The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-02-02
THE WASTE OF IDLENESS

No factory should be closed and no person should be de-
priycd o. work as long as the products can find a arr un-
less other work can be found for the plant and the 'oherS
which is of more Importance to the nation There ar ~ uon
things as non-essentals in our industries. Some are heeoeu
more than others, but all serve some purpose, II no more nan
to please the eye. If work can be found for all In prouucns
foods, clothing, munitions of war, ships and other things ."
prime necessity which help win the war, let them nave preoe-
dence, but avoid causing involuntary ldleness.
To hold and increase our foreign trade, the INDUSTRIES .a.
supply goods for export must not be dlsorganlzed Dr. we on"Ii
be at the mercy of our competitors when peace is restoreu'
England, wisest of nations in trade affairs, is DONG Ill "dt 4
possible to maintain her foreign trade and supplant hr enc
mics in International markets, and, while doing so, Is looklhe
after her own interests without taking others into account
This policy is not conflicting with her efforts to win the war.
In America the strain is less severe and our resources u
greater, but we have no settled policy.
When a workmen is idle the community loses MS Vaiue a.
a producer and the cost of supporting him. 1t makes no al
ference whether lie is fed by relatives and friends, or In a
public institution, or by unorganized charity, or by his spend
ing part or all of his savings, the double loss is the same. iue-
ness is the worst waste. We must practice economy, but, as
President McGarrah of the Mechanics & Metals bank OF New
York says: "~Il-advised and impetuous economy, meaning III
employment and closed factories, would be demorallzng. IL
is evident to every thinking man that business must be sus-
tanned and the conversion of industry carefully Drough' aDou,
whereby the nations energies are transferred from the sahs-
faction of personal wants to the satisfaction OF the neeus o
the army and navy"
Some of our important industries have already been hur.
by the negative economy which he criticises. We must not
weaken our bodies and our finances by abstinence born OF
panic. We shall need all our strength to win this war and
nothing saps the power of a nation SO much and SO fast as en-
forced idleness and a lowered standard OF living.
If a man boards a dollar or a bag of sugar it benefits no
one while he holds it. If he lends the dollar or gives or sells
the sugar to the government TO. the prosecution of the war ne
helps the nation. The hoarder is worse than the spendthrlft.
We must economize, but we must neither hoard nor remain
idle. Money wisely spent is not wasted; money spent for non
essentials is put to poor use, but remains in circulation Money
boarded is valueless while in that condition.
Let us keep money in circulation and labor at work. Let
us give preference to the requirements of the nation, but keep
labor employed in some way until the government can find
work for all. 1t is unlikely that the government can do that,
SO we shall have surplus labor, including an army OF women,
who can produce real wealth for export and domestic trade.
The panic which obsesses the minds of some officials, if allow
ed to spread, can do more harm than an invading host.-New
York Commercial.