Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-13
BILLIONS
By Simeon StruIlSky

An Atlantic Port, April -.
7 BEGAN by telling the president Of the
L Wholesalers and Pastcrcrs Trust Com
pany that would detan him only a lcW
minutes, and he silently agreed with me-
"It is simply a question, sir" | SAID, 'oi
how the loan is going in your opinion
The president of the Wholesalers ahd
pIastercrs' Trust Company frowncd ana
looked out of the window at the Bankers
and TTpholstercrs' Tower, then in process
or constructions It was difficult to say
whether his low spirits were due to the
fact that the Bankers and Upholstcrcrs
Tower was already up to its siNty.seventh
story while his own offices were only on
the ffty-ffth floor or whether, there
was something wrong with the loan. Thch
NV worst fears seemed to be confirmed
"It isn't going we'll" he said.
shuddered and fell TO wondering how
much Of my forgotten German vocabulary
could scrape up against the fatal day,
"You mean the loan will fail and that
we are going to lose the war ! SAID
Don't be an ass, young man he re-
marked: and then, very much puzzled:
rs it about the money aspect Of the situa'
ton you are thinking
"Naturaly." | replied, at least that
was one aspect my managing editor
thought YOU might be interested in. The
moral phase of the problem is being nan
d,ad nv another reporter, who is interview
ing all the clergymen in town Still, any
thing in that line, especially from such
O source
sit down. young man" he said. THE
three billions will be forthcoming. What
| don't like at all is the psychology Of the
campaign"
Once more | found myself puzzled by
the mystery of the human soul. At this
very moment probably, my fellow reporter
was being told by the pastor Of the Onyx
Memorial Church that the loan should
have been for 4as per cent, forty years
and convertible in custom house gold GER
tifcates. But the president of the Whole
salers and Plasterers was talking about
psychology. However it's all in the days
work.
"Here's what / mean" said the eminent
Nnancier and pointed to a fresco Of posters
and notices all around the wall. Il don't
like the spirit i'm which the country is
being invited to contribute Look at the
plctures. Distortng faces clamoring to
YOU, shouting at you, imploring you, in
heavens name, to buy a bond. Read
the slogans: If you don't pay taxes to
Uncle sam you1l pay them to the Kaiser
II Won don't come across the Kaiser will
Liberty Bonds or German bondage. They
are trying to frighten the country into
| buying bonds"
well" said, addressing myself to his
! $3.50 inkstand.
| 1T isn't true and it isn't right" he cried
shifting his fist on a $4,000 desk you
know as well as l dc, young man, that VIC
shall never pay taxes to the Kaiser, Before
| that happens there won't be any taxes left
to pay That's fundamental"
And this man, 1 said to myself, only q
few wears ago, was up before the investi
eating committee for violating 345 out OF 6
possible 4l7 clauses in the antitrust laws
"The way to put over a Liberty Loan,
be said, 'ls not in fears but In confidence
The way to give is not with trembling
hands, but with an easy mind We're mol
wsrding on peril but abating nuisance
do YOU follow me? The war lord hateth a
cheerful American giyer."