Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-29
America Tightens
Its w aist Belt
W.sntnoron, ID G. June 20.
By Frederic J. Haskin

lhPrE arc now HUI stthh 49,
Var Savings Societies ia the United
State. COMPRISING more than five million
men. women and children, according to
Mr. Maurice Wertheim, who ~ the ma
tiopal director OF these societies. They
arc now being organized at the rate OF
more than thousand a daY, a specA
magazine. "The War Saver Is put lished
for their benefit; and they also received
a specaI bulletin service from Washing
ton, designed to spread the gospel oi
economy.
These societies arc based upon
variety If existing organizations, such
as schools. churches lodges, clubs and
industrial concerns. Although the only
qualification for membership ~ tho will
inpness 10 save and To buy War Savings
Stntopq. the societies arc far more than
purchasing organizations. They are PR
marlly educational N intent, their pur-
pose is To teach and practice the IDEA
that tho war can DO won only by the
economical use Of all the materials 81
living.
The total issue Of War Savings Stamps
by Congress was but two billion dollars,
which Is only small fraction 81 the
revenue needed 10 carry on the war.
The value Of the War Savings stamps
campaign lies not primarily N the amount
which Il will bring 10 the treasury put
IN the lesson Of saving when - teacifs5.
NOT MONEY ALONE.
n cannot he repeated too often that
the war cannot he won with money alone.
II the treasury were filled ~ the root win
gold the slfuation would scarcely 10
improvcd True. some of this money
could he used for the purchase 81 goods.
from other nations tut since nearly ali
other nations arc drawing upon ~ i''
goods. we cannot rely upon imports
When Won buy five dollar war 0tV-
ings Stamp, tho fact that YOU plare I'VE
dollars In gold in the treasury lor var is'
| IS the least important phas" ~ INC tr'eE s-
action. Far moro iTnportans Is INC '"10
| hat fvc dollars worth oi inaWff' l1s
/ been sawed assuming that i you had nor
| bought War savings stamp YOU "pl''
| have srent tho FIVE dollars for something
elsc perhaps for new par y sii''s
| nv having the old pair nall soled YOU
| save Just 50 much leather, "iifH = h's'''
| 10 mako shoes for soldiers
Tho annual value If manufacture Y
| Tins country has hccn about - hutnn
| dollars Some of this was exported on
| there fare also imports So that me q
| billion may hc taken As a far measure n
| the amount wc have hcen accustnfnef II
! spend for manufactured goods -"
tho government Is calling for about went !
billion dollars 4 wear ~ manufacture
uroductS 10 conduct the var ha
means that the government i gong I
need about half of the material ana iah"
which hrs been going into our manu-
factusd goods half ~ the supphes 2
shoes and clothes tools and goods J
general which the American people nav
heretofore had for their own lse.
Mediate WHILE.
Mediate that fact while and 30
will begin 10 get m idea Of the FnaRh'
tude 81 this business 81 financing wal
It means that on an average each q
must pet along On Just halt as mdch :
10 did before the war OF course. tins
impossible for many persons 81 sina
income Those Of large income will nav
~ rptrench Nv great deal more tia
half But the war can be financed ont
il every citizen realizes ms duty 10
merely To buy Liberty bends and va
| Savings Stamps with his surplus cast
which he would otherwise nave put N
saving. account. but 10 ~ without GOOD
which he would have bought IN peac
time. and 70 register that actual econom
of material IN the purchase 81 govern
ment obligations -War savings stamp
, or Liberty bonds.
! Every member Of War saving =
, cietv signs a pledge that ne VIII prac ll'
systematic saving. that, ne will reirai
from unnecessary expenditure ana Z
purchase OF non-essentIais, and that
. 3jll encourage Others n his commdhil
: j. nract,ce these essentials OF fhrli
Americans must learn that var meal
millions Of men to feed and ciotht ~
, are not producing anything millions
IONS If steel and food sent 20 the ootto
/, ~ the sea bv submarines, millions
gallons Of gasoline burned IN initial
autos and planes consumption on
enormous. scale over and above pea
.,ne consumption. And they must al
learn that their country Is no longer
sna rselv populated one with resoure
II that cannot be measured but eouhF
which. although rich IN both resourc
and accumulated wealth, IS neverthele
rapidly approaching the stage OF satqr
: ton" in which consumption ana prouu
ton almost balance. And Tor all IN
. We can produce above our wants, o.
: allies and the neutrals have despera
e need.
HARD LESSON TO LEARN.
e This lesson Of economy IS the one IN
). will be hard for America to learn. Il
Y European belhgerents could not ha
J. stood the strain Of war this long exec
for the fact that they have long be-
crowded countries, and have had 10 lea
the lessons Of economy. What an Amel
can would stigrnatize as sunginess \
long been a necessity IN Europe. Hous
heated Just enough 10 prevent lines
:. food cooked IN quantities just sllthcle
fer a meal. clothes made 70 serve as ioi
as the fabric would hold together su
..- hoxvo baar, etSYYaf oven 4mpl