The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-09
WASTE CRIME
IN CROP HANDLING
IN UNITED STATES
Over Half of Vegetables and
Fruits Are Unfit to Send to
Market Because They Are
Not Preserved.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-The grand
jury OF history has returned a true bill
against the United States for waste,
n the charge has been proven time
after time, both in our national and in
dlVidual life. From SO to so per cent of
all fruit and vegetables raised in Amer
lea is wasted by inefficiency in preser-
walton for market. Soil erosion costs
he country over $500, 900, 900. over half
a billion dollars damage is done annu-
ally to crops, fruit trees, grain in stor-
age n live stock by noXious insects,
rodents, flies, ticks and other pests
which might have been prevented.
But there has been no more dangerous
and widespread waste than the waste Of
capital In Insecure and fraudulent spec
ulative investments. Thousands of
Americans toll and save and deny them
selves only to be swindled out OF their
hard earned money TO get-rich quick
promoters who sell worthless mining
stocks, worthless irrigation bonds, bogus
manufacturing stocks and in other prof.
ects the promoters Of which take the
widows mite as eagerly n readily as
they take the income Of the profess
sional man or the farmer.
Papers Boost Investments.
The reputable farm papers of the
country have received thousands of
letters Of inquiry from their readers
concerning such investments, They
range from oil to airplanes and give
evidence that the fake promoter is
working with unprecedented success
throughout the agricultural districts.
Those promoters have not been content
with old methods. Long ago, the
American farmer learned to protect
himself against the gold brick and the
contract Tor a set of books that turned
out to be a promissory note,
AnaAAJi-- J.. Tz,a.L' ~. IN ara0a HTsAn-
president Of the Northwestern National
bank of Minneapolis, the takers have
been conducting a school to train sales
men to trade the farmer out of his
Liberty bonds in exchange for fraudu-
lent and insecure stocks, Just as the
safe robber studies each new burglar
proof device, so the fake promoter
studies to meet the protection erected
against his assaults upon the money
of the Gamers.
Nor are their operations confined to
agricultural districts alone. Gov:
Smith, of New York, has isut invited
eleven ~financiers to investigate and
ors In the Empire state against the flood
Of issues of doubtful or more than
doubtful value.
But there is one protection against
which the stock faker Is powerless
That is the investment in government
ScCuTllleH, III lHOSe StCullllCb SilsiiCS
is eliminated. Thrift stamps, war saw
ings stamps, treasury savings o%ertifi-
Gates and Liberty bonds give opportun-
ity for the safe, conservative and proff
liable investment for any surl, no mat
ter how great or small,
America never needed capital more
acutely than now in the present eco
nomic crisis. President Wilson has
said that the situation Is as vital and
as full of dangerous possibilities as at
any time during the great war. To
waste the capital of the nation, both
that now invested in Liberty bonds and
that accumulated by practice Of thrift
ana saving taught during the war Is
little less than criminal.
The people of America can both con-
serve that capital and add to it by
steady and consistent investment In
government securities.