The Washington times., 1919-12-12
j. S. SHOULD LEAD
WORLD IN THRIFT
Use Publicity to Make Invest.
ments Safe for People, Ad-
vertising Man Urges.

America should lead the world in
savings accounts if'the people of the
country will cultivate habits of thrift.
according to Rudolph Guenther. presi-
dent Of the Rudolph. Guenther, Rus
sell Law, Inc, of New York, financial
advertising experts.
Wages are higher in the United
States than anywhere else" Guen-
thsr said. land. therefore, Americans
could and should be easily first
In the matter of annual savings.
"We all want the United States to
take first place among the nations,
and each of US can help to our mu-
tual advantage by encouraging habits
Of thrift and the provision of oppor-
tunities for profitably employing
those savings so that Americas for
eign and domestic commerce are up
built.
Saving and investing have been
cruelty discouraged in this country
by the activities of thousands of un-
scrupulous promoters. who, under
the guise of brokers' swindle the
public out Of millions annually.
Publicly Advocated.
Investment bankers and brokers
who are honest and ethical have
made too little use of the medium of
publicity. They have failed to avail
themselves of the power of adver-
Using in. order to attract the atten-
ton of the public to their firms and
offerings. Honorably managed COR
porations have failed, also. to bring
home, to the public through adver-
tising what progress they have made.
II they would publish periodical fnan-
cial reports of their concerns the in
vestor could gain for himself an idea
Of the attractiveness Of their securi-
ties.
Every dollar .ilched by q dishonest
broker from a small investor Is q
weapon turned against all that hon.
est capital stands for. BY spreading
among the growing army Of investors
in this country statements showing
their condition, thriving corporations
would do much toward selling their
bonds and stocks and would divert
hundreds of millions of dollars from
unsafe to safe investment channels.
"Clean-cut, above-board publicity
costs money, but 1t brings returns
which are far -reater not only in inn
mediate financial ways. but In i'm
proved confidence on the part of the
public. in so-called big business
Legitimate investment bankers do
not enjoy half the business they
lead in educating the public regard
ing the many-sided advantages of
thrift. because unless Americans can
be induced to invest wisely we can
not hope to become the most infiuen-
tial nation of the world.
should Educate Masses.
1T is the duty of the bankers to
put their shoulders to the wheel and
help educate the people in the ad-
vantages of being bank depositors,
and trustworthy brokers and bond
dealers should not permit unworthy
dealers to monopolize the publicity
field. Nothing ever has been sold un-
less some one learned IL could be
bought, and the public should be told
just how. where, and why high class
securities should be purchased in
stead of those which promise a big
return but have no basis for such
claims.
THE small investor is a more i'm
portant factor than the big man in
the upbuilding of the nation, and
therefore bankers should appeal to
the millions of men instead of only
to the men of millions.
Make the little man a saver and
there will be no need to spur him
along to become an investor. Once
the man of small means understands
the rudiDsents of safe investing, the
get-rich-quick- breed will have to
look elsewhere for suckers"