The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-05-24
SAVE LABOR AND MATERIAL


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SAVE LABOR AND MATERIAL.
Pursuant to orders from the Council
OF National Defense Major Rutledge
Smith has issued a statement to the
people of Tennessee advising strongly
against any unnecessary building OBJ
erations that require men and mater
ialH while the war is in progress. lt
is to be hoped that this advise will
be needed; ID is based on the grim
necessities of the nation. No new
enterprises in the way Of public
buildings, especially, should be under
taken. Generally there has been q
commendable spirit of obedience to.
this request manifested by those in
charge OF public operations. For
example the University of Tennessee,
which was given large appropriations
at the last session of the general as
sembly for new and much needed
buildings, has postponed carrying out
the terms of the act because OF the
heavy drafts made by the. war on men
and materials.
There is no surplus of men and lit
tie of material in the country at this
time. Labor is scarce and difficult
To obtain. Every effort to bring the
war to successful conclusion should
be made" said Major Smith, chair
man of the state council of defense,
"and all new enterprises should be
tried by the test. viii they contrib
butte to the winning of the war" In
this Major Smith Is right. No one
can deny his proposition. The move
ment to build new school houses. to
construct new public buildings, where
tina old ones can be made to answer
present demands, should be discour.
aged. It Ia better. infinitely better,
that the children should be taught in
old and Indifferent school buildings
and continue to enjoy the blessings
OF freedom and Christian civilization.
than that they should have handsome
school houses for the immediate pre-
sent, but In the end lose the priced
possession of human freedom
At this time the people of America
are rolling in prosperity. They are
making more money than at any time
In their past history, but the nation
has hardly entered the war for world
democracy and civilization. Demands
for war activities have already begun.
All the money, all the resources in
men and materials of the nation must
be dedicated to the winning OF the
war. That cannot be done IL through
a false sense OF local pride the people
Of some communities embark upon
building activities that in the nation's
interest should be postponed until
after the close Of the war.
The people are prospecting. Many
OF them doubtless feel that out OF this
war prosperity they can afford tc'
give literally to new enterprises.
That spirit in y sense is to be COM
mended. but every dollar that they
can spare can be well and profitabIy
used in the winning of the war; With
millions Of our brothers in Europe in
poverty, with hundreds OF thousands
of French orphans and widows, whose
natural protectors have died for us,
to be supported and educated. surely
the people of America can afford to
economize In their expenditure of
funds for new and unnecessary enter
prisas and send their surplus to those
to whom we owe debt OF gratitude
that we of this generation can neve.i,
never extinguish.
1t is going to require millions or
dollars for the Red Cross and the "
M G. A where it has only required
tens OF thousands. The war has gust
begnn. Local pride and misdirectsd
enthusiasm should not cause com
munities to launch upon enterprises
that are not in harmony with the
requests OF the war department and
the council of national defense.
RED CROSS