Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS SPEECH TELLING OF FINANCES


a saving of at least 81 a year must be
made. With 568,715 employees there
could be effected a saving of more than
half-million dollars a year. and that
seemed worth trying. OF course. the
more important purpose was the devel-
opment of the spirit of conservation of
Government money, time and supplies.
The proposal met with loyal response
from the service.
Idea Is Contagious.
"That this Woodpecker idea Is con-
tagious Is shown by a letter from
citizen Of Waco, Tex, who learned of
the project over the radio from this
auditorium. He asked for more details
saying he planned to organize one of
the clubs in the plant where he Is en-
ployed. I quote from his letter:
AS business is rather poor just now
and expenses rather high. it seems to be
necessary to assist my company in
every way possible to cut the cost and
increase production, and in so doing
realize we shall all benefit
Fortunate the business that has
men of this type on its pay roll.
II have an illustration for the especial
benefit of those critics who can see in
a budget report few cents saved on
pencils, which they ridicule, and fail to
notice q saving in that same report Of
1884 100000 under our general reserve
policy.
THE Interior Department circularized
It's employees urging them to enlist in
the Woodpecker Club and pledge them
selves to make a specific saving during
the year of at least 81. I read from
letter send to the district superin-
tendent by clerk at an Indian agency
in Oklahoma. The letter was re-
Spouse to the department circular:
From the appropriation for lights
and fuel have saved at least 81 -"
by sitting by the open fire in the eve
ming with the lights turned out except
when reading. Through an open
window my kitchen light shines into a
mirror on my bathroom wall, which in
turn reflects the light onto the white
wall opposite and Eliminates the entire
bathroom
And you smile. I did when first
read 1t. Then I pictured that lone
Federal worker. on an Indian reserva-
ton. in far-distant Oklahoma, with
little opportunity to save. studying to
omy and efficiency. And I smiled no
longer. Spanning the prairies, crossing
the rivers, and singing its way across
the great open spaces, that subdued
but penetrating note of economy that
pulses through every phase of Federal
activity, sounding clear and full in the
remotest parts Of the globe wherever
the flag flies, found a responsive echo
in the thought and consciousness of this
loyal worker at one Of the Nations
outposts.
Through an open window my
kitchen light shines into a mirror on
my bathroom wall, which in turn re-
fleets the light onto the white wall op-
posite and Eliminates the entire bath
room
Men Of Crusading Spirit.
fortunate the Government that has
men of that type on its pay roll. If
that crusading spirit could possess the
entire service, what a staggering record
Of saving we could make. Thank God
there's no degree Of merit in honest
service. The charwoman who con-
serves Federal soap at the expense of
her elbow in the interest Of saving is
entitled to the same medal for service
as ne WHO saves mll1lOnS.
MIR. President, at the Federal busi-
ness meeting held in this hall June 80,
1924. you made this declaration:
"I am for economy. After that I
am for more economy. At this time
and under present conditions that is
my conception of serving all the people.
Here Is the inspiration of our great
thrift crusade-not merely to save
money, but to save people. We had
tried to substitute to save for to
spend E had seemed dreary, drab
program. but you, Mr.. President, vital
tied 1t. and gave 1t human interest.
From a cold, irnperSonal thing. economy
became q matter Of the most intense
personal interest, not only to the peo-
pie In the service, but to the people OF
| the country who gave to your policy OF
saving their enthusiastic approval. A
miracle was wrought in the minds OF
| the many, and thrift became more
| nearly than ever before the habit Of
the Nation. AS result of the policy
taxes were reduced and something
more of hope and comfort and content
ment brought into the homes OF the
people. Joaquin Miller has q new and
believe truer conception OF that often
misapplied word hero:
1.-The hero we love in this land today
Is the hero who lightens some fell
low mans load.
Who makes of the mountain some
pleasant highway,
Who makes of the desert some BIOS
som-Sown road.
"This you have done, Mr.. President
The interest of the taxpayer and the
weil-being and happiness of more than
| 100, 000, 900 of people are inseparably
bound up in this policy OF saving
| Thrift has won for itself permanent
and prominent place in Federal admin
| istration. To you the everlasting
credit, to you the gratitude Of the peo-
| pie Of the country. and to you the
respect and appreciation of the Federal
service"