New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
Telephone
Hanover 65iA

gOodS Tor them to buy.
For this purpose, it matters not at
all whether the method be by bor-
rowing or by taxing, or by both
together, excepting as these differ
ent methods may bear differently on
the production and the economy that
they are to stimulate. Always the
one question stands clearly forth
How far can we proceed in the eX-
pansion of our production and in
the restriction of our ordinary con-
sumption-how great can we make
the balance Of our productive power
available for the service Of war?
We can push the prices up, doubt
less, method the very ease of
which should render it suspect-but
it gets us no more goods and no
greatly different goods, and helps not
much in restricting theirwasteful use.
Confused in the mysteries Of prices,
we forget the realities in the prob
lem-the necessity for general sac
rifice-and hold it both right and
possible that wages rise to CORE
spond with prices, that real wages
shall not be impaired,' the command
over products narrowed, the stand
ard Of living reduced. Similarly
with persons, profits, salaries. Our
giving is to be with no diminution
cf our having But where, then, are
to be achieved the economies-the
more things that, unconsumed at
home, may be sent abroad? Far be
it from us that the farmer or the
artisan shall prosper less or the
profits be smaller, or the net divi-
dends lower, or the investor lack es-
pecially attractive opportunities for
investment.
But If no one is to suffer priva-
ton or any one to submit to serious
sacrifices, where are all the goods
to come from? The government
can neither buy nor spend but as
the citizen turns over to it and goes
without. One needs merely to look
about him. Where are the privation
and the sacrifice and the foregoing?
But twenty-four billions spent for
war and subtracted from individual
spending mean S240 per capita
men, women, octogenarians, Grip
pies, parasites, decorative women,
babies. kindergartners, invalids,
baseball players. Twently-four bill
ions means $500 breadwinner,
inclusive of the boys and girls at
work upon the farm, the cash boys,
messengers, shop girls, domestic ser
wants, typists, delivery men-where
women could serve-factory hands,
movie artists. 1t is $1,000 family.
Those critics Of Senator Smoot,
therefore, that see anywhere about
them the evidences Of this degree of
restriction Of personal spending,
this contribution Of things to the
government that is needing things,
this level Of self-imposed sacrifice,
may fairly denounce the Senator's
opinions and condemn his heresies.
Whenever, likewise, Senator Smoot
comes to observe the per capita of
American expenditure cut down to
three-fifths Of it's ordinary standard,
he, doubtless, will publish his con-
triton and request his penance.
Seeing one decorative woman newly
at work at worthwhile tasks for
everv ten men that have gone into
the shipyards, the munition plants
the camps and the trenches, he will
acquire a 10 per cent faith in the
adequacy Of our production to our
new undertakings of national con-
sumption.
Shall we, indeed, have 40 pei
cent saving Of oil to run the ships?
Save "gas" one day in seven? Il
there a shortage Of factory and
freight coal in prospect? Let few
Of the electric flares be dimmed q
night or two each week. Is sugar
lacking? We shall-if we will--buy
our candy henceforth in pound pack
ages. Is leather short? The women's
shoes shall be shortened to only hall
way to the knee; but the pig skins
may still continue to go into the
garbage pals. Shall we consume
two -ffths less food? Substitute one
food for another.
Senator Smoot is probably wrong
in his estimate Of what America car
do when it must, and when, also, il
| comes to realize that 1t must. But
he Is right as to what we are doing
and as to our present methods OF
doing it. There is no way Of putting
twenty-four billions Of products
and services into war unless by
going without them for other uses
no way Of accomplishing things BY
not doing them-no giving with
keeping-no bread eaten over there
that has already been eaten here
no 1ecerdemain or c,,hs+;+,,+;o,e