Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-14
Some High Cost Of
Living Points
For Women

ed by those in charge of the econo-
my movement in the United States,
Mrs. c. G. Ryan, director for Ne
braska:
We want the moral support OF
every American everywhere
Americas job right now is to
make sure of herself. We are the
one great nation of the earth that
is practically untouched and unex-
hausted by the ravages of war. II
is our responsibility to help carry
humanity through the coming win
ter and spring. There is not enough
food now in the world to provide
normal consumption. With the best
that can be accomplished by way of
organization and administration,
production and conservation, there
will be widespread privation and suf-
fering.
We must wage just as strenuous
and sincere a war for construction
this year as we did last year for
destruction.
industrial peace must restore, re-
build. reconstruct, recreate what war
has destroyed:
A full days work we'll done makes
tor happiness and contentment. Idle
ness is crime. Each individual
must justify his existence by con-
structive endeavor.
Sacrifice alone can conquer selfish
ness.
Americas ideal is service. Can
we hold ourselves to that ideal?
1t we fail it will be the supreme
tragedy of history-for our influ-
ence is worldwide and our domcs-
tic economic adjustment will settle
or unsettle world policies.
War has left behind a hideous
legacy of poverty and want, of suf-
fering and distress. There is con-
structive work to be done for mil
lions.
Present chaotic labor conditions
with high cost of living in its wake
can mean only unrest, discomfort
and strikes, followed by anarchy and
bolshevism.
We are living in a period of
"over-consumption which has al
ways in the past been followed by
an industrial crisis-must we have
panic to awaken the extravagant
among consumers and the unreason-
able and radical--among the labor
unionists to the fact that they are
living and acting as in fools para
disc? .'.
Individual economy and thrift
must be practiced. ....
When you buy what you do> not
need you are wasting labor that is
needed for the production of neces-
sites.
To carry on the present business
of this country requires the prac-
tice OF economy by every individual
member thereof.
The patriotic consumer who re-
spends to this demand of his govern
nent will naturally cease to pur-
chase unnecessary commodities and
will cease to employ labor and ma
terials in unnecessary ways.
A continuance of consumption of
unnecessary commodities is as in-
possible as it is undesirable.
The prudent and safe mariner is
the one who sees the gathering
storm and trims his sails.
Every person who buys luxuries
and non-essentials is unnecessarily
competing with the government at
time of crises, for the labor and
materials needed to promote the
manufacture of world necessities.
Let as get together and with the
mighty force of a united nation un-
dertake this grim fight against econ
omic disaster.
Saving is patriotic duty.
Many are indulging in a perfect
orgy of extravaganza and this ex-
travagance causes general race for
goods and has caused a speculation
on the part of wholesalers and re-
tailers, who feel quite safe in putting
up the price on a frenzied public.
If women could be induced to start
a real campaign of saving they could
bring about an almost panicky de-
cline of artificially boosted prices.
Women who want to accomplish
something worth while now have
the opportunity.
Ninety per cent of the money
spent for food and clothing is spent
by women. High prices will come
down il we refuse to pay them. If
we do not demand luxuries. mer-
chants will turn their attention to
the manufacture and sale of neces-
sites.
More pay-shorter hours"-as
this plea of workers in almost every
industry continues and demands for
increased wages and fewer working
hours are granted by manufactur-
ers. production declines. shortage
of goods results and like sky
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