The Coconino sun., 1919-02-28
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.

What this country needs now more than anything else is vast army of savers and investors. Our armed forces have done their work, and the enormous burden of financing the war is nearing its end.
 But the future prosperity of this country and it's pre-eminence in world affairs depend up individual econom- ics, and these economies must become a matter of habit.
 We talk of the thrift of the French, but there is nothing inherent in the French nation which has made them the prevalent people they are. It has been a matter of necessity, and through the experience of generations of thrifty people, thrifty communities and thrifty nation, they have estab- lished the habit. It is easy to ac- quire because it is normal.
 We Americans have been living in a land where nature is prodigal. If we wanted land, all that we had to do was to file claim. We didn't hoard for three or four generations to get money enough to buy three or four acres. We took up quarter section.
 For our minerals we went to the virgin hills and dug out what we wanted. For timber, we chopped down trees that were standing when Penn made his treaty. We have done things on big scale, thinking that America was for Americans and that our riches would last forever.
 But suddenly we realize that we can ~ot ,,olat1I "a have relations with the whole world. As a matter of ethics or philanthropy, we are obliged no longer to force our attentions upon a reluctant globe, millions of hands are outstretched to- ward us.
 As a matter of business, since the whole world is looking to us to lead in solving the problems of reconstruc- tion--problems that will remain for generations-it is the part of wisdom to set our house in order that we may be able to measure up to our oppor- tunities.
 We need universal thrift to meet the era that is to come, as badly as we needed it for the era that is past.
 A hundred millions of people can't fritter away their earning in luxuries without becoming soft and without placing themselves at disadvantage in the economic struggle that is sure ly coming. What is true of an indi- vidual is true of a people; self-indul- gence in time breaks down self-res- pect, for we cannot have what we spend.
 In the liberty loan and war savings campaigns, America has undertaken a tremendous propaganda. A gospel has been preached that has reached to every fireside. It has been worth more in forming habits and in bring ing home to people their individual responsibilities than all the money it has brought forth.
 Perhaps that should be said with a qualification: If this habit is con- tinued until habits of thrift, economy and safe investment become ingrained in the people-until the old habits of wastefulness shall become unpopular and a matter of comment-then, in deed, our savings campaigns will prove a blessing.
 And this leads to two lines of thought: We are performing a use ful service, not only to the nation, but to individuals when we urge the peo- pie to invest in government securities; and such an organization. that has done so much to turn the tide of popu- lar thinking in the right direction should not be abandoned when the fifth loan is subscribed.
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 You can't restore an amputated leg by substituting a cork one, nor a fad