New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-18
Col. Lord Asserts Con-
spiracy Has Borne
Fruit in West
Teutons Impugn
Army Patriotism
Assert Soldiers Are Not
Supporting the
LibertyLoan
rRH TNs A"ofstet P1eol


man agents in the United States, ae-
cording to reports TO the Treasury De-
partment, have directed their energies
toward defeating the Liberty loan.
Their organized propaganda has borne
fruit, from Minnesota TO Texas, IL IL
asserted, in scattered localities where
weak efforts have been made, not OPEN
ly. but By indirect methods, 70 discour-
age 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
10 the Treasury indicate, TO conduct
their operations here in the National
Capital.
Official recognition Of the propaganda
against the loan was voiced to-day by
Colonel Herbert VI. Lord, representing
the War Department az the war risk
insurance conference, st which the de-
tails OF the new soldiers and sailors
lHsuthHCc law ore Ue'NS FNP.otHtN "
officers and enlisted men from various
csntonments.
Organized Effort Against Loan
There has been organized effort
said Colonel Lord, who was chairman OF
to-day's meeting, "to discourage and
defeat the loan"
This effort, he added, has been made
by seeking to misrepresent the pa
triotism Of the National Army" An
official account Of the proceedings OF
the conference, which was behind
closed doors, issued tonight by tho
Treasury Department, reads as follows:
an convincing refutation of the
SANDER, which was to the effect that
the men Of the new National Army
were opposed to the war, Colonel Lord
announced that subscriptions from tho
army for the loan already aggregate
s26,000,000. and that some Of the sub
scriptions were written in foreign Lam
guages.
"The announcement caused great en-
thusiasm among the delegates from the
army and navy, marine corps and
coast guard attending the conference.
Five hundred of them swarmed up 10
the platform after the address and
signed war insurance applications, all
of which, except forty, were for tho
maximum of 10000
How Work Is Done
Assembled from various sources. tho
efforts Of workers against the loan ap-
pear 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.
tions, tend TO discourage buyers.
The prevention, so far as local and
sporadic efforts can prevent, Of the
placing of Liberty Loan posters and
advertising literature where they will
be most beneficial.
Personal Pleas Used
Attempts TO discourage buyers by the
personal plea method have been con-
nppf pngflN 70 Eaas
have been brought 20 the attention OF
officials where buyers have been an
preached, apparently in spirit OF
great friendship, and advised not to buy
the bonds.
Efforts TO prevent banks from ham
ding the bonds have centred chiefly in
+ Wisconsin. Minnesota, North and south
Dakota, Montana, Missouri and Okla
homa. The president Of a Wisconsin
bank has advised the Treasury that his
/ deposltors, mostly Germans or of Ger
man parentage, have Withdrawn many
| thousands of dollars from his bank be
cause he aided the first Liberty Loan.
These depositors, he added. had
/ taken their accounts 10 two rival banks
on the understanding that those banks
/ would not aid the second Liberty Loan.
! nc WV DoHho, uo ttpOINti, were not
aiding the loan in any way.
German Pressure on Banks
Many banks have felt the pressure
/ of German influence in this propa-
ganda, reports indicate. So pronounced
was the movement that the states OF
/ Minnesota, North and South Dakota
and Montana recently decided that they
would withdraw state funds from any
bank which did not support the loan.
In Missouri and Oklahoma the pro-
German element is said TO have ap-
piled strong pressure on bank directors
and officers TO induce them 20 refrain
from participation in the fotation OF
the second loan. This movement, how.
ever, proved 20 be boomerang, il i.
said. The banks turned deaf ear tC
these representatives. and subscription
are now reported TO bs increasing
heavily in that section.
A check Is kept by the Treasury or
all newspaper editorials and article.
referring TO the loan. not only in pub
lications printed in English, but in IN,
foreign language press as well,