New-York tribune., 1919-05-05
Buyers at Hippodrome
Set Record i'm Rush to
Make Up City's Quota
of Victory Notes
Many 100000
Sales Are Made
Millionaires and Clerks
Elbow One Another in
Order to Reach Tables.

Exactly S11,345,000 in Victory Loan
subscriptions were shouted over the
5ootlights at the Hippodrome last night
in the greatest bond selling meeting
ever held.
At no meeting here or in any of the
Allied countries has that total been
reached at one time, loan officials said,
and it is probable that no such en-
thusiasm ever before was exhibited as
at this, the opening gun of the drive
to cut down the difference between
New York's official quota and the
citys actual purchases.
Millionaires and clerks elbowed one
another in the aisles of the theatre to
reach the young women, who were
threatened with writer's cramp from
writing large sums of money. The
largest block Of bonds sold was
S2,OOO,O 900.
Rear Admiral Sims, who made
sailorly address in which he ridiculed
himself as a speaker, proved that a
sailor can sell bonds. His plain state
he made prewar trip to Europe
under an assumed name is credited
with doing much toward convincing
the audience Of the necessity for pay
ing the nations bill.
Big Purchases Pile Tn
Before the meeting was over sub
scriptions of half a million dollars
failed to give the audience any thrill,
and those who purchased bonds in
patry 100000 lots didn't expect a
single whisper of applause But when
William H. English, president of the
Empire Trust Company, started the
campaign by announcing that he
would take S1,000,00O worth Of bonds
i was early enough to cause a thun-
der of handclaps.
Then came. long series of subscrip-
TONS that included S500000 purchase
by Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, jr., and
subscriptions by Mrs. j ohm Wanamaker,
Mrs. John T. Pratt, Rear Admiral Glen
non, Deputy Commissioner of Police
Wallis and numerous business men.
Marie Dressler and VIII Rogers,
meanwhile, succeeded in keeping en-
thusasm at high pitch as they en-
couraged doubters and applauded each
ne" subscription as 1t reached the plat
form.
But George T. Wilson, who presided
was not satisfied with these results.
he announced that 1t was his inten-
ton to obtain larger subscription
tnan the original $1,000,000 sum al
ready announced. whether it was due
TO his efforts or those of some other
unnamed bond salesman, it soon became
known that the biggest sale of the
evening had been made.
"A group Of public spirited men have
taken more than S2,000,000 in bonds"
said Mr.. Wilson.
Then it was found that $4,000 900
rad been subscribed by q group of
hnanciers made up of Nicholas Brady,
Charles II. Sabin, William K. Wander
nlit, j., William s. Woodwin, Chaun-
cey N. Depew, Ebert II. Gary and
William Woodward.
Photograph for S1,600,000
Aiss Dressler then came forth with
an autographed portrait Of Cardinal
Aercier, announcing that it would go
70 the highest bidder. the price to be
IN victory bonds. Half Il dozen bank
ers already mad expressed their inten-
tion Of taking the portrait away with
lhem, and the bidding was spirited
from the first
Because Of Mr. English's 81 100000
enoscriptlon that figure was the low
es, Did that could be accepted on the
portrait. Starting at that mark the
pfice ieaped in $4,000 and 100000
faises until 81 100000 had been reached
snd Miss Dressler knocked the por-
tfa'f down to Mr. English, who in
eseaSed his first bid to that figure
70 obtain the prize.
.. Throughout the evening Admiral
s'mz cheefed the purchasers and aided
1hs hypnotic galeswomcn, In his ad-
safsss the admiral said that the out
fo,k Was most Encouraging, on max
ny nv first visit 10 England
"hen | went over in April, 1917,
haging read everything / could find
h " rhis country about the progrcss Of
.hs var, was rather Of the opinion
maE u would be- oyer before we could
"itain three days after arriving in
LONDON ! sent cable to the govern
meat IN which stated that there
ssuid be no possible doubt that the
vsntSal Powers we're winning the war,
sha also that ne did not know how
- =, s1cp them. They we're winning the
@t because they we're destroying
s'sofe man tbree~guarters Of million
WI ~, ~ shipping month.
Sn} the speeding up Of ship build
nv me use of the convoy eyztcn Of
.,snatnE ships across the Atlantic. the
~ ~ ing depth charge and, above
,1..l ~. tgs saie Of Liberty Bonds did the
'sDe'a'ts u Loam camputgn ON zuge