The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-09-05
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
HEADS UNITE IN ATTACKING
HIGH COST OF LIVING

Active entry into the present cam
paign to lower the cost of living was
urged upon the more than six million
members of War Savings Societies
throughout the country today by VIM.
Mather Lewis, Director of the Savings
Division of the Treasury Department.
Such steps already have been TAX
en- in New England, as the result Of
a conference in Boston at which Mr..
Lewis suggested such action, and
chairmen and chairwomen of savings
and societies and other thrift workers
are working hand in hand with the re-
vived state food administrations, and
in some cases acting as local repre-
sentatives.
There are 100000 Savings Societies
active in the United States at the
present time, being specially numerous
in the Industrial Districts. Their
membership already is engaged, Mr..
Lewis pointed out, in carrying out the
"Work and Save" plan urged by Gov
ernor W. P. Harding, of the Federal
Reserve Board, as one of the most
perpemptorily necessary of the meas
ules to be taken to reduce living costs.
every sound analysis of the present
price situations" said Mr.. Lewis,
''leads back to confirmation of Gov.
Harding's decision that no solution of
high living costs can be reached until
the country shakes off its present
spending intoxication and settles down
to demanding the receipt of dol
lars worth of food or material, meas
ured by the labor or effort required to
obtain that dollar.
Zone great trouble is that millions
of persons are not spending from
their earnings, but from their saw
ings of the past two years"
Liberty Bonds and other securities
accumulated by the most worthy and
patriotic sacrifice during the war are
oeing cashed at loss to purchase
luxuries at prices exorbitant even for
Injuries. The people have them
selves to blame if prices Of necessi-
ties have followed the prices of lux
ulies up. When merchants observed
the absolute carelessness with which
people parted with their money. We
read without particular surprise, be-
cause of numerous similar instances,
of a farmer buying out the entire
stock of expensive haberdashery in the
store where he was previously accus-
toned to drive hard bargains for ne
cessities.
1t is not essential that we return to
the extremes of economy, still less the
actual sacrifices, of war times. 1t is
essential, however, that we keep firm
hold on the savings accumulated by
purchase of war finance securities, not
only as matter of selfish benefit,
but as factor in bringing prices
down.
ut is absolutely necessary, as Gov.
Harding has pointed out, to work reg
ularly and efficiently in order to pro-
duce and distribute the largest posi-
BILE volume of commodities and to eX-
ercise reasonable economy in order
that money, goods and services may
be devoted primarily to the liquida-
ton of debt and to the satisfaction OF
the demand for necessities, rather than
Indulgence of desires for Injuries.
"Along those lines lies unbounded
opportunity for national service by
War Savings Societies and their men,
bers. Organized in nearly every line
of major industry, none is in better
position to know real facts as to pro-
duction and fair prices than members
Of the societies.
at lies in their power through reg
ular and consistent saving and safe
and conservative investment in such
securities as War Savings Stamps and
Savings Certificates, to add to the cap
ital necessary for industrial expansion
and increased production.
"Under direction of Attorney GEN
cral A. Mitchell Palmer, the Food Ad-
Of the United States
have been revived.
"This opportunity calls for active,
not passive work, 1t is not enough to
work. It is not enough to work and
save individually unless others are in
spired and encouraged to do likewise.
"The time for patriotic service is
now. The cost of living has presented
i crisis affecting the nation and its
people no less than armed strife. Gov
.rnor Harding, in his recent state
ntent. said: "Ihe war is over in mil
tary senss- and while the bills have
,ssa ssttlsd By ioAas " he govern
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