The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-11-01
CUSTOMERS CAN
GUT THE /. {. |.
!. SAYS OFFICIAL

ChIcago-A nation wide movement
| to police our own pocket books and
develop courage OF the customer In
front OF the counter TO refuse to buy
an article which he cannot AFFORD. was
advocated today by Orrin c. Lester.
vice-drcctor OF the savings division
OF tho Treasury Department. Speak.
ing before the annual convention OF
the International Lyceum and Chau-
tauqua Association. In session hcre.
Mr.. Lester said that the development
Of courage to refuse TO buy and to do
Il with as much grace and praise rs
the clerk behind the counter names
the price. would make economy both
fashionable and respectable In Amer
lea.
"It Is estimated" Mr.. Lester said.
that for most incomes an average
OF 20 to 40 per cent may be allotted
for clothing. Why should not tho
people Of not too small incomes start
a concerted effort to refuse to buy an
article Of food or clothing that costs
more than a proper proportion OF the
above percentages7 A dollar is only
half rs large as Il was four and q
half years ago. We must either in
crease the sire OF the dollar or nd Just
our wants to the size II now is.
Merchant Cooperation
IN a movement OF this character.
the people would be cooperating with
the merchants In most practical way.
They would make II possible for the
merchant to render the sort OF sery.
ice that he desires to render TO his Gus.
toner and which he can only render
rs the customer exercises discretion
and intelligence in his buying and buys
only those things which his income
justiies.
Goods were made TO use. not 10 see.
and when n people viii not use them
they will not sell. When they will not
sell, they come down In price or 90
out OF existence"
In discussing thrift and the need for
the wise use OF money. Mr.. Lester
made especial appeal to the women of
America. He said:
THE government movement for saw
ing. conducted through the medium OF
the sale and distribution OF Thrift and
War Savings Stamps and Treasury
Savings Certificates, is very closely con.
nected with tho question OF the high
living cost. The practical and lasting
answer to this question lies more in
education than in investigation. The
Federal Food Administration found
that 80 per cent OF products consumed
In this country passes through the
hands OF the women OF this country.
People Supreme
"All the profiteers combined and all |
the combines together cannot defeat |
the people on this question when they |
get interested enough and information |
enough to act together. The thing | |
want to see In this connection II a |
Refuse to Buy movement among the |
people Of this country. A prominent |
produce dealer Of San Francisco said
the other day. II the people should
take II into their heads to stop eating |
any one perishable food for Ave days,
they could ruin the market
"A Pacific Coast newspaper, dis
cussing this statement editorially, put
Its finger on the cost Of living remedy
when It said: 1t may be that prom.
teering IL at the bottom of present
high prices. but Q man cannot profteer
II you refuse TO buy his goods
Regardless Of investigations and
criminal prosecutions. we shall have
the problem OF the high cost Of living
SO long as we have an sxtravagant and
thoughtless consuming public"
Mr.. Lester concluded with an ap-
peal for the speeding up OF produc-
tion. the elimination Of useless waste,
consistent and rigid economy and say.
Ing and investment OF those savings In
government savings securities and
Liberty Bonds.