The Washington times., 1917-05-19
EXPOSES SLACKERS
ON LIBERTY LOAN
Comptroller Shows Nation
Ability to OVersubscribe.
VAST RESOURCES UNTOUCHED
Greatest Banking Credit in Worlds
History Available to People.

Americas practically unlimited wealth
and ability TO subscribe Government
loans is shown in figures on monetary
resources by Comptroller OF the Curren-
cy John Shelton Williams.
Subscriptions TO the Liberty Loan are
not coming in nearly as fast as was ex-
pected. as those who can well AFFORD to
take bonds assuming a let George do
1t" attitude, it is declared.
In view of the ease with which the
LOAF might be Oversubscribed ten times
IL all took a share. too many people
consider that their efforts are not
needed. 1t is asserted.
The Comptroller gives these figures TO
show that the United States has the
greatest banking resources OF any ma
ton in the history of the world:
There are in the United States at
present more than ten million no.
OOO.OOO) individuals and corporations
able to make subscriptions to the new
Liberty Loan in amounts ranging
from 500 to $1OO,OOO,OOO each.
10000, 900 Making Money.
There are more than 100000 per-
sons engaged in gainful occupations
in this country besides the large
number OF men and women whose in
come is derived from their invest
ments. II every individual in the
United States should subscribe to the
new bonds to the extent OF only
per cent OF his or her total posses
sions, the loan will be subscribed TO
six times over.
"a few months ago the German
government offered a new loan OF
several billion dollars, and although
this issue had been preceded by four
or five other German bond offerings,
II is reported that applications were
received from 5,25O,0O0 subscribers.
The population OF Germany is less
than two-thirds Of the population of
this country, and the estimated total
wealth Of the German empire short
ly before the outbreak OF the war
was from siXty-nine to seventy-stx
billion dollars, or about one-third Of
the wealth of the United States, which
is now estimated at more than go
billion dollars.
THE reports of our national banks
OF March 8, 1917. show that these
banks had Is, 73T 800 deposit accounts,
an increase Of 1,449,910 since May 1,
1916. 1t is significant that ] -25S. 691,
or seven-eighths OF this increase, was
reported by the country banks.
Two Billions Deposited.
1.-THE total increase OF deposits in
the national banks in this period Of
ten months was approximately two
billion dollars. On March 5, 1917.
there were 459,619 share holders in
the national banks. including 15S.20S
women stockholders.
--latest bank returns indicate that
the total resources OF the banks az
this time is approximately S35. OOO.-
OOO, 900, exceeding by far the greatest
banking resources ever before shown
in any country
Fifty years ago we raised over
three billion dollars TO provide for the
expenses OF the civil war. The wealth
of this country today is eight times
as great as 1t was then; our bank
ing resources are twenty times as
great as they were then, or even as
late as 1870. At this time we are in
a position to raise, with far less ef-
fort. ten billion dollars or fifteen
billion dollars, or more; and IL the
money should be needed, IL will be
provided and provided promptly"