Western critic

A short-lived periodical by Karl Schauerman, a graduate student attending the University of Wisconsin who disapproved of World War I. This issue, volume 1, no. 5, includes a condensed version of Senator Works' speech, "Why we are at war," given on July 21, 1917, at the Third American Conference for Democracy and Terms of Peace, arguing that the United States should have remained neutral.v T\ #7“? T " , i ‘7 - S", wr [V ,.. I)“ (4 Ten Cents a Copy Peace (Piece) D L LIB [118 H9? FIFTH S T,REET T .Cfll . (s1 J m \v KIXRIJESCPIAKJEEQDIAE§ N S L?! L /7’-b H:11; Q A THOM H E12 AIiI) EIDITTOIQ L‘NAUKEE, WIS. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Editorials: l‘nivcrsal Service—The l’sycl1ological Mon1ent.—lle is a “Brier.“ ~— Senator Lewis. Democratic Dry-Nurse. — Documentary Evidence. — The Real Traitors. —- The Growth of an Idea . - - — - ~ Thomas Nast. by Otto W. Grcuhel Two Analogies (O. G.) — . - — - — - ~ » , - - - » . . THE - » Why We Are At War. A condensation of Senator kas' Speech Pepsin Pellets - The One Remedy ~ COPYRIGHT 1917 by Karl Sr/muerm any; By ‘ KARL SCHAUERMANN 1197--5I}7 SI. Tel.Linra/n1286 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Do not despair— but prepare. .3 UBSCRIPTION TERMS .51. 00 a Year 10 (I; a Copy Application for second class mailing privilege pending. VOL. 1 MILWAUKEE, WlS., SEPTEMBER. 1917 NO. 5 Glasses adjusted correctly in all difficult cases. UNIVERSAL SERVICE. A. REINHARD, EARING LICENSED OPTOMETRIST. 460 E. Water Street MIL WA UKEE, WIS. WHEN PASSING THROUGH fished aheatre Beginning with the next issue the OKAUCHEE President’s ports, was introduced in both houses STOP AT JAECKLE’S HOTEL LOCATED AT ICE HOUSE BAY Official Schedule of Performances Everything good to drink and eat. Schlitz beer. for the Month We Grind our own Lenses PHONE 988-1 5. will be published regularly in this corner. A convenient reference in case of doubt. A chronicle at the end of a memorable season. Repair Work Done Promptly W CHAS. NAFFZ The Pabst Theatre Cafe OPTICIAN FINE LUNCH SERVED the stamp of approval and Secretary McAdoo’s plea that it be made law in justice to America’s fighting men and their families, the long expected war compensation indemnity and insurance bill, so the Press re- GLASSES FITTED (81 GUARANTEED of Congress August 10 The bill is all right as far as it goes. But why should its provisions be made applicable to “fighting” men to soldiers only? We recollect that when the debate over conscription was hottest, those in favor of the bill pointed out the fair« ness and justice of the draft in that it applied to poor and rich alike, that it meant Madison, Wis. workers behind the cessful conduct of the war as the soldiers in the trenches. Now, will a workingman who loses an arm, a leg, or both arms and legs A SAFE BET. It would be foolish to say that this (Plea-c mention The Western Critic) be in the line of insurance and compensa tion accorded the soldiers. Old age pension, accident—and ill- lines were as necessary for the suc- 109 King St., lines ness insurance for the workingmen, the conscription of the employer as well as the employee must come be« fore the principle of Universal Service has any semblance of realization. And let’s hope that the recognition and adoption of that principle in time of war will lead to its widest and permanent application in the near time of peace. For it is, after all, peace that our Nation is preparing and fight- the and the that that Service behind even those to be exempted under certain provisions—ammunition workers, farm helps, in fact all workingmen who could not be spared in the industries of the country—were to be considered as parts of the fighting ma- chine, Universal while on duty given a government pension"? If he should lose his life, will his depenc ents be provided for by the government? No And why not? Because the government can not take over responsibilities which belong to the individual employer? We insist that it can. It is practically commandeering all the important industries of the country right now, and if it can not place all the workingmen of the country on the government pay roll it can see to it that the individual employer guarantees to his workers the same privileges war will be the last, —~ but one may ing for. safely prophecy that it will be the last to be declared and waged without the consent of the people. THE WESTERN CRITIC. TIIl-I WESTERN (‘l-‘ITIC. Mr. Baer is not a pacifist. He comes, as Mr. Norton tells us, from THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT. a long talking With the accession of the Pope to the world-wide movement for peace it, looks as if the end of the war were finally in sight. He has been described by Karl von Wiegand as waiting for the “psychological moment," and since he is known to be an accom- plished student of statecraft and diplomacy. it behooves blood-crazed humanity to stop for a moment and ask itself. “Why might the Pope think that the psychological moment had come?" The Papal message came as a climax in a series of peace movements. In America. close upon the heels of Senator Works' expose. Senator La Follette brought up his “peace terms" resolutions. while Representative Baer. newly elected to the House by a great majority. voiced the nnmistakle opinion of the people of the Middle West. In Russia. France. Germany. Austria, and Italy murmurings for peace continued audibly to penetrate the veil ol‘ the various censorships. In