The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-03-15
Economy Necessary To En-
able Government To CON-
'3' mand Labor and
Material
WASTE NOW TCRIMINAL'
z '...
Increase Industrial Output
For War and Restrict
Personal Con-
sumption
BY HON. w. G. M'ADOO,
Secretary Of the Treasury.

Economy in the consumption OF all
the things needed by the Nation for
the winning of the war--the releasing
of labor and materials from the pur-
suits of peace to the business Of war
these fundamental necessities of our
war program must be understood by
all our people if We are to put our
whole strength behind our men in
France.
We must work and save as. never
before in our history. We must in
crease our output and reduce our do
nestle consumption of all necessary
products, in order that there may be
a great, increasing volume of war ma.
terials going forward to our armies
and the Allies who are fighting side
by side with us. As the people reduce
their personal consumption, they will
be enabled to finance the war by lend.
ing their savings to the government,
while at the same time they help them.
selves by increasing their personal re-
sources and income
Business As Usual Wrong
The economic readiustments neces.
STATED by the transformation of an
unarmed and peaceful nation into o
formidable armed eombatant have caus-
ed unavoidable losses and hardships.
Such things can no more b& ayoided in
Hrs OF war than sacrifices OF blood If
The rights gf the Nation are. = De YIN.
and q just peace is to be secured for the
world -r" -
We must face these trials with phil
osOphy, resolution, and calmness. We
must see in them not alone the inspir-
alton but the call to supreme effort.
When these readiustments have been
completed, it win be found that all the
brains and energy of the Nation which
have been released from occupations
nOnessential to the war, will be required
in enterprises and activities which
are essential to the war, and that the
welfare and prosperity of the country
as whole will not be impaired.
Business a usual' can not, of
course, be adopted as the guiding prin
ciple in time Of war. It is q wholly
wrong theory and should find no nd
VOcary or acceptance by the sensible
and patriotic people of America. Busi.
ness must be readjusted to the war,
making function of the Nation.
What is of superlative importanc in
the readjuStment that must take place
is that our people shall be impressed
with the necessity of eeonomizing in the
consumption of articles Of clothing.
food and fuel, and Of every other thing
which constitutes drain upon the
available supplies, materials, and re.
sources of the country. Everything
uStn n1 ;o L.. a
al. SO far as I have been able to oh,
serve, the American people are not suf
fclently aroused to the necessity of
economy and of saving in this really
serious time, not only in the life of
America but of the nations of the
world
People Must Economize
Up to the present there has been
relatively small denial of pleasures.
comforts, and eOnveniences on the part
of the average citizen. He Is drawing
upon the general store of supplies in
the country with almost the same
freedom as before America came into
the war. This can not continue with.
but serious hurt TO the Nation and to
the world
The great financial operations of the
gONernment can not be carried for
ward successfully unless the people
of the United States economic IN
every possible direction, save, their
money and lend it to the government.
BY saving money they give up some of
their needless pleasures; they -re[ure
their demand upon the general supply
of food, clothing, and other materials
in the country, releasing thereby that
much for the use Of our own armies and
the armies and civilian populations Of
the nations which are fighting the com
mon danger with us.
They are at the same time incrra~
ing their own material prosperity 10y
their savings, and they are directly
helping their government by lending
it the money with which it can buy
the necessary supplies and command
tn" necessary services to make our
fighting forces stronger and more cf
fectINe in the field; and this means
an earlier victory for American arms
The great difficulty is to impress
tins lesson of economy upon the Amer
can people. 1t will require widespread
propaganda and constant effort. With
tins in view, it was my privilege to
suggest to the congress the raising of
~, 600 100000 by the sale of warsuv
ngs stamps and thrift stamps, so that
the American people would have the
opportunity, as we'll as the direct cu