Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-31

was in England scarcely distinguished
from mcanness. and counted az Il vice.
business as usual" proved tho most
popular. as 1t was the first catch
phrase of the war. No belief was moro
universally held or more unreservedly
acted upon than that spending Is good
for trade"
But we were faced by shortage OF
labor and matcriais--a shortage of
ships and men to build ships-a short
age OF equipment ut the docks and OF
labor Mt the docks--a shortage of rail-
way cars and Of the men to drive the
engincs-a shortage Of farm labor and
coal and miners-a shortage OF many
materials required from abroad.
The workers of the national war
savings committee have gone up and
down the country pointing to this
shortage and explaining it's cause.
They have enforced the lesson OF pa
triotic abstention from self Indulgence
which employs labor and material when
labor and material are short Tor war
needs. They have afforded facilities
for cooperative saving and organized
LEGAL effort so that every man. woman
aud child. whether his or her income
were small or large. could by increased
production and reduced consumption
help the national cause.
COMMITTEE breaches GOSPEL
OF GOODS AND SERVICES
The whole campaign OF the national
war savings committee can be summed
up III the statement that it mas
preached by all means in it's power the
gospel Of goods and services. 1t has
adopted all sorts Of expedicnts TO bring
home to the people the argument that
the war must be paid for out of new
savings: that every cent of private eX-
pcnditure not really necessary for
health and efficiency involves a diminu-
ticn of the goods and services available
for winning the war.
The problerp for those who are Tight
ing the battle for freedom and SELF
government and the UNFOLDING Of pub
lie right in the world is TO bring TO
bear all their resources that can pos
sibly be set free and use them 10 win
the war.
These resources cannot be increased
by any Juggling with finance. 1t does
not matter to the gunner whether the
she'll which he is firing cost half as
much or twice as much as IL would
have cost in 1913. What matters is
that he should have the shell.
The only way TO increase the num-
Der Of men and guns and shells and
, supplies available at the front to win
the war Is TO reduce the competition
OF private individuals for the goods and
services the government requires LOT
war needs This can only be done by'
increasing producti6a of the things
which are necessary and reducing the
consumption OF everything else.
have had the privilege OF beinS
closely associated with tho war savings
movement in Great Britain since its in
ception. The subject is very near my
heart and | believe II to be CT ex-
ceptionai importance not only for the
winning OF the war. but also for the
welfare OF the world after the war.
when IL Is the comfort and hope Of
mankind that new and better world
/ can be built up. hallowed by the sacri-
| fee Of life and ~ell-bcing which the
| war has brought upon US. Such re-
! construction will involve plentiful
/ supply of capital. and there is no way
| in which capital can be made available
| except through saving.
The national war savings committe C
, in their organization have refused to
regard themselves as being wholly. or
! even mainly. a bond selling institution.
! They have regarded as their first func-
ton the task Of encouraging saving.
! They have. OF course. encouraged peo-
| Dlc 10 lend their savings to the nation,
but provided the savings are effected
! they do not much care how the savings
are kept safe. So long as they are not
| boarded.
! il is remarkable fact that. In spite
| Of the special attractions OF the war
savings certificate, and OF the large