England, final- ly. there came the defection of the Labor Party from Lloyd George's ministry. and the spectacular resignation of Mr, Henderson. So the Pope must have thought that “now or never" was the time to throw his moral force into the balance. The fact that a great section of the American l’ress was ready. one hour after transmission of the news. to hint that the Pope might be a tool of “German intrigue" was merely another confirmation of the complete moral and intellectual bankruptcy of that Press. Peace is on the march. She is smilingly treading under foot the vipers that beset her path. Encouraged by the glad shouts of the multitudes. she is leading humanity up from the dark valley of blood and thru its candidate over the combined efforts of both Democratic and Republican machines? That these machines are worn out and no longer wanted by the people. No other explanation can be given of the victory which the youngest Congressman, John M. Baer front of the battle and gave the fullest meas- ure of his support to the plans of President Lincoln. His brother saC< rificed his life for his country as a soldier in the Spanisermerican war. in his and He believes, as do the thousands who con~ gratulate him upon his entering the duties as Representative of the people of North Dakota, in the policy “America First.” On that platform he was elected, and on that platform will have to stand the men who expect to go to Congress in the future. SENATOR LEWIS, DEMOCRATIC DRY-NURSE. Senator Lewis, whom the newspa. pers insist in calling the Democratic whip, lately begins to assume the more genial part of a Democratic drynurse. On the heel of his peace speech comes his announcement that we are going to send our soldiers to Russia and Italy. Just think of it, sending our inexperienced soldiers to join hands with consistent with the intelligence and the political shrewdness which we do not hesitate in attributing to Mr. Lewis: That his talk of sending troops to Russia and his bid to the pacifists in this country alike are nothing but pacifiers stuffed into the mouths of hungry and crying babies. If peace should come tomorrow, or when election time comes round, the pacifier, by a slight of hand trick, will be replaced by a brimful milk bottle, labeled “Democratic party” or “He got us out of war”, and the American baby who has been crying for peace will be told: You foolish baby, what have you been crying about? Haven’t you been sucking is about as headless as the assertion American baby will be big enough to demand that we are going to build ships faster than Germany can make torpedoes. There can be only one explanation, talk and take care of itself. the that peace. National our In government our make specific declaration of its terms of peace, so that we as a people may know that the ideal for which we war milk all the time? We hope that by that time the May God grant the Russians strength and Wis- dam to do likewise. is an expression of true Americanism. “To continue war when the peoples “says the German people at war are as peace loving as ourselves. and that we are devoted to the pursuits of peace. Then why the millions of American manhood sacrificed upon the bloody field of war? “Even now the German people are demanding of their government that it declare specifically the terms upon in advocated league stands without reserve upon a it will make of the nations engaged are at agreement is an international crime. “But while we are fighting to de- “The President," Mr. Baer said on the day he took the oath of office. rifle himself Nonpartisan which country platform of the youngest party repre‘ sented in Congress. Mr. Baer, as his day in Congress. is not a pacifist. But we beg to quote Mr. Baer’s own words in opposition to Mr, Norton‘s assertion that Mr. Baer had not been elect— ed on any platform in opposition to the present war. his Baer campaign nothing un-American nothing disloyal or unpatriotic. soldiers going to live in starving Russia if they really should succeed in getting to the Eastern front? Will they share the ammunition and food which Russia hasn’t got? If there is anything giving aid and comfort to the enemy it is such talk as that advanced by Mr. Lewis, which of North Dakota. has achieved on the colleague Mr. Norton stated the other father carried than His the untrained and unmobilized millions of Russia! On what are our HE IS A “BAER” AND HAILS FROM WISCONSIN. What does it mean if a party hard» ly three years old succeeds in pulling line of fighting rather patriotic Americans. Mr. 3 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. The slogan “War for Democracy" America will become a vassalage to stroy German imperialism, shall we fight to support British imperialism? is slowly wearing out. The war party Prussia, and Attila II. will make Bos- recognizes war Already, as a result of the war, England holds in Africa a million square brought ton or Milwaukee his summer quar< ters. Most likely Milwaukee. for var- they must be made to understand that ious reasons. miles of territory. the safety of America is involved in the struggle going on across the pond. Hence the bugaboo of a German invasion is held up as a means to create a war spirit. If the people can We are under obligation to Attor< ney Gross for pointing out to us a paragraph from a booklet the authority of which ought not to be ques« tioned by the believers in the infallibility of our administration. We quote: “A first task to understanding is to