The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-17
WASHINGTON NEWS =
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WASHINGTON, D. c. May 1.-THE
Liberty Loan is the thirty-fourth time
that Uncle Sam has become a borrow
er. The first seven times was when
he was a very young man, during his
revolutionary trials and when he was
struggling to get on his feet and start
into business for himself. These first
seven loans covered a period from
1893 1907. His creditors were France
Spain and Holland, but mostly France
He issued "stock" to them, five of tn
He issued stock" to them, five of the
loans bearin five percent interest and
two of them four percent. After the
1907 loan, the Old Fellow never Dor
rowed bollar from outside the family.
His own loyal subjects have taken
every loan he asked for from then on.
The highest interest rate he was ever
forced to pay was on $SOO,OOO,OOO
bond issue in 1854, which he carried
7.3 percent. His lowest interest was
on the $2OO,OOOOOO Spanish war bond
issue, which bore a 3 percent interest.
Only few times in his long career
has your Uncle Samuel been compell-
ed to borrow up to the last dollar that
his congress authorized. The Civil
War period was one Of those times.
His authority was the mo limit"
In tire Capital, as is probably true
of every city, every man woman or
minor who can has bought a Liberty
Loan Bond, or is plannin to do SO.
The Banks here are selling them on
the monthly installment plan. You can
get them for So a month payments,
but the $3.50 month installment for
a $1,000 bond is the most popular plan
here. At the end of twelve months the
purchaser gets his bond and the inter.
est 1t has drawn for that length OF
time. You see many people wearing a
button, upon which is the Eagle sur
mounting the Flag, and the words" 1
own War Bond;-Do you?" The but
ton is, by no means, conclusive evil
dence of possession Of said bond. The
button is heap easier to get than
the bond is. know-because have a
button myself.
Just now 1t is considered dangerous
for a representative in Congress to
onnose the administration, no matter
II it wants to suspend the bill OF
rights, or kick few more holes In the
constitution than it has kicked IN II
already, for 1t is believed that the
"Stand by the President" has hold OF
the folks back home like a fetish. For
the same reason, the average represen'
tative wouldn't for the world frankly
write to or discuss with his people a
few Of the things he sees and knows, as
everybody else sees and knows VINO
lives in the Capital. He thinks that
his constituents wouldn't believe him.
In the House debate which resulted
in that body reversing itself on the
Roosevelt volunteer army amendment,
several Of the members, in the excite
ment of that discussion and the politi-
cal fight which the administration in
jected, so far forgot the rubber stamp
as to speak out very bluntly on several
things. There was Jimmy" Galliyan,
Of Boston, who wanted to know OF the
House and his Democratic colleagues
in particular IL they had heard of any
big Democratic leaders volunteering;
and if, in their recent experience with
the War department, they had been
overwhelmingly impressed with the
competence to be found in that estab-
lishment. There wasn't a member Oh
the floor who didn't know what jim
my" was limiting at, nor person in
any of the galleries, for that matter.
This reference the constituent back
home who is blaming his congressman.
for not getting successful results
promptly for him with the business he
is interested in with the War depart
ment, should reflect upon. To be CIV
en- three different answers to the same
question from one bureau within fiji
teen short minutes, and all three en-
tirely different, was what happened to
Senator Of my acquaintance a day
or so ago. That thing is happening
right along, and Is continuing to hap.
pen. The War department is, Of
course, not without a good excuse. It
was suddenly taxed with work beyond
its capacity. But 1t does seem that
there should be some signs Of q slight
ip1proYernent IN the ayatem by now.