New-York tribune., 1918-04-22
East Side Aroused
BY German Plot to
Cripple the Loan
Rumors Circulated That
Bonds Are Not Worth 500
Each Cause Uneasiness
Socialists Aid Enenv
Flan Proposed by Marcus to
Guarantee Redemption of
Securities at Par

Leaders of the Liberty Bond cam
palgn on the East Side are becoming
alarmed over the activity of pro-Ger-
man and pacifist agitators who are
working secretly on the people to
cripple the success of the loan there.
kumors are being circulated that
the bonds are not worth 500 apiece.
lhls argument is backed up by re-
ferrlng doubters to newspapers ia
"hlcn the earlier issues are quoted at
S95. Persons Of foreign birth are be-
coming doubtful concerning the actual
value of their prospective purchases.
This uneasiness has been abetted bv
the squabble that is going on IN the
Socialist party over the Endorsement
OF the Liberty Loan campaign in this
city by the Socialist aldermen.
A meeting held by the party Satur
day night to discuss this action con-
tlnued until late yesterday morning
without a definite decision. Although
the session was held behind closed doors
in the Peoples House, East Fifteenth
Street. it was learned that the time
was occupied by a bitter quarrel be-
tween the pro-Liberty Loan and op-
posed parties, which ended in a dead
lock. Some leaders of the party have
insisted that the aldermen who ap-
proved the campaign should be CEN
sured for their action.
In an attempt to combat the retard-
ing influences that arc keeping East
Siders from throwing their whole en-
ergy into the loan campaign the East
Side Liberty Loan committee has ad-
vanced plan to insure the face value
of the bonds. 1t is urged that an ar
rangement be made whereby national
banks will redeem the bonds at their
value, plus accrued interest
In letters written yesterday to Sec
retary McAdoo and Governor Strong,
OF the New York Federal Reserve Dis
trict, Bernard X. Marcus, vice-presi-
dent of the United States Bank, told
of subtle influences of disloyalty that
have been continually at work since
the loan drive started.
German agents have been circulat-
ing among the more ignorant pur-
chasers, pointing to financial quota
tons IN newspapers to show that bonds
are worth only 500 on the s1OO, and
attempting in various other wavs to
convey belief that the government
Is not living up to its obligations.
patriotism has swept through the East
Side during the last few weeks; that
the people are now lending millions
where their support of the previous
loans was counted in mere hundreds of
dallars. His scheme to hold the faith of
these people, TO prove to them the in
violability of the governments prom
lse, will be presented to the various
banks at once
1--WE have not been able to lay hands
on any Of the disloyalists,' said Mr..
Marcus. "and our only other course is
to combat their propaganda with every
force at our command. My idea is to
form a pool of the national banks and
have them agree to accept any bond at
its face value with interest up to the
date of sale. A few purchasers proba-
bly, would unload what they have been
told is a bad investment, but we would
take in every bond that is offered and
confidence would be quickly restored
at is Surprising how many women
have invested in bonds in our district.
They come to headquarters with their
babies in their arms and ask to do
their share toward helping the loan.
Unfortunately the women are most
easily gulled by tratorous agents.
Dozens of them have been coming
back to US to seek reinsurance that
they have not been tricked out of their
money We've been able to convince