Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-11
SAVINGS BODIES
URGED TO HELP
HIGH LIVING COST
Government Director Lewis
Makes Appeal to Six Million
MemberS-Seventh District
Takes Action.

Active entry into the campaign to
lower the cost of living is urged upon
more than six million members of
War Savings societies throughout the
country by William Mather Lewis, di-
rector of the savings division of the
treasury department. The message
for Chicago and the rest of the sew
enth federal reserve district was sent
by Mr.. Lewis TO w. h. BOsworth, ex-
ecutive secretary of the District War
Savings organization. There are 160.-
600 active savings societies. chiefly in
industrial concerns. In his appeal Mr..
Lewis said:
mo solution of the high living costa
can be reached until the country
shakes off its preSnt spending intOXi-
cation and settles down to demanding
a dollars worth of food or material
measured by the labor or effort re-
CURED to obtain that dollar Millions
of people are not spending from their
earnings but from their savings of the
past two years.
accumulated by patriotic sacrifices
during the war are being cashed at a
loss to the purchaser TO buy luxuries
at prices eXOrbitant even for luxuries
II is not essential that we return to
the extremes of economy and Sacri-
fees of war times, but il is essential
that we keep firm hold on the saving,
accumulated during the war, not only
as matter of personal benefit, but
as factor in bringing prices down
Enrolled in these government saw.
ings societies are more than six mil.
lion people close to the very heart of
American industrial life. Ii is in their
power to increase the flow of produc-
ton. 1t is in their power To check
waste among themselves and those de.
pendent upon them, as well as in the
communities in which they live. This
can be done by wise buying and treat.
ing what they buy with respect to the
hours of labor its purchase cost them
Ii is in their power, through regular
and consistent saving and safe and
conservative investment in such Sc
curities as War Savings stamps and
Treasury Savings certificates To ado
TO the capital necessary for industrial
expansion and increased production.
THE savings division of the treas
ury department, therefore appeals tC
the savings societies to re-enlist iu
this campaign. They can show the
people of America how, and what &c
buy. They can teach how and when
10 save. They can assure a larger
part Of our national effort to produc
ton of necessities. They can aid tC
bring about increased employment and
prevent the lowering of the general
standard of living in America"
Harry Edwards Clay, manager o.
the War Savings stamp societies fol
the seventh district, lost no time send
ing out an appeal TO the 100000 mem
bers in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Ind
ana and Wisconsin backing up tn
plea from Washington.
There is no more potent factor IL
the present campaign 10 cut the higf
living cost than the government saw
ings society. The statement of Mr.
Lewis gives another reason why mer
and women should join these societies
and why those who are members now
should become active in the work. As
Director Lewis says, they can show the
people of the country how, when anc
what to buy, and they have ii in their
power to increase the flow of produc
tiop and check waste among them.
selves and others in their community
as well as to assist in prosecuting
cases of profiteering. This work will
help each one individually. 1t will
aid in bringing about better condi- |
tions."