The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-01-16
CREDIT GIVEN TO
DISTRICT PRESS
Chairman Rogers Praises News.
paper Men for Cooperation in
Liberty Loan Campaigns.
MORE WORK OUTL|N- D
Criticism and Suggestions Requested
in Order That Big War Job May
Be Successfully Finished !.
What Ninth District Did.

The following address was delivered
by Mr.. Arthur r. Rogers, chairman OF
the Ninth District War Loan organiza-
tion, at meeting of the officers of
the Ninth District Press Asso cations
held at Minneapolis on Monday, Jan
nary 13:
When the leading nations of Europe
suddenly declared war on the first of
August 1914, the questions uppermost
in the minds of thinking people
Throughout: the world were:
First, now extensive will this war
become? g..
Second. how long can it last?
Upon these two subjects almost
everyone was willing to hazard a guess
and there were as many opinions as
there were people giving them. The
similarity in the opinions as to the dur
alton of the war, however, was very
striking. The majority of people, in
Guiding those who caused the war, in
huenced by history and what they sup
posed was a knowledge of modern con-
ditions, decided that the war could not
last more than a limited number of
weeks or months. This conclusion was
based on the belief that the world
longer time.
Notwithstanding this general opinion
that the war would be of short dura-
tiCn, it dragged on through the weary
months OF 1914. 1t entered 1915 with
increased energy; continued through
the months of 1915, and in 1916 the
world confjagration was still spreading
with increasing fury Each month it
seemed that the treasures and the peo-
pies of the warning nations would be
exhausted, but the limitations were
each month proven to be only mythical.
In 1917 more nations were engaged
more men and treasure were being
wasted Among the nations thrown
into the maelstrom in 1917 was the
United States, which declared war on
Germany on April 9Th. All through
/ 1917 and into 1918 the conflict con-
tirned. People were saying surely 1t
must soon end, but the weary DAYS,
weeks and months dragged on until
November 11th, 1918. Over four years
after the assassination of the Aus
trial archduke, the Central Powers
collapsed and the armistice that ended
the war was signed
During that terrible four years, al
most uncountable dollars and many
millions OF human lives were expend-
ed by the governments of the world
for whats
For the maintenance of the right of
the peoplc to govern themselves.
Americas Responsibility. .
Early in the war it was discovered
that large part not only of food,
ammunition and supplies for the free
peoples must come from the United
States. but that the United States must
IN all probability help finance Ger
many,s opponents throughout the war.
Nhen, in the early part of the con-
1iict, Great Britain and France asked
the bankers of the United States to
loan them 100000, 0O0-at that time
considered huge sum of money-the
Teuuest caused widespread comment
and discussion. The generally accent
ed idea was that the raising of this
amount would be very difficult, if not
m impossible task.
Stop and think how wonderfully con.
ditions have changed. In 1915 Amer
lea gasped at the proposal to raise a
loan of s500.00000 In the twenty
months of this country's participation
in the way. the people have raised
for foreign loans and national expendi-
trres s2l ,G00.O0O,00O and have done it
without hardship or more than an oc-
easional sacrifice. Such was the I'M
guessed, but latent financial strength
of people awakened to support a
great mora! cause
The Liberty Loans.
In the spring of 1917. when Secre-
tary McAdoo proposed the fiotation of
loan of s2,0oooOO,OO0 on which the
government would ray 3R per cent
and exempt the bonds from taxes, the
general feeling, freely expressed. was
that it could not be done. The test
came The people not only did what
J, was asked but subscribed total of
Sc ,035.22f.S50, or ISL per cent of the
secretary's request.
A few months later the Treasury de-
4 rartment requested loan of $4,000
oN0 900, the bonds to bear per cent
Interest, without the tax exempt fea-
ture of tie First Loan bonds. This
SO 900 100000 was oversuhscribed, the
total Subscription being s4,617 1852 900,
or 1893 per cent of the sum asked
The pecnle of the United States be-
gan 20 roalize that they 'rere equal to
whatever was asled Of them, no mat
fgr how much. and when the Third
Liberty loan of So 600 600, 900 was an
Dounced, the job was undertaken cheer
IS fully and the final result was a sub
scription of s4,15S.599, 100. or 1886 per
cert of the call.
Then came the Fourth Liberty loan.
& Governmental expenditures had been
increasing by lears and bounds until
the amount needed seemed fabulous,
but the education. confidence and pa
triotism of the people had kept pace
With the money demands and when
ne secretary Of the treasury asked