The evening world. Newspaper, March 31, 1917, Page 5

Rich and poor must be ready to make patriotic sacrifices. sacrifice. on charity or the state. But war does not only demand its toll of human life. It re- quires a limitless expenditure of money. , Never in the history of wars has money been so necessary to military success. (Eng- land alone is spending THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS a day as her share of the war’s expense.) What, then, is the duty of all citizens of means, those who have a comfortable surplus, and especially all who will remain at home, protected by the sacrifice of the nation’s young manhood? The least that can be done by the men and women with bank accounts, the men too old to fight, and all other people of means who do not go to the front, is to bear their share of the nation’s burdens by the free and prompt offering of their wealth to the nation’s cause. America needs more than spoken loyalty from its citizens who stay at home. It needs real support and willing sacrifice in the things that count for victory. If we have war, the burden of fighting must be carried by those who are physically strong and fit to fight. The burden of finance must be borne by those who are financially strong and able to give. Above all, the war must be paid for as it proceeds, in dollars as well as in lives. There must be no crushing legacy of bonded debt to be paid in taxes by the men who have done the fighting and their children. Let us make this a cash war, a pay-as-you-enter war. Let all loyal citizens who have incomes above their immediate necessities volunteer their wealth. The people of the United States have never failed to respond to their coun- try’s need. They never will. In our Civil War a million men (a quarter of the whole population of military age) volunteered at Lincoln’s call during the first year. But the nation’s private fortunes did not volunteer. They declared for patriotism, while they profited on the country’s necessity. A Congressional com- mittee disclosed seventeen million dollars of graft in contracts for less than fifty millions. The public need not be reminded of the experiences during the Spanish- American war. Let us not forget these bitter lessons of history. In the name of honor, justice and the country you love, sign this pledge! Organization Committee OWEN R, LOVEJOY AMOS PINCHOT JOHN L, ELLIOTT _ THE EVENING WORLD, SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1917, TOALLLOYAL AMERICANS WILL YOU STAND BY YOUR COUNTRY IF WAR COMES? We hope and work for peace, but if war comes, the country will need two things: MEN and MONEY. But the poor man will make the greatest He will do the bulk of the fighting; because he forms the bulk of the population. He will offer to his country more than life itself---for, if killed or disabled, he leaves his wife and children helpless, dependent PLEDGE I hereby demand that the Congress of the United States shall immediately enact legislation providing substantia ally for the following war measures: 1. That, in case of war, all net incomes of $5,000 or over shall be subject to the following ‘annual graduated war contributions: On all net incomes from $5,000 to $10,000, a contribution of 214 per cent. On all incomes over $10,000 a year, a contribution increasing on a sliding scale beginning at 10 per cent, and rising to a point which will permit of no indi- vidual retaining an annual net income in excess of $100,000, during the war. 2. That no war supplies or war service, including transportation, shall be furnished to the Government at a net profit of more than 31% % per cent. 3. That no wholesale or retail dealer shall sell food or other basic necessities of life during the war at a profit larger than 6 per cent. 4. That intentional failure to supply the Government with correct figures as to incomes and profits on such sales and service shall be a felony, punishable by imprisonment. 5. That any individual or corporation who knowingly furnishes the Gov- ernment with defective war supplies shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment. a I pledge myself to support and use my influence, in so far as I am able, to further the prompt enactment into law of such measures. Signature. (Cut out this pledge, sign it, and mail to committee.) Committees will be organized in every section of the country to insure the immediate adoption of this legislation. One hundred thousand vol- unteers are needed at once to carry on this work. Every Governor, Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and civic association should appoint local commit- tees to co-operate in putting the country on a sound financial basis, in case of war. Simultaneous with the introduction of the bills in the national Congress, endorsement by every State Legislature, sitting at this time, should be urged. All educational, religious and civic bodies are invited to endorse this plan. Act at once! nd money! We need it to carry on this work. It will be used for nothing else. Fill out, sign and mail now! AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON WAR FINANCE, 70 FIFTH AVENUE, N. Y. I hereby volunteer my services. I will work to get pledges signed. Please send me a supply of pledge forms. Signed Address.... AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON WAR FINANCE 70 Fifth Avenue, New York