Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1919 — SAVINGS BODIES URGED TO HELP HIGH LIVING COST [ARTICLE]

SAVINGS BODIES URGED TO HELP HIGH LIVING COST

Government Director Lewis | Makes Appeal to Six Million Members—Seventh District Takes Action. Active entry Into the campaign to lower the cost of living is urged upon i more than six million members of [ War Savings societies throughout the ! country hy William Mather Lewis, director of the savings division of the treasury department. The mewmige for Chicago and the rest of the sev- | enth federal reserve district was sent by Mr. Lewis to W. B. Bosworth, executive secretary of the District War Savings organization. There are 160,000 active savings societies, chiefly in Industrial concerns. In his appeal Mr. Lewis said:— “No solution of the high living costs can be reached until the country, shakes off its presnt spending intoxication and settles down tb demandlng a dollar’s worth of food or material measured by the labor or effort required to obtain that dollar. Millions of people are notspehdlng frbm their earnings, but from their savings of the past two years. “Liberty bonds and other securities accumulated by patriotic sacrifices during the war are being cashed at a loss to the purchaser to buy luxuries at prices exorbitant even for luxuries. It is not essential that we return to the extremes of economy and sacrifices of war times, but it is essential that we keep firm hold on the savings accumulated during the war, not only as a matter of personaLhenefii, hotas a factor in bringing prices down. “Enrolled in these government sayings societies are more than six million people close to the very heart of American industrial life. It Is In their power to increase the flow of production. It is in their power to check waste among themselves and those dependent upon them, as well as in the communities in which they live. This can be done by wise buying and treating what they buy with respect to the hours of labor its purchase cost them. It is in their power, through regular and consistent saving and safe and conservative investment in such securities as War Savings stamps and Treasury Savings certificates to add to the capital necessary fpr industrial expansion and increased production. “The savings division of the treasury department, therefore appeals to the savings societies to re-enllst in this campaign. They can show the people of America how, and what to ouy. They can teach how and when to save. They can assure a larger part of our national effort to production of necessities. They can aid to bring about increased employment and prevent the lowering of the general standard of living In America.” Harry Edwards Clay, manager of ehe War Savings stamp societies for the seventh district, lost no time sending out an appeal to the 1,000,000 members in Illinois, Michigan, lowa, Indiana and Wisconsin backing up the plea from Washington. “There is no more potent factor In the present campaign to cut the high living cost than the government savings society. The dTUEr Lewis gives another reason why men and women should join these societies, and why those who are members now should become active in the work. As Director Lewis says, they can show the people of the country how, when and what to buy, and they have It In their power to increase the flow of production and check waste among themselves and others In their community, as' well as to assist In prosecuting cases of profiteering. This work will help each one individually. It will aid in bringing about better condi- —