The Washington times., 1918-10-09
LOAN NEARS CRISIS;
REPORTS GLOOMY


the committee called for yesterday
when IT appeared from reports that
the loan was lasging i'm the District.
Not even the stamping out of the
Spanish influenza epidemic could have
spurred workers to as great effort.
Meetings today by many of the most
important committees of the loan or
ganization to devise better ways for
obtaining subscriptions under the
new conditions at once took on a new
significance. Plans carefully devised
before the opening of the loan drive
went awry when Spanish influenza
became menace to the lives and
health of District citizepJ. and meth
ods used during the first three loans
I. obtain the support of the individ-
Ual citizens were found impossible OF
use.
No Indoor Meetings.
1t is no longer possible to hold in
door meetings in the interest OF the
loan. Many sources of bond sales
have been closed to the committee
through the closing Of the theaters.
The four-minute men recruited and
carefully trained for the drive are
practically useless, as far as their
original purpose is concerned. The
question of obtaining the individual
subscriptions from each citizen of the
District has resolved itself tc two
elements, according to members of
the Liberty Loan committee.
The first and greater element is
the individual-not the crowd-pa-
riotism of every citizen. The proof
will be the number of Liberty loan
subscriptions sent in without solicita-
tion.
The second element Is the time each
citizen will give to soliciting bond
sales among neighbors, friends, and
strangers. Patriotic women are do
ing their bit from booths in the
streets. while others are soliciting
from residence to residence, seeking
the stay-at-homes and those who are
not reached by any other agency OF
the loan.
Fred Haskins. W. ]. Eynon, and
Myer Cohen were appointed a COM
mittee by the Liberty Loan commit
tee this morning to take charge Of
a special campaign of all Govern
ment Departments in an endeavor to
arouse more patriotism among the
war workers in the District.
About Half Completed.
The drive is about half completed
as to time. 1t is about half complet-
ed as to the amount of money collect
ed by pledge and by cash payments.
More than a million dollars must be
subscribed each day by the citizens
of The District.
There are no complete reports from
the banks today. 1t has been impos
sible to tabulate accurately the
pledges and outright sales as fast as
they come in. However. members OF
the committee are estimating that at
least S15.OOO.OOO is already pledged,
leaving about $4,000 900 to be raised.
Ten days are left in which to raise
ii. Washington banks-those that
had been heard from-reported at the
close OF business Tuesday night al
total of S1O,522,52O in pledges and
sales. These figures do not include
the result OF the canvass Sunday aft-l
ernoon. the total of which is not yet
complete. II is estimated however,
at about S4.OOO.OOO, making the esti-
mated grand total abou $15,000,0O
The Mid-City Citizens Association
held a rally last night at the Public
Library, and $4,000 was obtained.
The association has already obtained
S3J. 900 for the loan, in addition to
the sum raised last night. and is
pledged to 100000 before the end OF
the drive.
Walters Contribute.
Members of the Washington Wait |
ers' Union are doing their bit for
the Fourth loan. The 46O members
already hold bonds OF the Fourth loan |
to the amount of S25.OOO
John Knight. secretary-treasurer of
the union. is chairman of the Liberty |
I1an COMMITTEES. Walters in the
hotels have purchased |
under the leadership OF Il. Levin |
George Vicitie. and J. Lashcr. bonds |
totaling $500 in value. in addition |
to their holdings OF bonds in the
other loans.