New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-25
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YouCan Afford.
Hardi1ngAdvises
breaches Gospel of Thrift
and Economy to Visitors
From West Virginia; Tells
How He Meets Problems
Assails Shipping Board
Promises to Reduce Cost of
Government as Means of
Lowering Living Expense
From stag Correspondent

MARION. Ohio, Sept. 24.--Next to the
League of Nations the most important
issue before the country is the high
cost of living, Senator Harding de-
ciared in a speech from his porch to-
day. The Republican candidate spoke
to delegation of 1 200 West Virginans
who came here in $40 flag bedecked
automobiles. 1t was the first time he
had discussed this question since his
speech of acceptance.
81 know it is in the American hea TT
to have somebody, somehow, say and
say truthfully, that we are going to
modify the extraordinarily high cost
of living the Senator said, and above
the applause sounded the voice of some
one shouting. Right you are"
Il wish | could say something spec-
fic to you, my countrymen, on this
point" Senator Harding continued. at
Is very easy to stand before a company
OF ones fellow countrymen and in
weigh against the high cost of living,
and cry out against profiteering and
say we mean to bring living costs
down. But | won't cheat my fellow
countrymen in order co win their favor
in this campaign"
The Senator told how he had delved
into this subject, how he had ques-
toned hundreds of men in an effort to
learn one specific thing that could be
done to change the situation.
Individual Effort Required
II know some means that may be
harmonized in bringing about reduc-
ton in the cost of living, and | repeat
them to you: the first great contribu-
ton must be made by yourselves" he
continued.
you cannot expect reduction of
the cost of living under the natural
operations of business so long as Amer
lea continues to consume in the de-
hrlum of war extravaganza
Il make it a practice in my own life,
II find something more expensive than
l think can afford to buy, to decline
to buy. And that is the one thing that
the American citizen can do to bring
the cost of living down somewhere to
dependable figure once more. Next,
increased efficiency of production. You
cannot have high wages and reduced
cost of production unless you have bet
ter efficiency accompany the high
wages. and ! care not who may attempt
to challenge the statement.
In the next place, | want 70 preach
the gospel of thrift and economy. The
nation which will make the first recov-
cry from the waste and depression of
the World War will be the nation that
lives thriftily and within its means.
preach the gospel Of thrift for the
United States
81 do not mean that | advocate a
lower standard of American living.
rejoice that America can live high
But America must live within her
means
Illustrating the economic conditions
that set wages mounting higher and
higher during the war Senator Hard
ing turned to Americas shipbuilding
efforts. stating parenthetically that he
sometimes thought that if the United
States had had a merchant marine
comparable with it's navy Germany
never should have proposed the sub
marine warfare that finally brought us
into the war. He reviewed the pres
sure for speed and manpower and
added:
Under very natural and unfailing
law of life in the call for manpower
we advanced compensation until to-day
America is paying the highest wage
XIX anywhere in the world"
The Senator paused impressirely
with uplifted hand. Then he said:
Il want that high wage to abide, my