--- title: Thrift and Economy url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/thrift-and-economy-council-of-national-defense-1917/ description: A text-only notice under the headline 'Thrift and Economy' urges every citizen to cut spending on dress, food and living. section: Collection --- 1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/) 2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) 3. Thrift and Economy [![Thrift and Economy, 1917 US poster: A text-only notice under the headline 'Thrift and Economy' urges every citizen to cut](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/thrift-and-economy-council-of-national-defense-1917.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/thrift-and-economy-council-of-national-defense-1917.jpg) # Thrift and Economy A text-only notice under the headline 'Thrift and Economy' urges every citizen to cut spending on dress, food and living, and ends with the signatures of the Council of National Defense, headed by six Cabinet secretaries, and its Advisory Commission. A footer converts small savings into national totals ('One cent saved each day by every person ... means $1,000,000 per day'), the poster's tell for aggregate-figure persuasion. ## Propaganda techniques used in this poster [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/) ## Text on the object Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` THRIFT AND ECONOMY The Council of National Defense and the Advisory Commission to the Council, believe that a concerted effort for economy by the people of the Nation will not only go far toward paying America's expenses in the war, but will also reduce consumption of raw and manufactured materials essential to the conduct of the war. The Council urges all to refrain from unnecessary expenditure of every kind, and to bear constantly in mind that only one thing is now of real importance, and that is the winning of the war. The Nation's resources in manpower, money, transportation, foodstuffs, raw materials, and fuel, have already been subjected to heavy strain, and it is the clear duty of every citizen to guard against increasing this strain by a single wasteful act. It is most creditable for everyone--man and woman, boy and girl--to be economical in dress, food, and manner of living. Every evidence of helpful self-denial on the part of all in a time like this is most commendable. This war is more than a conflict between armies; it is a contest in which every man, woman, and child can and should render assistance. Thrift and economy is not only a patriotic privilege; it is a duty. COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE The Secretary of War, Chairman The Secretary of Navy The Secretary of Interior The Secretary of Agriculture The Secretary of Commerce The Secretary of Labor ADVISORY COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE [handwritten signatures of the Advisory Commission members, with the small labels Chairman and Director; not transcribed as names] ONE CENT SAVED EACH DAY BY EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES MEANS $1,000,000 PER DAY ONE LUMP OF SUGAR SAVED EACH DAY BY EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES MEANS 2,000,000 POUNDS PER DAY ``` Printed text read in full from the 2000 px scan. The handwritten signatures are not transcribed as names; the labels 'Chairman' and 'Director' beside two of them are printed. [← These New Yorkers Volunteered Last Week. Is Your Name on This List?](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/these-new-yorkers-volunteered-last-week-1917/) [So hilft dein Geld Dir kämpfen! In U-Boote verwandelt, hält es Dir feindliche Granaten vom Leib! (This Is How Your Money Helps You Fight! Turned into U-boats, It Keeps Enemy Shells off Your Body!) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/u-boote-kriegsanleihe-1917/) ## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques - [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities) - [Colour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lithograph-res-gestae-ancyra-heading-0014/) (Roman Empire · 0014 · Card stacking, Glittering generalities) - [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities) - [Gold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-constantine-i-restitutori-libertatis-0313/) (Roman Empire · 0313 · Glittering generalities) - [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities) - [The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panel](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/armada-portrait-elizabeth-i-greenwich-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities) - [Medal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/elizabeth-i-ark-medal-aftercast-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities) - [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)