Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-12
Make 1t 100 Per Cent

THERE is no escaping the fact that the
fourth Liberty loan Is falling below ex-
pectations. 1t is tagging. 1t has not come uo
TO the mark. For somc reason or for many
reasons. the American people arc holding
back They did not make the first week Il
bel-ringer as they were expected to do 4
few communities and a few States even have
made wonderful showing and are entitled
to full praise for their enthusiasm but taken
by and large, the nation has not done it's
duty.
II is. OF course, true that 100000 men
between the ages OF eighteen and forty
five have registered for military service An
overwhelming majority OF this number may
be in doubt as TO whether they will be called
and may feel that as long as they are in
doubt they dare not incur obligations which
their families would be unable to meet If
the men should go into the army. That cir
cumstance, without doubt has had an effect
upon the sale OF bonds. II has Influenced
many hundreds of thousands OF men to hold
back who otherwise would have subscribed.
The new classes OF registrants need not
stand upon that condition. In the first place
only 100000 OF the 100000 men will
be needed, and it is not difficult for the
average rcgistrant TO determine where he
stands. Ho knows what his family circum-
stances arc. what his occupation is and the
other facts which his local or district board
will take into consideration in classifying
him. Not one man in ten should feel enough
uncertainty regarding his draft status to
prompt him to withhold bond subscrip-
ton. Besides, there is not a bank in Amer
lea that will not take any bond of the hands
Of registrant who may be called to the
colors and then find it impossible to con-
tinue his payments.
Then, too, there a great many people
VI nrt> xt,~k
Of weeks; that it is so near at hand that the
government will not need the sc, 5000 900 900
1t is now trying to raise, and the time has
come for such investors to seek more re-
muneratlYe markets for their money But
peace is not In sight 1t may not come for
another year, whatever Bulgaria does; what
ever Turkey does; whatever Austria does
Germany remains TO be crushed and it is far
from crushed to date. It's powerful military
machine is making desperate fight for its
life, and although 1t will one day be over
whelmed, it is far too soon for any enemy
OF the German empire to relax it's pressure
upon it even for an hour
Again, there is uncertainty on the part Of
many business interests regarding the new.
tax program. That uncertainty will exist
IN some measure until the conference com
mlttee makes its report But Congress did
its worst when the House passed the bill.
Any notifications which the Senate exact
Will be in the direction of equity II will
provide relief for those unfairly taxed and
redistribute burdens now unwiscly laid
There is. therefore, no sound excuse to with
hold bond subscriptions merely because q
new tax bill is pending
The American nation simply must nut on
more steam and drive this bond issue over
the line. 1t dare not slack at such time
as this 1t has not been appalled, at any
other obligation imposed upon it by this war.
and 1t is unthinkablc that it will fail in a
mere matter Of money after its superb per-
iormances in the matter OF men. materials
and food.