graSp the utter falsity of much that After an imperial council had been held recently by the British and colonial governments of the British empire. the premier stated to the world that Great Britain would not relinquish its hold upon this ter< ritory. that nearer the home to must the be people, not be reasoned into the war. they must be frightened into it. “President Wilson says we are in accord with the aims of our allies and that their aims are in accord with If we don’t invade Germany. the Germans, or the Huns as they generally are called now, will invade America; and then good night to the has been said and written. Even while ours. Liberty turning out their lurid tales of in- If that be true. then are we not fighting for imperialism and not for democracy?” of the American people. the “ready-to-serve" writers were THH H‘I'JS'I'I‘IR N CRITI U. THE WESTERN CRITIC. vasion and conquest. General Eras» mus Weaver. head of the coast artillery. was testifying before a congres- complete urh‘qzmeu would be secured: that the hustericdl assumption that our seaboard was open to may con. navies and armies. tlte landing force never get beyond the range of the guns of the ships. It is also well to remember that it required thirtytltree days for England to more thirty-three thousand unequippetl troops between Qllt-ht’C and Southampton. al~ though the journey was between friendly ports.” (fan anybody imagine our surprise and astonishment when finding the quest was mere fit/"rape. author of this statement, assuring the sional committee to this effect: that 710 fortifications in the Irhoh‘ u‘orhl compared fot'ordbijl zrith the roost (Zeft'r'hsr‘s of the l‘nt‘ted States: that with an additional eleven thousand men. “At the same time, also, the Allies were abandoning the Gallipoli attack. beating a retreat that in itself was a confession of ghastly failure. The ago. ments managed to pass the resolution ing example, all the lovers of liberal ideas the world over will be hoping for a continuance of governmental obstinacy and suppression in all the warring countries. The greater the sup pression, the greater the final reac- by a majority of over 900,000. the introduction of the book written by no other than Neu‘ton D. Secretary of War. The title possessed of any naval aid whatsoever. yet after a year of incessant effort. book is “Wilson and The Issues.” date of publication September. Century Press. Baker. of the 1915. The As a result, the position of Lloyd George as cabinet leader was endangered. And it all came about through the policy of suppression inaugurated six months After this latest and most strik- tion, and the final gain for liberalism. THOMAS NAST. American public of perfect security against invasion. to be no other than Georg/e (WWI. the present publicity agent of the government and to see Turks had no such fortifications as ours. no such guns. nor were they during which the Allies concentrated unimportant and unrepresentative ele- By Otto Washington Greubel. T HE 27th of this month is the seventy-seventh anniversary of Thomas Nast, America’s first and greatest cartoonist. Originator of the Elephant, the Donkey and the Tiger as symbols for the Republican, Democratic, and Tammany organizations, he lives in When the modern cartoonist feels the heavy leaden touch of despair, and the ideas fail to come, he goes back to the pages of the old Harper’s Weekly, plunges into this well of inspiration and emerges with one of Nast’s cartoons. This he revamps, THE REAL TRAITORS. At a meeting of the People's Council of Milwaukee one of the speakers up» braided the militaristic press for giv— ing aid and comfort to the enemy by casting aspersions on the loyalty of so many millions of American citizens. The newspapers that manufacture fake prosecutions for treason and grow hysterical about one bogus plot after the other. are being read in hostile nations. and the false impressions they give, of our citizenry do more to hearten the enemy than all the agita~ tion for free speech and free assembly. The truth is that most of these papers eare far less about the war than they do about politics. It is a part of their political game to blacken the reputa— tion of an opponent and to intimidate his supporters by raising the cry of. treason. Think for a moment of the impression we would receive, were the German press to fill its pages with accusations of disloyalty and treason against millions of Germans! Would we not be encouraged and heartened by the news? The militaristic press had better dry up on this topic. They will never intimidate the friends of Bob La Follette with their insinua» tions. Every new attack increases the hosts of admirers who will vote for him, no matter what office he may aspire to. THE GROWTH OF AN IDEA. Six months ago sixty-six prominent British periodicals had their foreign circulation suppressed by the government because they had taken up the idea of “peace without victory.” Among these was The London Nation, one of the world's greatest liberal journals. Suppression inaugurated a period of phenomenal growth for the suppressed idea. Everybody except government otl’icials knows that in the case of ideas. nothing breeds success like sup- pression. Speakers on street corners took up the cry and were mobbed by gangs of rowdies. Meetings were held in halls and were dispersed scenes of violence. Then famous peace meeting at mous because so many amid came the Leeds, fa- militaristic papers took such great pains to prove