Evening star., 1919-04-21
MASS MEETINGS
OPEN DRIVE HERE
Victory Loan Cause Is Advo-
Gated at Many
Gatherings.
ADMIRAL SIMS SPEAKS

Washington's campaign for the VIC
tory liberty loan is under way today.
For the next three weeks an army OF
workers, more than 5000 strong. with
"in honor bound as its text. will
preach crusade for the loan
throughout the city.
Several huge mass meetings were
staged to start the campaign Tne
first, at the south steps of the State.
War and Navy building at II o'clock.
was addressed by Admiral w. S. Sims,
who commanded the American fleet in
European waters during the war;
Franklin d. Roosevelt, acting Secre-
tary of the Navy; Rear Admiral L: j.
Cowie, liberty loan officer of the
Navy. who presided. and William NJ:
Lewis. secretary of the National
Big Demonstration at Treasury.
At noon one of the biggest liberty
loan demonstrations ever witnessed
in Washington took place at the
south end of the Treasury building.
The entire Treasury Department force.
more than 10000 in number, were
excused from duty so that they might
attend the demonstration. The prin-
cipal speaker was Admiral Sims. Miss
Billie Burke. known to millions of
Americans through her acting on
stage and screen. sold bonds and en-
tertained the vast throng.
The south steps and plaza of the
Treasury building were covered with
people and thousands lined the side
walks and the street and flowed over
into the parking surrounding the
statue of Gen. Sherman. Flags and
posters decorated the building.
Admiral Sims emphasized the need
of finishing the job which the United
States undertook when it went into
the war. and told the audience that
the money to be derived from the
sale of victory bonds was essential
to this end.
A male chorus of 500 voices, COM
posed of workers in the departments,
sang patriotic songs and the Marine
Band played.
"Billie' Burke Makes Plea.
Miss Billie Burke pleaded with the
throng to subscribe to the bonds.
when SO many millions Of men and
women during the past four fateful
years have been doing such mighty
she said, finally ending in supreme
victory for our own and our allied
nations. mere words at this time seem
woefully inadequate.
II am sure that you will all agree
with me though, that the part that
America has played has been due to
a considerable degree to the wonder
full leadership of our great President
and our great generals and admirals,
but it has been due more than every
Which s has has led our our men and women men
in service at home and abroad in the
fight for liberty. On the theory. there
fore, that words must precede the
my womanly appeal to the other
great sentiments expressed that
every one in this great gathering. as
well as every one in our wonderful
the victory loan over the top.
People More Closely United.
great events of the past few years
have brought us all SO closely to-
gether. and no one more than l, who
have been before the public in q
deeply appreciates this opportunity
to speak to you face to face and
I'VE know that victory bonds are
secure-our wonderful sailors and
soldiers and marines have made them
precious to us than the realization
that the millions who were brave
enough to go oversee are now coming
home triumphant.
"And / have only ono more thing
to add and that is that none Of Us
can look for a grander receipt for our
purchase Of a victory bond than the
sailor we meet on the street who car
look US in the face and say. I couldn't
have done it if you hadn't helped
me-"
Cable Read From Airplane.
From an airplane 1000 feet above
the Treasury building. a cable from
the President urging the American
people to support the victory loan was
read and transmitted to the crowd by
means of radiophone and the mag
heretofore successfully performed
Lieut. H. E. Metcalf. a radio officer OF
the Army, performed the feat.
The huge crowd listened with inter
est to the speakers and roared Its
approval Of the demand that the loan
go "over the top"
The third of the big meetings today
began at 2 o'clock in the National
Theater, organized for the shipping
board workers. but open also to the
public Vice Chairman Raymond b
Stevens of the shipping board made
the opening address and introduced
Champ Clark, former Speaker of the
House A musical program was pro.
yided by the Marine Band. under the
direction of Lieut. William H. Santel.
mann.
Addressed by Admiral Cowie.
The meeting at the State, War an,
Navy, and the thousands making III
the audience were nearly all from tn,
Navy Department. Rear Admira
Cowie told them that more than :
million American boys are on tn,
other side of the Atlantic ocean an,
that it is up to the American peopl,
to bring them back.
I'VE sent them over to win thi
war" he said. "and 1t Is up to us I,
bring them back"
William Mather Lewis of the Treas
ury Department said that 1t was emf
nently fitting that the Navy shoule
be asked to help float" the victor,
loan.
TIE victory in the great war" h.
The soldiers and sailors CT America
cause of human freedom. The pric,
that was paid to establish this prin
ciple was stupendous. If every minut,
Easter time. in 1919, $3.50 had beer
would just be met. II the soldiers deat
- nd xvA a.