Show THRIFTS THRIFT'S BIRTHDAY This is an anniversary year of which thrift is the birthday birthday birthday birth birth- day cake and security its candles Its celebrants are millions of Americans in every conceivable occupation pation in every social level They are arc the investors in Series j i E an and H Savings Bonds Fifteen years ago in 1941 the United States Treasury Department tentatively began a program to raise money for n national t defense and as ast as' a brake against inflation by borrowing from as many persons as possible This was the birth of the Series E Bonds Donds It was the birth also of what was to become the largest thrift program of all time Treasury officials are human rumor to the contrary notwithstanding notwithstanding not not- withstanding and none among them could have foreseen or even dreamed of 15 years ago the incredible growth of the Savings Bond idea until today it has become an integral part of the American way of life I According to Treasury Secretary George M. M Humphrey more than 40 million Americans today own more than 40 billion dollars in Series E and H Bonds the latter being added to the thrift program in 1952 And of these bond owners more than eight million are arc saving more than million dollars a month through the payroll savings plan i by means of the patriotic operation co-operation of the huge corporations corporations corporations corpora corpora- or the small businesses where they work and of organized labor as a friendly and persuasive associate It was to be expected in the fervor of the World War II 11 years that a great many Americans would buy Savings Bonds and a great many did But Dut when the war was over and the fervor gone they kept on buying them them that that is the astonishing thing and that is the astounding commonplace these millions of Americans are celebrating this year I |