The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-14
EXHIBIT
SHOWS v FOR
VICTORY OF'10
By MARJORIE HoAGLAND

BY MARJORIE HOAGLAND
United Press Staff Correspondent
Indianapolis, (UP)--A 5O0-item
war poster collection at American
Legion national headquarters here
shows that during 1917-1e the w"
for Victory" flew as declsively as
1t does now - even though In a
slightly different pictorial form.
The famous symbolic "V" was
used In the Victory Loan Drive Of
the First World War Drive and was
a giant white-bordered blue letter
imposed on q red background. It
heads the collection at the War Me-
mortal building.
The 1917-1O Committee on Pub
lie Information pictorial publicity
division was headed by Charles
Dana Gibson. At the outset, COM
Inercial photographers had made
many Of the posters, but as artists
were modified behind democracy's
battle, brilliant satirists did tren-
chant pictorial features directed
against German militarism.
The Navy had its own pictorial
information section, under the di-
rection Of 1t. Comdr, Henry Reuter-
dahl who personally executed sew
eral designs. Whether Cpl or Navy,
the posters all had the primary OBJ
pect Of influencing public opinion
along predetermined ideadogical
lines for the purpose Of winning the
war.
Noted Artists Included
Among noteworthy poster de-
signers represented in the Legion
collection are Joseph Pennell, James
Montgomery Flagg, Howard Chand-
Ter Christy, Scott Ethridge, Louis
Raemakers, Adolph Treidler, Jay N.
Darling, Thelma Cudlipp, F. Lens
Mora, g. B. Falls and Wallace Nor
gan.
The titles often are similar to to-
days powerfully drawn posters
Feed a Fighter, Blood or Bread,
Keep It Coming, Hunger, Make
Every Minute Count for Pershing :.
The Legion's small European pos
ter section Exclusively Allied) in
cludes the work Of M. Steinlen and
the caricaturist Sem" The latter
is represented by his maSterful
Are de Triomphe," the symbolic
implications Of which seem equally
applicable in the present war.
The Legion also has a set Of
bound volumes Of Cartoons Mag
azine" for the 19l4-19 period, an
inclusive compilation of war car
toons, running commentary and
articles.
Read Like '4S Dispatches
Many Of the Cartoons Maya
zine" articles sound like 1943 war
dispatches. For instance, under the
title General Winter Again Fights
Russia's Battles" there follows:
THE rejuvenated Russian army
under the direct command Of the
Gar, has renewed its offensive, and
is reported to be pushing back the
Austro-G German forces over q l90-
mile front. The town Of Kovel in the
north appears to be the immediate
objective, while In Bukowina ter
rifle fighting has been the order Of
the day. The political effect Of this
aggressive movement, II the attack
continues successful, should be far
reaching. Roumania, which has been
trembling in the balance. may de-
eide to cast her lot with the Allies,
and appears Just now to be awaiting
the result Of the Bukowina drive.
-orces to the number Of 100000
are engaged :"
The article Is illustrated by stark
cartoons by Caesare (from the New
York Herald.
The entire Legion exhibit first
was opened to the public In 1887.
Since then 1t has been enlarged
steadily until today 1t ranks as one
Of the nations best.