New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-11
Buy a Liberty Bond!

large business corporations have put IN
liberal orders. individuals with incomes
exceeding 100000 will also invest freely
in a security made extremely attractive
to them by the conditions under which it
is issued.
Persons of large wealth will buy these
bonds as an ordinary business precaution.
Income derived from them is exempt from
taxation. They return 319 per cent year
and that return will be automatically in
creased if the government later on issues
war bond at any higher rate Of interest.
Our allies have already sold and 513 per
cent bonds. The new war tax bill makes a
levy Of from 20 to 80 per cent on large IN
comes. in addition to increasing heavily the
taxation on corporate incomes from which
so much personal income is derived. a
sure 81 per cent return is better than
problematcal 6 per cent return, subject to
be clipped one-thrd or more by the gov
eminent.
Most rich men will naturally want to
cast an anchor TO windward by investing
heavily in the new tax exempt government
S1bs. convertible under conditions not un-
likely to be realized hereafter into as, or
AIS or IS. The absorption of the present
50 ,OOOO 100000 issue is therefore pretty
well assured, even without the partlclpa-
ton Of the small investor.
The new securities will undoubtedly be
digested. But in a broader sense the issue
will fail if it does not attain much more
general distribution. 1t will fail in
moral sense, for it will not have enlisted
the support of the great mass Of the popu-
lation. 1t will not have been a means Of
demonstrating intense popular interest in
the purposes of the war. 1t will not have
elected the enthusiasm and awakened the
spirit of patriotic self-sacriice which SIM
lar appeals to the investing public have
elected in France and Great Britain.
This war is going TO test our national
solidarity. We have hardly begun yet to
realize the immensely of the struggle. BY
long and obstinate neglect we have put
ourselves in a position in which we are not
able to mobilize our military resources.
But two and a half years Of prosperous
neutrality enable us to mobilize our wealth,
and this mobilization opens an outlet for
patriotism of which Americans of all
classes and conditions can take immediate
advantage.
Bonds are offered in denominations as
low as $50. The purchase price is to he
laid in four instruments. There is hardly
a small business man or salaried man or
worker in trade who cannot put aside
money enough to buy bond if he will con-
sent to some temporary economies. Such
economies would not take money out of
business. The sums paid for bonds will be
returned at once to business by the govern
nent. The money raised does not go
abroad. 1t stays here. We are lending our
allies not gold but mmodties-comnrodi
ties which we are going to produce, if we
are able to do so, out of our own resources.
The small investors money, if invested
in a bond, will help to stimulate national
production. 1t will help US to sell and de-
liver more commodities. In so far as an
investor qualities to subscribe for bond
by cutting down on Injuries or other su-
pcrAuous consumption he is doing the COM
munitv an economic as well as patriotic
service.
The wider the distribution of the present
loan the better it will be for the govern
ment and the people. Every purchaser of
a government bond becomes better citi-
zen. His example affects his fellows. He
accustoms himself to the idea of patriotic
cooperation. He makes easier the task of
the government when new loan has to be
foated. The second time he is called upon
TO make the savings which are to go into
In the public interest, therefore, the
mass of the present issue should not stay in
the bank vaults or go into the safe deposit
boxes Of men of large wealth. The small
investors should be reached; for their sup
port is the support which is most vital to
nation in a time of crisis. 1t is the duty of
every good citizen, however small his
means, to become the owner or joint owner
Of government bond. Floating the Lib
erty Loan is a national defence enterprise
in which every one can have his share, ac-
cording TO his ability. Do your part! BY
doing it you will benefit yourself and
strengthen the credit and power of the
government.