The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-10
GOVERNOR LISTER, WASHINGTON.
 ON OWN YOUR OWN HOME DRIVE

The own Your Own Homo" cam lpaigns promulgated by the U. s. De- partment of Labor as a logical and sound way. of stimulating business and absorbing labor, was commended to the governors and mayors in their recent Washington conference, by MT. Ernest T. Trigg, president of the National Federation of Construction Industries MT Trigg said this ac- dvity carried on by the Division of Public Works and Construction De- veloDments, of the U. S. Department of Labor was a constructive, practical and desirable activity and urged the governors and mayors to get behind these campaigns in their communities 11r. Trigg said:
 "You came here for the purpose of getting some constructive thought as 10 how you can best solve the question of giving idle labor employment and how you can best hasten the return of normal peace conditions and gen eral prosperity.
 Hon. Ernest Lister, governor of Washington, in B. recent message to the legislature made this significant remark:
 Speaking from the standpoint of the state, believe it Is our duty and responsibility so to adjust conditions that there will be employment avail able in the state for every ab1e-bod- fed person willing to accept 1t. All of tho responsibility for furnishin z employment should not be showed over upon governmental agencies. It is true, the nation, state, counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions can assis' greatly In handling the problem. But is it equally true that investors who had contemplated the erection of a busi- ness building, the individual who de- sired 10 erect a new home, the man. ufacturer who intended making inn provements in his factory, all of whose plan were delayed by war conditions. ought now quickly to -r- range their affairs that they may proceed and thus aid in providing employment for those who desire and need l."
 Specifically what can a commun. fly do to be helpful in this essential revival of private building? There -is one concrete program which de- serves your earnest consideration. a simple program and yet one of un- limited possibilities. I refer to q local Own Your Home' campaign
 
 every community because:
 "1. It meets a fundamental need The nation is short of homes. Con servative estimates say we are short 500 600 homes since the war began Some authorities place the shortage at one million.
 "2. The campaign is of a charac- ter that will call to 1t every substan tiai business and civic element fl VOLT community. Your Chamber O. Commerce., Board of Trade, genera business organizations. your fnancia Institutions. your religious and labo: organizations, every element in you community interested in communit, improvement can be brought to co operate enthusiastically in this cam paign. Now. a campaign in whicl everybody can and will participate f the sort of campaign we need at thi time.
 "3. Frankly. your tnvestmen builder, the so-called speculativ builder is and will continue to be tn cautious builder. But the home i built for use and service and com fort It Is in fact. the worlds great est improvement. but those who buil' homes look more to comforts. con veniences and fuller fife as their re turns. than to dividend or interest on the money put into 1t. Therefore home owning today pays the same ra ton of that type of returns that did before the war-indeed 1t pay i greater returns than before the wa because if this war has made plain single fact 1t is the profound in huenee on our lives In the America khome am not attempting to pas to you time worn sentimentalite about the home. Rather I want { indicate that the intangible profit and returns to the home owner hay