Four Minute Men

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
US President Woodrow Wilson 1919

The Four Minute Men were a group of volunteers selected by US President Woodrow Wilson to give four-minute speeches on topics from the Committee on Public Information . The speeches dealt with American successes in World War I and were held in cinemas across the country, mainly during the four-minute breaks that resulted from changing roles.

Around 75,000 volunteer speakers were deployed across the country between 1917 and 1918. 755,190 four-minute speeches were given in a total of 5,200 congregations and over 11 million listeners were reached.

history

A week after the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson established the Committee on Public Information (CPI) propaganda organization, prepared by Civilian Chairman George Creel and the secretary of state), war (war) and navy (navy). The aim of the organization was to change general opinion in the United States and to show the world that you are an ally. The CPI's top priority was to reach as many people as possible through all available media. The CPI was divided into a Domestic Section and a Foreign Section. In addition to the Four Minute Men, the Domestic Section also included the division of news (news department), the division of civic and educational cooperation (citizen and pedagogy department), the production and distribution division (production and sales department), the speaking division ( Spokesperson's Department), the division of pictorial publicity, the division of advertising, the film division, the Official Bulletin, the service bureau, the division of exhibits and state fairs (department for exhibitions and fairs), the division of women's war work (department for women's work in war), the cartoon bureau (caricature office), the division of syndicate features (department for advocacy), the division of business management (department for business administration) and the division of work with the foreign born (department for working with immigrants).

The first four-minute speech was given by Donald Ryerson in the Chicago Theater , according to George Creel . On May 22, 1917 at the latest, the Four Minute Men received Bulletin No. 1 (the first announcement) with the first formal instructions to make their speeches. Initially, the speeches were only given in the theater and cinema breaks, next to popular meetings, in workers' unions and in social aid organizations. Later the speakers reached almost every major meeting, such as B. in churches, at Sunday schools, in synagogues, in women's clubs, in schools, in manors, in lumberjack camps and also in Indian reservations. Soon there were 15,000 Four Minute Men volunteer recruits across America. The number rose to 75,000 just before the armistice. They reached over 300 million listeners in all US states and territories.

organization

In each state there was a chairman of the Four Minute Men in cooperation with the Defense State Councils, the Public Safety Committee, Chambers of Commerce, and other recognized public bodies. The chairman was appointed by the director. In every town or town where this work was organized there was a local Four Minute Man appointed by the state chairman. This appointment was reviewed by the Washington director. The local chairman enrolled a sufficient number of volunteer speakers as Four Minute Men to cover the cinemas in his city or town. The state chairman, native chairman, and speakers were controlled by standardized instructions issued by the Washington director. Individual speakers received special instructions from the local chairmen. The most important task of the local chairmen was to select the speakers. The chairmen were warned not to select speakers who were known locally because they were used to long speeches with space for anecdotes. Their task was also to check whether the speakers delivered their message within this period. It is said that the penalties were severe for failing to speak, introducing party information, or lacking restraint and good manners.

Communications from the CPI

The so-called bulletins (notifications, announcements) were sent out by the CPI to the Four Minute Men. This included the topics to be discussed.

Themed broadcasts Publication period
English German Beginning The End year
Universal Service by Selective Draft Universal service through a targeted concept 12th of May May 21 1917
First Liberty Loan First Liberty Loan May 22 15th June 1917
Red Cross Red Cross 18th of June 25th June 1917
Organization organization 25th June - 1917
Food Conservation Food preservation July 1 July 14th 1917
Why we are fighting Why we fight July 23 5th of August 1917
The nation in arms The nation in arms 6th of August 26th of August 1917
The Importance of Speed The importance of speed August 19th 26th of August 1917
What our Enemy really is What our enemy really is August 27 September 23rd 1917
Unmasking German Propaganda Exposing the German propaganda August 27 September 23rd 1917
Onward to Victory Forward to victory September 24th October 27 1917
Second Liberty Loan Second peace loan 8th October 28th of October 1917
Food pledge Food promise October 29th November 4th 1917
Maintaining morals and morals Maintenance of manners and morals November 12th 25. November 1917
Carrying the message Get the message across November 26th December 22 1917
War Savings Stamps War discount stamps January 2nd January 29th 1918
The Shipbuilder The shipbuilder January 28th February 9 1918
Eyes for the Navy Eyes for the navy February 11th February 16 1918
The Danger to Democracy The danger of democracy February 18 March 10th 1918
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Lincoln's Gettysburg address February 12th - 1918
The income tax The income tax March 11 March 16 1918
Farm and Garden Agriculture and garden 25th March March 30 1918
President Wilson's Letter to Theaters President Wilson's letter to theater March 31 April 5th 1918
The Liberty Loan The Liberty Loan April 6th May 4th 1918
Organization Organization (Republished) April 23 - 1918
Second Red Cross Campaign Second Red Cross Campaign May 13th May 15 1918
Danger to America Danger to America May 27th June 12 1918
Second War Savings Campaign Second war savings campaign June 24th June 28th 1918
The Meaning of America The importance of America June 29th July 27th 1918
Mobilizing America's Man Power Mobilization of American forces 29th of July August 27 1918
Where Did You Get Your Facts? Where do you get your information from? 26th of August 7th of September 1918
Certificates to Theater Members Certificates for theater members the 9th of September September 14th 1918
register directory 5th September 12th September 1918
Four-minute singing Four-Minute Singing (Common Use) - - 1918
Fourth Liberty Loan Fourth Liberty Loan September 28th October 19th 1918
Food Program for 1919 Food plan for 1919 (not published) December 1 December 7th 1918
Fire prevention Fire protection October 17th November 2 1918
United War Work Campaign Joint War Labor Campaign November 7th November 18 1918
Red Cross Home Service Red Cross Help for the home December 7th - 1918
What Have We Won? What did we win? December 8th December 14th 1918
Red Cross Christmas Roll Call Red Cross Christmas roll call December 215 23rd of December 1918
A tribute to allies An honor for the allies 24th of December - 1918

