Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-28
A Nation of Spenders

The United States has become a nation az .rsrders.
. fact very disturbing to various individuals apparently
inbued with the idea that real thrift consists Of care
fuiy saving every penny and spending nothing exceps
Tor the bare necessities of life. That this idea does
rot appeal to the American public is evidenced BY the
rapid mounting If annual expenditures for what ver.
formerly rated az Injuries to be enjoyed only by :
favored few.
According TO department Of commerce reports thu
number Of cigarettes manufactured in the United States
the past year exceeds 100, 900. 600, 900, each one Of which
did no individual any particular good further than to
add to his-or hor-joy in life. The department has
also discovered that each fifth person in this country
IL now the proud posscssor OF an automobile, and ii is
rresumed that the other four are either riding as pas
scn<ers or lodging traffic.
Statistic CLEANED from the nations resort centers
indicate that during the 1928 touring season some
s40ool000.o0 pore expended b. tourists, the major
part Of which would be reposing to their account in
the bank II they had not insisted upon seeing what
the world locked like outside their own little circle,
Alc. during the past year the average American has
consumtd l. pounds OF candy. at a total cost Of $780,
100000. sufficient 20 make up the deficit in the post
cffic. department. with enough left over for the rivers
and hsrbors appropriation, had the public been in
clincd 70 contribute IL for those purposes. Americas
jaws m~ast.rstcd $780, 100000 worth Of chewing gum,
notwithstandinc il was an election year and each indi-
vidusi voter took II upon himself or herself to devots
teNeral weeks 10 explaining why tney lntended 70 cast
their vote for AT or Herb" Added to this is the
SECT. fO0Ooo expended for ice cream, an annual average
cf . i-ee gallons per capita; s15O,oOo,ooo for cosmetics.
$lf0.N1a000 FOR music ard musical instruments, and
over si0o.00o,000 for radio. The latter item shows an
increase OF approximately 100 per cent over 1927.
Ar eminent educator Of Washington asserts that II
ell money wasted" annually for tobacco. chewing gum,
candy. cosmetics. liquor and thester tickets were saved
there would he enough to take care of the poor and ed.
uca;e the children Of the world. However, he fails 10
explain how much more would be necessary 70 Save"
in order to take care Of the millions thrown out Of en-
rloymcnt in the various industries which provide these
"lnxurics.'
while the American people have spent vast sums
FOR uou-cssontials they have saved more actual cash
than ever before. Savings accounts show a healthy
growth In every state, according to the bank reports; :
greater percentage Of the population than ever before
owns their own homes, and they arc spending more
money To make those homes attractive.
American prosperity lies in the fact that the people
arc not boarding their earnings. They are spending
their money to get the better things of life. to make
life more worth the living. Every industry in the
country is prcspcring rs a result. Hosrdcd money-is
wasted, 50 far a. the public Is concerned. very per
son is entitled to recreation and pleasure. and so long
as expenditures for those purposes arc kept within rea-
necessities, there Is no great measure Of waste.