The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-05-20
President Standish Expresses
 Philosophy On Building

[ have home. A noted socio1ogist has said, Give every family a home with l lawn and flowers and trees in front and a, garden in the rear, and crime will disappear in two generations.' l When the place which shelters q man | and his loved ones is their own when no one has a right to order them to move out-the place, however | humble, becomes a. home-they be- come interested in its advancement. and every tree and Shrub-every day | and year the family live adds to the | tender, loving associations entWined about it, and home" becomes to them
 one of the sweetest words of human | speech.
 "The toll and sacrifice and Se1f-de- | nta1 by which a man wins home. | elevates and enobles him, adds to his | se1f-reSpect, and the respect of others | for him, gives him a standing and in l f1uence in the community that a rent | CT can never have!
 And yet, notwithstanding the evi- dent truth of these propositions, every
 recurring census of the United States l shows that an increasing ratio of the public live in rented houses. I've cannot dismiss the pleas for homes for the people as a mere ben evolent sentiment. It is a vital topic for the hardheaded practical business man, and all men of affairs in this and every other city of the land must
 
 We are all aware of disquieting ru-
 mors or social unrest throughout the country, of the presence of anarchists and bolshevists with their destructive
 aims and purposes, which threaten tD destroy the Government and over turn our social order. Laws have been passed prohibiting the display of red flags and strengthening the power of
 the police to suppress public gather
 ings and meetings where disloya1 re-
 medies are merely the treating of symptoms and are intellectual to cure
 the disease.
 Homes vs. Red Flag.
 We must begin farther back and see to it that our citizenship is so sat isfied and contented that doctrines of bolshevism will never take root in American soil A home owner will never raise the red flag of anarchy over his home which shelters his wife and children-the home owner has an interest and a stake in the country, he will always be patriotic and loyal citizen. Depend upon it that man seated by his own fireside, sur rounded by his own family, will never be attracted by doctrines of destruc- tion. The most effectual antidote against the dangerous tenedencies of cur times is to make it possible for every man to own his own home. - No more vital problem can engage public attention than the question of providing homes for the people. Leg islation alone cannot adequately cope with these problems but an aroused public sentiment which appreciates the vital importance of home build ing to a community can do much to foster home sentiment. and help bring the glad day when every family shall be housed under it's own roof, and the heartcraving of the people for a home shall be satisfid.
 The ideal city, the one which will achieve permanent prosperity, will be the city which considers more the spirit of it's citizens than the size of it's population, and which has more regard for the morals of it's people than for their material wealth.
 The spirit and purpose of those who are building and loan business is of service, and building and loan workers were entitled to be classified with scientists. physicians, artists. teachers, and the like whose driving force is the spirit of service rather than gain. The laborer is worthy of his hire, and building and loan work CTS are entitled to adequate com pensation for their services. Our work calls for devotion and ability and good service is entitled to good pay, but nevertheless building and loan leaders are men dominated first by the spirit of service. and all building and loan plans contemplate only such recognition of the idea of profit as is essential and necessary to the maintenance of the sysem. On the other hand comm ercial banking has for it's chief goal the making of money, and service finds its recog- milton in their system as a necessary incident to the successful making of profit That banker is considered most successful who can push the | stock of his bank to the highest pre- l miun; whereas the building and loan | man who is considered most success | full is the one who confers upon the l most people the blessing of thrift and ! home owner ship. Our work is altruiS- tic it always blesses and never blights. rs spirit is to look up and lift up.
 It is certainly encouraging to feel | that you are in a work that always helps and never flinders. You work cents. but your accounts cause count less heart-throbs of joy and none of sorrow: they strengthen character: they afford a college education to scores of young people: they save from what the wives and children of men stricken with death and disease and they answer the heart call of of men and women for a home of their own- This night 5n this city children at their mothers knee, will say their bed time prayer in homes builded by your aid. Thou possible by your institutions.
 You have fought good fight you have kept the faith, and there is laid up for you a crown of building and loan righteousness'
 It must be evident to every reader of this article that the Building and | Loan movement was grand in its con ception. but grander still in its ac- tuaI operation Upon us lies the task | of spreading these teachings of in II iustry and thrift