The Julesburg grit-advocate. (Julesburg, Colo.) 1907-1972, 1918-02-07
KEEP BUSINESS GOING

The movement for sane thrift as
against the parsimonious drawing
tight Of purse strings against the pur
chase of anything but the actual ne
cessities Of life is growing apace. All
over the nation business men are be-
ginning to feel the effect of the cam
paign conducted to encourage a gen
eral closing down of business except
in so-called non-essentials. Many of
them see in nOn-essentials everything
that is not essential to the other fell
lows business, and there is fast
growing disposition to resist this kind
of tide.
The first open answer to the propO-
sition of indiscriminate saving ac-
cording to press reports, was made by
, the business men of Greenwich, Conn,
who forming Bureau of Business AZ
fairs. went direct to the public thru
advertisements in the newspapers and
by means of placards posted in the
stores, told the people in plain Ian
guage, just what indiscrminate thrift
would mean to them.
There was no disposition to oppose
! the governments desire for care Far
| ing that this attitude must not be mis-
| understood, and determination not
| to let misinterpretation pass without
challenge.
Perhaps the clearest enunciation of
the feeling of sound business men has
been made by S. w. Straus, president
of the American Society for Thrift
| who has this to say on the subject:
1.-THE practice of indscriminate
economy carries with it the danger OF
injustice to legitimate business with
out corresponding benefits resulting
:herefrom in winning the war. And
this tendency presents the possibility
of fostering, moreover, a popular mis-,
understanding of the true meaing OF
thrift.
1--WE must bear in mind that money
is lust as essential in winning the wal
as foods, ammunition and guns. Any
condition, therefore, which tends tc
halt business and to stop the flow OF
money through the customary chan.
nels weakens our financial power
Money is merely the symbol of wealth
Within itself it has no value except.
ing when in circulation or when used
| as basis of credit. Real wealth on.
ly comprises what money can buy"
Let US differentiate carefully be.
tween the elimination of waste and
the withholding of money from legit.
innate business. The encouragement
| of extravaganza, of course, is not i'm.
piled in this statement. In the prac.
tice of thrift now, and at all times
| there should be no waste.
American business constitutes one
of the strongest assets to the allied
cause. A financial panic in America
now would be real disaster for oul
government and would place it at 8
TREMENDOUS disadvantage in securing
money with which to finance itself
and our allies.
In times of peace it is the part Of
good citizenship to be thrifty because
of it's benefits to the individual, botf
in strengthening material resource.
and impairing stability of character
And patriotic thrift in these war day.
means more. 1t means the placing o.
national need ahead of all private con
sideration. But it will be most un
fortunate if false practices of eeono
my are carried to such an indiscrimi
nate length that an epoch Of receiv
CHIP will be precipitated.
And it would be most unfortunate
from the standpoint Of ourselves ant
posterity if such condition Of affair
were brought about under the misap
piled name of thrift"
Thrift does not mean tight-fisted
ness. 1t means progress-upbuildint
-propserity-the development of sen
sible habits of living. Mere none!
saving is ac!y one attribute Of tru
constructive thrift.
Let US avoid hysteria.
A great cry is abroad in our coun
try for greater economy. 1t is a or,
which if listened to and wisely inter
preted can serve as a wonderfully use
full warning. 1t may save the da
for America and her allies, and it ma
protect millions of people from want
But if it be misinterpreted, if it onl
serves to brighten people into a PAM
| af ,,;~r, rJ1;pass kbor II will do IN