Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-09-30
FLEETS OF FOOD OR
LOADS OF DIAMONDS?
Herbert Hoover Proves His
CALDER as Statesman in
Able Article

"There is parallel between
our present economic condition
and that which followed the Civil
War; the same conditions Of eX-
travagance and big prices which
resulted in a great panic and
years of hard times" says Herb
ert Hoover in an article Of help
full hints, "Thrift and American
Women" in the Ladies Home
Journal.
Mr.. Hoover explains that we
may hope to avoid financial dis
aster which followed the Civil
War because we believe our eco
monte position much stronger
than it was in those early days
But he warns that we are confront
ed with world conditions Of up
set" which were unknown half
century ago and he comments:
"This is not just something for
statesmen and professors to worry
over but it reaches into the Amer
lean home and effects every fam
lily and every individual"
Suggesting a remedy for the
present tendency towards cXtrav-
agance, Mr.. Hoover says:
"It is as imperative today as it
was during the war, even more so,
that we should practice thrift in
all its forms.
every one Of us should cut out
extravaganza and waste; we
should save every possible five
cent piece even though it were
worth no more than postage
stamp; we should put our savings
into savings banks or into gov.
eminent bonds or other securities
or into homes or farms.
money that is wasted is de-
stroyed, as if cast into fire, and
the evil results are not confined
to the individuals waste and his
or her family, but are in fact
spread throughout society. This
is the crime and damage done by
waste"
Mr.. Hoover admits that it is diff
ficult and sometimes almost i'm.
possible" to define waste. "Much
has been said" writes Mr.. Hoover
"and written about silk shirts and
silk stockings. | will not condemn
the use of these articles but if
those who wear silk stockings
could see the millions of people
in Europe who have no stockings
at all and indeed no shoes, they
would take less satisfaction in the
sheen and pattern Of their hose. "
The article directed attention to
unacceptable individual responsible
ity and sets forth that thrift is
first matter of principle and sec
ondly that "there is no chance
of our individual effort in the
right direction being nullifed by
the action Of others, and adds:
"AbOut one third of our peo-
pie arc responsible for most Of
the extravaganza and waste in
this country. 1t is a heavy re
sponsibility that they bear. If
we could convert this one third
to simple living, the problem
would be solved
ct is the one third who are
guilty Of eXtravagant eating and
drinking in public places. They
spend $200,00O.0O every night in
New York City alone on restaur-
ant suppers. The nation spends
at least a million dollars a day
or $365,O00,000 a year in super
huous eating at hotels and res
taurants.
again it is the one third who
are mostly responsible for the
waste involved in the use Of jew
elry on which so many millions
are being spent. We are now OBJ
tanning great many diamonds,
other precious stones and articles
of ornament from Europe. Amer
lea sends to Europe shiploads of
useful commodities-fbod- stutfs,
machinery, cotton. She gets back
a wheclbarrow load of diamonds
and jewelry.
"Peoplc think that diamonds
are a good investment at a time
when Liberty Bonds and other
securities and money itself are de-
preciating in value, but this is a
childish fallacy. If persisted in,
a lot of people will find themselves