The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-10-24
HIGH COST OF LIVING
is A PARAMOUNT ISSUE

The United States has come out of
the world war stronger financially,
economically, socially, than any other
of the major nations.
Yet, even in the United States there
has been left heritage of acute prob
lens pressing relentlessly upon the
public mind for answer. Never with
in the memory of two generations
have the people of this country been
so resolved to meet surrent issues
squarely, so determined to find solu-
ton for those problems which are
depressing them and to bring about a
better social and economic condition.
1t is situation in which the lead
ers of public thought and action
business men, thoughtful women, men
and women of influence in every
sphere and line of work-must assert
their leadership. This is no time to
theorize. 1t is time to do something.
The root of this condition of the
public mind lies in the cost of living.
1t is this that has led to the estab-
lishment of that unfortunate process
sion in which wages for individual la
Dor, pushing up and up, have been
constantly and inevitably outstripped
by the prices of commodities which
those wages must buy.
Unfortunate, this process is called,
because it does not accomplish and
seeks to remedy. Its only possible
consequence can be an interruption of
the processes of production, which
must induitably cause, not an improve
ment in, but an accentuation of, the
| ill.
For what is it that really underlies
this public unrest? 1t is not that
shoes now cost twelve dollars where
they once cost six, nor that food stuffs
have doubled in price. This is al
ready generally admitted.
The public will gladly pay these
prices, provided that they can pay
them and still have proportionately as
much left, after the necessities of life
have been provided, as they used to
have.
1t is question, not of the cost of
living, but Of the margin between the
cost of living and the amount earned.
"In a word it is q question of thrift
thrift in production, which will tend
to increase individual earnings and
CHIlG III COHSuiHpIioIl, WHICH ny pre-
vention of useless destruction of goods
will tend to increase the general sup
ply of goods and reduce prices to the
consurem," says statement issued by
a Treasury Department official.
"And this applies not to any special !
group or class, but to every man, wo-
man and child in America. 1t applies !
to the manufacturer and the artisan,
to the housewife and the school child. |
Above all it applies to those in posi-
tons of leadership for it is to
them that the country looks for ex-
ample. Practice and encourage thrift,
systematic saving and regular invest
ment in some safe security like War
Savings Stamps, Treasury Savings
Certificates end Government Bonds"
These new Savings Certificates are
the most appealing securities ever Of
fered by the Government. They are
in denominations of 500 and $1,000,
bear interest at the rate of four per
cent compounded quarterly, and to all
interests and purposes are exempt
from taxation. They may be redeem
ed at any time two months after pur
chase by giving ten days notice. They
can never depreciate below par, for
they bear on their face the value ct
any given date before maturity.