Life, 1917-07-19 · page 16 of 40
Life — July 19, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Family Troubles in Louisville"**: This section discusses an internal lawsuit at the *Courier-Journal* newspaper between publisher Bruce Haldeman and other family members, with Colonel Watterson involved. Life's point: the magazine cares less about who wins than that Colonel Watterson—described as the editorial "soul" of the paper—retains freedom to write his opinions unrestrained. It's a plea for editorial continuity during family business conflict. **"Mr. Viereck Complains"**: George Sylvester Viereck, a German-American writer, objects to being labeled "opposed to the draft" in Life's June 21st article. He claims he supports conscription *in theory* but opposes sending German-Americans to fight Germany specifically. The satire mocks his contradictory position: he wants the draft modified to protect his ethnic group—revealing self-interest masked as principle during WWI debates over German-American loyalty. The cartoons illustrate both pieces with contemporary domestic and military scenes.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Family Troubles in Louisville UR good friend the Courier-Journal of Louisville has been having family troubles and a lawsuit to deter- mine, apparently On one side of the suit is Mr. Bruce Haldeman, publisher, and son of a father who Was the publisher and largest stockholder. On the other side are other Haldemans and Colonel Watterson Heaven knows what the trouble is all about and what the merits of the case are. Preliminary statements before a judge the other day took up about a page of newspaper in modest print. Doubtless they are important to the per- who is boss. sons concerned. What is important to us is the continuance in the editorial page of the Courier-Journal of the discourses of Colonel Watterson, unexpurgated and unrestrained. We want them as we have had them for forty-odd years, In that period the mechanisms of newspapers have marvelously improved —if that is indeed improvement which multiplies quantity. Papers are bigger, circulations are bi amount of “ number of readers, but no patent method hi ger, a vastly increased news" is distributed daily to a vastly increased come along Hoe has no machine It grows here and there, but is a rare of developing personality in editors, to do that, nor Scott. plant at its manyest. Colonel Watterson is a great personality. He is the soul of the Courier-Journal, which without him would cease to live, though is might, and doubtless would, keep on. Leave to print and room to print for him, for as long as he is spared to us! Mr. Viereck Complains N Lire of June 2tst, in an article entitled “Allies of Mr. George Sylvester Viereck was included in a mention of persons “opposed to the draft.” Mr. Viereck is not satisfied to be so included, and writes to Lire as follows: Prussia,’ ticle on the “ Allies of Prussia ” you dis- misstate my position, Iam not opposed to the In your ar draft. In fact, as early as 1910 in my “ Confessions of a Barbarian” I pointed out the merits of conscrip- tion, I favor the principle of universal service. opposed to militarism. Tam However, I believe that con- scription is the most democratic form of militarism That is why the German army is one of the pillars of German democracy. Approving of universal service in Germany, I cer- tainly do not object to it in my own country. I do, however, object to sending Americans of German descent into trenches where they may have to send bullets into their next of kin. I am heartily in favor of Congressman Britten's resolution which has been introduced in Congress. Congressman Britten's resolution, which Mr. Viereck supports, provides that German-American who are drafted and do not want to fight Germany, shall have the option of agricultural service. So it seems that Mr. Viereck approves the draft in theory Lecause it is the German way, and wants it modified in ~E UF E § * DIDN'T 1 HEAR A CIGAR CRACK JUST NOW LN YOUR WAIST COAT POCKET?” T A CIGAR, THAT W. S ONE OF MY Gove “OH, FRED! WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT THOSE BARS ON HIS SHOULDER STRAPS ARE! IF YOU'LL REMEMBER TO GET SOME I CAN EASILY SEW THEM ON,” .