The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-03
MONTANA TAKES THE PALM
By HOLLAND

ough campaigning throughout these six states it was realized that the chances were strong that they would have diff culty in interesting the Germans and Austrians. of whom they are many, in the loan, while it was deemed certain that the Scandinavians would look upon any suggestion that they subscribe not with hostility but with absolute indif- ference. These forecasts were found to be correct. In fact. the campaigning committees discovered that in many places there seemed to have been estab- lished tacit understanding on the part of the Germans that when appeal was made to them to subscribe to the loan. they should reply that they had no money, and therefore, could make no subscription. Yet the solicitors knew were false. because the people who made these replies had good balances al the bank or deposits in the savings bank.
 It was a different attitude which the Scandinavians took when the solicitors approached them. They professed to have not the slightest interest in the appeal, They were not hostile to the loan, but apathetic. nor could any argu- ment or persuasion cause them to change their minds
 In Montana it was different, and al- though the state is one of the largest in area in the union, being 800 miles wide and 400 miles from north to south, and although it's population is less than that of the city of Minneapolis. vet citizens as a whole, responded not only willingly but in many cases with enthusiasm.
 TAKE IT OUT OF THE RICH
 Many times solicitors were told that if there was to be conscription and a draft, then if the government wanted money, it should find the way to take the money from the pockets of the so-called predatory rich. That sentiment was so common, especially among the German, that it did not fail to suggest that 1t reflected propaganda work which was be- lieved to have been carried on by pro- Germans or by socialists Nevertheless this work was nonducted secretly and apparently so well within the limits or the law, that there seems now to be no way to reach it and to stamp out the influences thus created.
 One reason why the farmers of that great district as a class did not sub- scribe more literally to the liberty loan is found in the fact that although many of them have made money yet they have been investining it in farm loans, in chattel mortgages or putting it into the savings bank, receiving from 6 to as high as 10 per cent interest upon these loans They were reluctant. therefore, to put any of their money into bonds which carried only 31a per cent interest
 The liberty loan campaign committees and solicitors were able to learn some very important facts respecting the pros perity of the farmers of the district. For instance North Dakota fell in it's subscrptions $500 900 below the allotment and most of the subscriptions credited to that state came from the towns and cities. Yet the farmers of North Da- kota in the last IS months have received cash payments for their products of ap- proximately s100000,000 Many of the farmers said that while they were willing to stand by the government nevertheless they were fulfilling their duty by plant ing many acres and by raising live stocA. Verly likely, however. one of the inn pulses to this increased production is found in the fact that farmers in that district expect to receive Inheard of prices for their products. The cities in the district responded handsomely to the appeal for the loan. Minneapolis, St Paul and Duluth having subscribed s33,- 10000.