how “unimportant and unrepresenta- tive” it was. That was followed by 3 resolution of the British Labor Party to send delegates to the Stockholm “peace without victory” meeting. The “Who stole the people's money? almost every cartoon that is published. But the man whom Lincoln. Grant, Mark Twain delighted to honor as their guest, the critic whose broadsidcs shattered the careers of hosts of political crooks and swindlers. the patriot whose faithful service won support for the, cause of his country he is all but forgotten today. ’1 was him." and relabels and presents it as a new draft for applause at the bank of public opinion, and Thomas Nast, the pilfered genius, receives no credit from an ungrateful world which chooses to remember only its military and political heroes. His was a career full of adventure. Sporting cartoonist at prize fights in England. soldier in the army of Gari- TIIH lVESTERN CRITIC. 6 THE W'ESTERN CRITIC. baldi in the fight for Italy‘s liberation. patriotic supporter of Lincoln and Grant. reformer in a battle against monstrous corruption. lecturer and platfroni humorist in the palniy days. of Mark Twain and Bill Nye, and ficials and contract swindlers grew more insistent day by day and the gang finally broke up. with most of them ending in jail. finally consul of the United States in Ecuador. he lost his life through fever contracted while in the service of his country. done the best work for America he answered, “Thomas Nast. He did as much any as man preserve to This he did by his cartoons in Harper‘s that carried messages of cheer cotA and patriotism to the humblest Thousands of tages in the prairie. recruits were won for the northern Thomas Nast was one of the greatest fighters for truth and decency known in American history. He it was who took up the cudgel single handed against the Tweed Ring. the On the eve of the Franco-German Paris war of 1870/71, the streets of s were alive with newspaper reader devouring the headlines that called Crowds gathered and re» for war. al peated the phrases about nation — honor, insults, bloody reparation, an and there grew on the boulevards a half million bribe with the sneer: “I made up my mind not long ago to put some of those fellows behind the bars. and I am {TOi/lfl to do it." irresistible clamor for war. Paris was He did it at the peril of his life. His cartoons roused the public conscience and prodded the police into on fire, — while France was cool, President Cleveland closes the door against office seekers. The most famous of the series of was hustled into a declaration of war. Few brave souls have dared resist the Among them was the tide of passion. the buck from one to the other. ties to listen to the calmer voice of This East had a keen eye for European politics. His cartoons in Harper‘s Weekly represent a critical commentary on world events that no historian can afford to neglect. It is of interest to know that he applied the slogan “Might Makes Right" to England‘s colonial adventures in Egypt and As1a, and showed a picture of a rotund British lion grown fat upon. small nations. The lines under the accom— panying cartoon run thus: “L'DOD what meat doth this our Cesar feed. that he game, is grown blackbirds.” so great?”—“Sinall The blackbirds were the small nations, Egypt, Zululand, Afghanistan. A word should be said for the ferreiit Aiiiericanism of Nast. Tho Gerbut They couldn‘t stop Nast; the pictures of the big bearded looter of the people with his gang of dishonest of- But the warlike capital impressed it its spirit on the legislature, # and Tweed pictures is the one entitled. ‘fWho stole the people’s money?” showing the Tammany ring as they pass picture has been utilized by cartoonists in ridiculing the way the locked nations are today throwing the blame upon their neighbors. iiiy constituents can‘t read: damn it, they can see pictures.“ The suburbs didn't know what the hubbub was about. action. Boss Tweed. the looters‘ chief. ”Might Make: Right.” by the simple patriotism of Nast’s cartoons. And now that Nast's name is fading from memory his work is a treasure trone for pilfering cartoonists. They are lifting copies bodily from the old volumes of Harper’s. May they at least possess the decency to give due credit to the master genius whose spirit supports them. TWO ANALOGIES. gang that stole four hundred millions from the New York treasury. He it was who answered a banker's offer of cried out in despair: “Let's stop them damned pictures. I don't care so much what the papers write about me the {Mon and bring the war to an end.” cause man born, (Landau, Bavaria) he kept his eyes ever firmly fixed on the standard of America, and served her as a devoted son. When General Grant was asked what man in civil life had venerable white implored France. haired Thiers. crowd the hissing But, in vain. of He depu- The inspired jingoes blundered into a war that the people did not want, while Thiers. who knew the real soul of France was hissed as a traitor. followed. disaster upon Disaster Bitter disappointment brought grave and reflective thought in their train. The crowds of war shouters. the jingoistic editors, faded from View, and there stood once more before them the figure 01' that courageous man who had loved France better than his He who once braved own reputation. the hisses of his countrymen to preserve their peace, was now acclaimed the idol of France and he became the first president Republic. of the new French When the Government of