Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-28
SELFIsHNESs
IS NOT TRUE ECONOMY
business Will Not Help
Win War.
LET SAVING BE INTELLIGENT
Each Person Should Strive to Con-
duct His Afairs From n Broad.
Patriotic, Sensible Standpoint,
Just to Nations business.

NEW YORK, April 27.-"Practicea Of
economy that foster persona! scihsh-
ness ana money boarding are a LONG
way from either thrift or patriotism
declares 5. ". Straus. president OF the
American Society for Thrift. IN state
ment made public to-day.
Through patriotism we are able I"
attain the sublime heights OF Coniplet"
unsclnsuucss. II is the very antthesis
OF personal consideration. THRIFT
means progress and efficiency. 1t ~ as
necessary In winning the war AS tfie
spiri. OF unsclAshness. Any form Oh
economy. therefore. That encourages
selfish tendencies IS me poorest sof'
" patriotism.
IN The complicated economic era
which the war has brought upon US
We should at no time lose sight OF the
dangers Of misguided thrift; me pres
cnt situation is SO new and strange -
tho averag. American citlzen ana X
presents 30 many complex situations
that considerable pnrpleSity al times
EXISTS as TO the most pair!otc cOnFS"
TO be pursued ia the administration OF
ones individual affairs
What may be regarded by me IN
djvidual as iaudable zeal unseiiisn pa
tr!ot!sin ana thrift misht in reality
be most unfair 10 legitimate business
10 which the nation must look Tor
support in these days Of tremendous
war expenditures
The motives ot seihshnsss. personal
comfor, or personal pleasure. should
not enter into The question. in ihese
DAYS the whole world of humanity Is
suffering. These are Zines when trc-
mendous personal sacrifices ar" n"Hcs-
sary II is not the tim" FOR one !"
stand on so-calleh personal rights II
IL the duty Of each Of us 20 mako sac
l,rI l.
ever hardshlps may come as result
OF the war
I'm all personal matters however.
care should he exercised that We do not
go to unreasonable lengths. Many pco-
pie believe that the sum total Of thrift;
Is boarding money ,hat the thrift?
man is he who spends ~ little as pos
Eiblc REGARDLESS. OF his personal con
ditions boarding money is IA Var
from renl thrift as the South Is from
the North. Saving money IL stone
In N. foundation OF thrift. 1t Is tho
first step In tho development OF a
sturdy character. FOR true thrift; means
real character development.
THRIFT ESSENTIAL. RIT
SHOULD BE INTELLIGENT
~ the present tame, when thrift -
matter o, such vita! Importance 10
all OF US. il Is most "sseutia! tina; II be
practIced intcliiscnt!y because OF the
eject IL VIII nave on tit ln.lNiHIa!
and on the nation our citizens are
being called on TO raise several billions
OF dollars a year. In order that tho
loans may be properly absorbed
by the country. legitimate business
must DC protected. The business nsn
who Is forced into bankruptcy Is Ger
tain!y not able 10 lend as inuch ind!y!d-
ual support 10 war finances as he
would be had his business remained
solvent.
'Indiscrlmlua,e economy, therefore,
carries with II tho danger OF in!us-
tice 10 Legitimate business. without the
corresponding benefit resulting there
from II winning the war.
Each OF us should strive 20 conduct
our affairs from n broad. patriotic. sem
shle point OF view and keep in nina
that the business organization o. the
country has rights and uses that must
not hc overlooked. While food am.nu-
niton and guns are necessary in win
ming tho war. money also Is essential,
and at no time has this fact been more
apparent than during our third Liberty
loan drive.
AS the goes on there will bc
continually a greater need for the prac-
,ioe OF thrift.
MORE AND MORE MONEY!
MUST RE RAISED
More and more money Will have to
be raised Tor war purposes. Nor. food
will have to be conserved. more WASTE
Will have 10 be eliminated. and for
these reasons il is essential! that, n,
the practices OF thrift become more
general they should be more thor
oughly understood
"Unhappily the word thrift already
has hcen sadly nisuscd.
Thrift. 70 he of fundamental ana
lasting benefit TO the nation. must be
practiccd broadly and in,clliscntly
1--WE must remember that the gov
ernment OF the United States and It's
needs come ahead of every personal
consideration. The war must be won
at any price.
I'VE mus, pay for victory remcm-
berinS that at any coss II Is cheaper
70 win than to pay the price OF defeat
But. while pressing on In this de-
termination. 1t is we'll 10 be reminded
from time to time that we will proft
nothing as nation by the establish
nent OF wholly fictitious standards OF
by developing habits Of personal sell
fishness.
More and more as the days go by,
the practice OF thrift will be necessary,
therefore they must be carried out un-
derStandinGly, In order that the great
est amount OF good Will result. Thrift
is most essential in winning the war
and will be Of incalculahle value in the
days Of reimbursement that will come
with the dawn OF peace. But It would
be unfortunate for the thrift move
ment II any harm were done at this
time under the guise Of misunderstood
and misdirectcd thrift"