New-York tribune., 1919-05-09
Victory Loan Meeting at
Metropolitan Opera House
Sets New Mark in War
Finance Enthusiast
One Bid for $13,0OO,OOO
Made by Police Force, Who
Thereby ''Capture'' Por-
trait of King Albert

Two hours Of the most intensive bond
selling ever seen last night netted New
Iork's Victory Loan sellers a credit of
exactly s125, 100000.
That is the new high record in bond
selling for the world, hung UP at the
Metropolitan Opera House, where nearly
5000 men and women clamored to
pledge themselves to purchase bonds
all the way from the baby $50 denomin
alton to one block of $13,OOOOOO. 1t
was more than three times the high.
mark recorded at the greatest bond
rally ever held any place heretofore.
The bond selling began with an ava
ianche OF $50 transactions. Chalmers
Wood, who was in charge CT the SELL
ing, announced that he wanted to OBJ
tam pledge from every man and
woman in the audience, and the chorus
OF replies when he asked for buyers of
the smallest denomination indicated
that he was accomplishing Just that.
Then the sums jumped to $100, 5000
and up to $5000O and 100000 blocks.
While the enthusiasm was high a
troop of machine gunners ran a
one of the guns captured during the
lighting in the Argonne forest-out
upon the stage.
Here's gun that goes to the high
est bidder" announced Mr. Wood.
Immediately there was a chorus of
voices shouting a S1,O0O,0oo bid.
why, this gun isn't going for any
such trif1ing sum-" came the reply of
the auctioneer.
The men who were bidding included
Jacob Schiff, Walter Frew, George F.
Bake* r. R. Brown, James W. Alex
ander, j: P. Morgan, Gates McGarrah,
Martin Vogel, Allen B. Forbes and
Charles w. Sabin.
Jumping half million at time
the az amount bid quickly jumped to
S5,00O,O00. There it stuck 1t seemed
that the humbled German weapon
would go for that price when a man in
an upper box added half million to
the price, obtaining the gun. He
slipped card to the Red Cross nurse
who took his pledge for that sum, but
refused to permit his name to be an
nounced.
Gust say Pm unattarhed," he an
"A great catch for some woman!"
shouted soldier in the rear of the
theatre.
Police "Capture' Picture
Next came great painting Of King
that no trif1ing bids would be accepted
on the portrait, which probably ac-
counted for the fact that the bidding
began at $3,000,00O Practically the
same group of bankers and fnancicrs
bid on the picture, each bid being re-
corded as sale of bonds to that total,
whether the bidder was successful in
obtaining the prize or not.
IN half-mlllion dollar leaps the price
or the picture went to $4,000, ,OOO then
Slo,OoO,0O0 and finally, after slight
taken for the Police Department b,
Deputy Commissioner Wallis, for S13.,
100000.
lhere was. wild applause as this the
largest single sale of bonds ever re-
corued at any meeting was announced
The Deputy Commissioner was dragged
to the platform, where he was forced
to make a brief speech.
An Investment. Says Taft
The former Secretary of the Treas
ury, William G. McAdoo, who bad
been scheduled to make O.. OF tbc
principal addresses of the evening, was
too i'll to attend the meeting. He sent
lcttcr to the loan committee, how
ever, in which he said that immediate
tction was required to raise the 81
OO0,0O0,O00 that must be subscribed in
the two days remaining.
Former President William H. Taft
made plea for this particular bond
issue on the grounds that it was a good
business investment, entirely aside
from its attractiveness on patriotic
grounds.
Now these bonds are for people who
don't know enough to go and invest
their own money in matters where thew
are to exercise any control" he said
There are lots Of professional mon,
lots Of men who live on salaries; law
ycrs, judges. doctors, Wergymcn and
others who do not ve~the means of
managing Ii business and don't know
how. And yet they scrape together
their savings and want to put them
where they can be certain Of an income
without any care with reference to the
investment.
Now, ths is the kind Of investment
that should attract them. If they arc
looking for something better they won't
md IT., and they may find something a
good deal worse. Therefore why urpe
the argument Of patriotism In respect
OF these bonds, because they are 40
good ~