The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-18
PRO-GERMAN PLAN.
To Cause Failure of the Second Liberty
Loan

Washington. D. c., Oct ls.-Pro. Ger
man agents in the United States, ac
ording to reports to the treasury depart
ment, have directed their energies to
ward defeating the Liberty loan. Thei,
organized propaganda has borne fruit
from Minnesota to Texas, it is assert
ed, in scattered localities, where weak
efforts have been made, not openly, but
by indirect methods, to discourage sub
scriptions.
| The work of the pro-German agents
officials assert, has been carried on for
more than two weeks. Some of the work
ers have had the temerity, reports 70
the treasury indicate, to conduct their
operations here in the national capital.
Official recognition of the propaganda
against the loan was voiced yesterday by
| Col. Herbert NJ. Lord, representing the
war department at the war risk insur-
ance conference at which the details of
the new soldiers and sailors insurance
law are being explained to officers and
enlisted men from the various canton
ments
There has been organized effort" said
Colonel Lord, who was chairman of yes
terday's meeting, ito discourage and de-
feat the loan"
The effort, he added, has been made by
seeking to misrepresent the patriotism
of the national army" An official ac-
count of the proceedings of the confer
ence, which was behind closed doors, is
sued last night by the treasury depart.
ment, reads as follows
,taf ,F
der, which was to the effect that the men
OF the new national army opposed the
war, Colonel Lord announced that sub
scriptions from the army for the loan al
ready aggregate S26,000,O0O and that
some OF the subscriptions were written
in foreign languages.
"The announcement caused great en-
thusiasm among the delegates from the
army and navy marine corps and coast
guard tattending the conference), 800 of
whom swarmed up to the platform fol- |
lowing the address and signed war insur- |
ance applications, all of which, except 40, |
were for the maximum of $4,000"
Assembled from various sources, the |
efforts of workers against the loan ap-
pear TO have been directed along four
main channels:
Attempts to discourage prospective
buyers of Liberty loan bonds.
Efforts 10 prevent certain banks from
handling the bonds.
The publication in certain newspapers
and other mediums of publicity, of ed-
-orials and articles which, while not di-
-ectly opposing loan subscriptions, tend
% discourage buyers.
The prevention. so far as local and
iporadic efforts can prevent. of the plac-
ne of Liberty loan posters and advertis-
ng literature where it will be most bene-
icial
Attempts to discourage buyers by the
PERSONAL plea method have been confined
Mostly to the East. Instances have been
irought to the attention Of officials
yhere buyers have been approached. APP /
arently in a spirit Of great friendship. ]
nd advised not to buy the bonds.
Efforts to prevent banks from handling ]
he bonds have centered chiefly in Wis I
onsin. Minnesota, North and South Da- 7
ota. Montana. Missouri and Oklahoma. 6
he president Of a Wisconsin bank has c
dvised the treasury that his depositors. a
lostly Germans or Of German parentage. :
ave Withdrawn many thousands Of dol i
rs from his hank because he aided the L
rst Liberty loan.