Evening star., 1941-05-01
President Launches
Defense Saving Bond
Drive by Investing
Public Sale oi Securities
Opens Today at Bonks
And Post Offices
(Tert Of Presidents address on
Page A-22)
q the Associated Press

IS the Associated Press.
Urged by President Roosevelt tc
participate in the Nations "all-out
effort to perpetuate democracy
Americans, youn gand old, stepped
up to post Office and bank windows
today to begin investing in Defense
savings bonds and stamps.
Public sale of the new securities
started throughout the country to-
day. The President led the way last
night, launching the bond sale pro-
gram in a nationally broadcast ad-
dress. He announced he was buy
ing bond (of $500 denomination,
the White House said later for Mrs
Roosevelt. and 10 Defense savings
stamps (25-cent denomination) for
zach of his grandchildren
In "a frank and clear appeal for
financial support to pay for our
arming, and to pay for the American
existence of later generations" the
President expressed hope that the
sale of bonds and stamps would
reach down to the individual and
the family in every community, and
on every farm. in every State and
every possession of the United
States"
Threat on Threshold.
For, he declared, the threat that
the Nation would guard against can
he found on the threshold of every
home in America" Distance no
longer is a guarantee of safety. he
said, and defenSeS which were ade-
quate 10 years ago are "a broken
reed" today.
With jobs more plentiful and
wages higher" he observed, slight
sacrifice here, the omission of a few
luxuries there, will swell the Golfers
of our Federal Treasury
The outward and visible tokens
Of partnership through sacrifice will
be the possession of those Defense
bonds and Defense savings stamps
which are, at the same time. guar
antee of our future security"
The Government will be strong,
effective and safe, he declared. in
the same measure as the people
support the Government.
Post offices, banks, department
stores and other organizations will
participate in the sale of the bonds
In denominations from S25 to $l0,-
900. and of the savings stamps t25
cents to So, which bear no interest,
but can be exchanged for the in
terest- bearing securities.
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau
and Postmaster General Walker also
spoke in opening the bond drive.
Secretary Morgenthau said there
would be no "hysteria or high pres
sure" in the campaign.
The new securities ARE not for
the few: they are for the many
the laboring man, skilled mechanic,
office worker, employer, housewife,
retired busineSSman-even children,
Secretary Morganthau said.
The Government, he added, was
asking the people not to buy one
bond or set. of stamps. but TO save
regularly and Systematically by put
ting your money into the Soundest
investment on the face of the earth
the United States of America"
He said the purpose of the pro-
gram was not only to raise funds
to pay for defense. but to encourage
thrift. check high prices, and to en-
courage the public to save enough
money to carry it over the inevitable
years of REIMBURSEMENT" after the
war is over.
Postmaster General Walker spoke
from Des MoineS, Iowa. He said
that post Offices in selling the new
securities, would help the public
learn about them.