The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-10-19
GERMANS PLOT
To BEAT LOAN:
EFFORTS FUTILE
Charges Made That Intri-
guers Threatened to With
draw Money.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-Pro-Ger-
man agents in the United States. 40
cording to reports to the treasury de-
nartment, have directed their energies
. toward defeating the Liberty loan.
Their organized propaganda has borne
fruit from Minnesota to Texas, It is
asserted, in scattered localities, where
weak efforts have been made not
onenly, but by indirect methods-to
discourage subscriptions.
The work Of the pro- German agents,
officials assert, has been carried on
for more than two weeks. Some of
the workers have had the temerity,
reports to the treasury indicate. to
conduct their operations here In the
national capital.
Lord Makes Charges
Oficial recognition Of the propagan-
da against the loan was voiced today
by Col Herbert NJ. Lord, representing
the war department at the war risk In
surance conference at which the de-
tails of the new soldiers and sailors
insurance law are being explained to
officers and enlisted men from the var
ious eantonments.
There has been an oranized effort, !"
said Col. Lord, who was chairman Of
today's meeting, ito discourage and
defeat the loan"
This effort. he added, has been
made by seeking to misrepresent the
patriotism of the new national army"
Here's Official Account
An official account of the proceed
ings of the conference, which was be
hind closed doors, issued tonight by
@-n dnn ~
lows: In convincing REPUTATION Of the
SANDER, which WAS to the effect that
the men of the new national army OPP
posed the war. Col Lord announced
that subscriptions from the army for
the loan already aggregate 100000
and that some of the subscriptions
we're written in foreign languages.
The announcement caused great
enthusiasm among the delegates from
the army and navy. marine corps and
coast guard fattending the confer
ence). 500 Of whom swarmed up to the
platform, following the address, and
signed war insurance applications, all
of which, except forty. were for the
maximum of $4,000"
Use Four Methods
Assembled from various sources, the
eHOFIS Oh NOIhSiS against IAC AooAA 81
near to have been directed along four
main channels:
Attempts to discourage prospective
buyers of Liberty bonds.
Efforts to prevent certain banks
from handling the bonds.
The publication in certain newspa
pers and other mediums of publicity
Of editorials and articles which, while
not directly opposing loan subscrip
tons, tend to discourage buyers.
The prevention, so far as local and
sporadic efforts can prevent, of the
placing of Liberty loan posters and
advertising where it will be most
beneficial.
Attempts to discourage buyers by
the personal plea method have been
confined mostly to the east. Instances
have been brought to the attention Of
officials where buyers have been ap
preached, apparently in spirit OIL
great friendship, and advised not te
buy the bonds.
Germans Withdraw Money
Efforts to prevent banks from hand
ling the bonds have centered chiefly
in wisconsin, Minnesota, North ant
South Dakota, Montana. Missouri ant
Oklahoma. The president of Wis
consin bank has advised the treasury
that his depositors, mostly German:
or of German parentage, have with
drawn many thousands of dollars from
his bank because he aided the frs
Liberty loan.