The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-15
HOW CARTOONS HELPED.
TO WIN THE GREAT WAR.

The part played by cartoonisT In
winning the war was made public in
! the Introduction of the book The War
In Cartoons" by George J. Hecht, who,
during the war. founded and was head
Of the bureau of CARTOONS of the COM
mittee on public information.
There has probably been no group
Of persons, writes Mr. Hecht. which
las proven to be moro eager to serve
during the great war than have the
cartoontsts of America They have
grasped every opportunity, to draw
patriotic cartoons and have rendered
q considerable service in helping to
convert public emotion into construc-
tive patriotic action.
AT the beginning Of the war when
the German war aims were not widely
known, when the public had to be in
formed about the atrocities of the
Huns and when the war had TO be
brought home to those who lived so
far. from the cannon's roar. the many
Genefal patriotic cart o0nss that were
drawn 'were~.of deaaits. Malne They
electrified the people as nothing else
could
In order, however. to inform the
.cartoonists OF the many propaganda
subjects upon which the governme Mt
wished cartoons drawn the bureau of
cartoons was established in Decent Der
1917, under the auspices of the national
committee of patr lotto societies. In
June 1913 the bureau of cartoons was
taken over by the committee on public
Information The bureau published
weekly the bulletin for Cartoonists.
which was sent to practically every
cartoonist In the United States. In
these four-page bulletins were printed
subjects for cartoons as suggested by
tic United states food administration.
the treasury department and other
government agencies.
LAS no cartoons drawn on the sub
tccts suggested losing their indi-
Viduality for each cartoonist expressed
the thoughts in a different way. The
purpose OF the bulletin was distinctly
not to give directions The sugges-
tfons that were offered were to enable
cartoonists to be of the greatest PCS
slble service In this way considor-
able cartoon power was developed
which helped the government in stimu-
latinG recruiting popularizing the
craft, saving food and fuel. selling
liberty bonds and war savings stamps,
warning against German propaganda
and in driving home to the great mass
Of the people the necessity for whole
hearted action
Your work" wrote General John J.
pershlng to the cartoonists Of Amer
lea has been one OF the most impor-
tant factors In creating and sustaining
tina. resolute popular opinion which is
now the voice of America. You have
given unvaryinR loyalty and lot Of
hard work TO our government and to
cur armed forces,
Speaking for the army in France. 4
can assure you that you have made us
alternately serious and happy. both OF
which are good for us. Times without
number your cartoons have illustrated,
or interpreted or exposed policy, or
purposd, quicker and more effectively
than the written word You have been
ready with the fash of huror -or the
touch 81 satire when that was the
treatment required You have my envy
because you must have such nne times
doing your work. especially those of
you TO whom the gods have given the
blessed gift OF humor
Herbert Hoover on several occasions
expressed his appreciation to the car
toonists Of the country for their CO.
operation with the food administration
and stated that their work has had a
very real connection with the success
we have met in feeding the allied peo-
pies and in keeping their amies in the
field" Following the repatriation day
OF men eighteen to twenty and thirty
two to forty five, Provost Marshal Cen
erai f. H. Crowder wrote that "the
energetic and enthusiastic efforts Of
the bureau OF cartoons had large
part TO play In the success of registra-
ton"
Daniel c. Roper. commissioner Of in.
ternai fevenue. stated thai "tAe work