Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-14

Ont tight-don't be tight.
y This line expresses the policy
that should be followed by the
people of the United States during
the crisis which has come upon the
country.
There is danger in too much econ
omy.
And there is little reason for the
don't t-buy-now" wave which has
been sweeping over the United States
for the last few weeks.
Why not buy now? We have the
money with which to buy. And if
everybody continues to buy-not ex-
travagantly, but reasonably-doesn
it follow that the factories will keep
humming at their tasks of making
things for Americans to wear-to
put into their homes?
OF course, the food situation has
drawn O sharp line of distinction in
this matter.
We must be conservative in the
use of food products, not because we
have no money with which to buy
food, but because the supplies OF
these essentials, being In unprece-
dented demand. are limited.
But the economy which applies to
the consumption of wheat, potatoes,
and the like is vastly different from
the economy which applies to the
purchase of talking machines, rugs
automobiles and clothes. We are not
running the risk of causing others to
suffer when we buy the latter,
One is a case of enforced conser-
walton. Beyond those things which
we must conserve in order that the
world and its armies may be fed and
clothed, we see no reason for any
postponement of the average pur-
chases.
Business as Usual" was a Brit
ish slogan just after the beginning
of the great war,
Business as Usual-and More of
IT. must be the American slogan
during the war, and should be ever
after. The American people face sew
eral duties. One is to fight, and fight
hard for the principles involved in
this tremendous international strug-
gle. Another is to produce all that
can be produced, to buy all that is
needed to keep the channels of bust
ness open and the progress of it ac'
tive and unhindered.
Business as Usual-and More OF
! 1t" represents no false sentiment
There is nothing .emotiopal about 1t
| Facts and conditions subStan
tiate it.
As business advisers, and because
of our relations with many of thu
representatives of all lines of in
dustry, we are urging clients and al
with whom we come in contact II
take this view of the proposition anC
assist in holding our domestic com
merce steady and unshaken.
The avoWed determination OF tn
authorities at Washington to main
tain our commercial affairs on al
even keel should not only reassur,
every manufacturer, wholesaler ant
retail merchant, but should establish
public confidence in a manner not t.
be moved. When that is accomplish
| ed, this false economy which is be
ing urged from certain sources will
disappear, legitimate buying will g
forward unhindered and dom esti
trade will enjoy its customary sta
bility.
The buying power of farmer
miner artisan and tradesman is un
affected by the war. On the contrary
there is every reason to believe tina
such buying power will be increased
Take the farmer, for example. Al
these appeals for increased crops
for the planting of every possible
acre. will mean a vastly increased
production. 1t will mean more mone'
for the farmers of America NOR
money-not TO be boarded, but to b.