trade whose importance is secondary
or none at all at this juncture, should
be Immediately imposed upon the
country; and we are glad to note that
this Is exactly what was announced
as decided upon by Mr.. Daniel Will
lard, President OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad and Chairman OF the
Advisory Commission of the Council
OF National Defense. in his address
delivered in Washington on Thursday
OF this week before the Governors of
States and the members Of the Coun-
Gil. No less than 1000 out of the II 900
locomotives now in passenger service
In the United States are to be trans
! ferred to the freight service, said
Mr.. Willard: and he mentioned other
economies scarcely less important in
the operation Of our railroads during
the period of the war.
/ Again. we agree heartily with Pro
lessor Sprague about the desirability
/ Of "a nearly complete cessation of
civilian purchases Of clothes No
population in the world is so abun-
duntly and superabundantly supplied
with civilian clothing as is the popu-
lation OF the United States, while at
the same time enormous supplies Of
such clothing are now I'm the hands
OF dealers as a result OF nearly two
years of violent speculation in cotton
and wool, and their products These
supplies are amply sufficient to meet
: for very long time to come the de-
mands of a consumption reduced to
the basis OF true economy OF the kind
/ Professor Sprague and others who
think with him have In mind The in
PRODUCTION of this economy, therefore
and there are numerous signs of its
voluntary ntroduction-would set free
very large numbers OF workers of
various kinds for the production OF
war materials and of articles of food.
It is at this very point, however,
that one Of the sharpest Outcries
against the dangers of too much
economy" has been raised The New
York newspapers have recently con-
tained numerous protests from occa-
siOnal correspondents. protesting
against a tendency on the part of
women patrons of department stores
and her retail dry goods shops to
bring their purchases within the lin.
its of a fairly strict economy. And a
week ago, Mr. e. i. Howe, Executive
Secretary of the National Dry Goods
Association. issued a solemn warning
against the dire results that might fol.
low the persistence of women gener-
ally in such economy. Said Mr.. Howe
"Hysterical economy will, IL persisted
in, cause a business panic The women
of the country are not performing a
patriotic service by curtailment OF
their purchases One woman
does not think it is very serious
n-matter to reduce her purchases, say
25 per cent below normal; but Il
thousands OF women are doing the
same thing. it will quickly create a
recession in the volume of business
the effects Of which will be most far
reaching"
The reader of this appeal will hard
ly escape wondering how a great war
is to be fought without thg most far
reaching effects and more impor
tant still, how the vast resources OF
particular kinds necessary for the
conduct OF a great war will be
amassed and put at the disposal oil
the Nation, If nobody economies in
the less essential things.