The four-minute speeches

Four-Minute Speeches were the four-minute speeches of the Four Minute Men. During the breaks, the following was projected onto a screen during the speeches:

4 MINUTE MEN 4

(Copyright, 1917. Trade-mark)

.................. ..........................

(Name of Speaker)

will speak four minutes on a subject of national importance. He speaks under the authority of

THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION

GEORGE CREEL, CHAIRMAN

WASHINGTON, DC


(Four Minute Men (Copyright, 1917. Registered Trademark), the speaker's name , will speak for four minutes on a nationally important topic. He speaks on behalf of the Public Information Committee, George Creel, Chairman, Washington DC)

Examples

"Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have just received the information that there is a German spy among us - a German spy watching us. He is around, here somewhere, reporting upon you and me - sending reports about us to Berlin and telling the Germans just what we are doing with the Liberty Loan. From every section of the country these spies have been getting reports over to Potsdam - not general reports but details - where the loan is going well and where its success seems weak, and what people are saying in each community. For the German Government is worried about our great loan. Those Junkers fear its effect upon the German morale. They're raising a loan this month, too. If the American people lend their billions now, one and all with a hip-hip-hurray, it means that America is united and strong. While, if we lend our money half-heartedly, America seems weak and autocracy remains strong. Money means everything now; it means quicker victory and therefore less bloodshed. We are in the war, and now Americans can have but one opinion, only one wish in the Liberty Loan. Well, I hope these spies are getting their messages straight, letting Potsdam know that America is hurling back to the autocrats these answers: For treachery here, attempted treachery in Mexico, treachery everywhere - one billion. For murder of American women and children - one billion more. For broken faith and promise to murder more Americans - billions and billions more. And then we will add: In the world fight for Liberty, our share - billions and billions and billions and endless billions. Do not let the German spy hear and report that you are a slacker. "

- Speech of a Four Minute Men

“Ladies and gentlemen: I have just learned that there is a German spy among us - a German spy is watching us. He's here, here somewhere, reports about you and me - sends his reports about us to Berlin and simply tells the Germans what we're doing with the Liberty Loan. Spies from all regions of the country have sent such reports to Potsdam - not general reports, but details - where the loan is doing well and where its success seems weak, and what people in each community are saying. The German government is worried about our great bond. These Junkers are afraid of the effect on German morality. They're also raising a bond this month. If Americans lend their billions now, one and all with a hip-hip hurray, it means America is united and strong. As long as we lend our money half-heartedly, America seems weak and autocracy remains strong. Money means everything now, it means faster victory and less blood shed. We are at war and Americans have only one opinion, the only wish is the Peace Loan. Well, I hope these spies got the message, let Potsdam know that America is hurling these answers back at the autocrats. For treason here, tried treason in Mexico, treason everywhere - a billion. For the murder of American women and children - a billion more. For broken trust and the promise to kill more Americans - billions and billions more. And then we add: In the world struggle for peace, our share - billions and billions and billions and infinitely billions. Don't let the German spy hear and report that you are a slacker.) "

- Speech by a four minute man

" I am

I am the man who speaks throughout the length and breadth of our country. I look east out past the Statue of Liberty toward the flaming battle line. The sun sets in the Pacific as I work along our western shores. The Southland hears my call, Canada knows I am her friend. I am in the War Department, the Treasury, the cantonments, factories, and shipyards, in the busy city office, and in the country store beside the cracker barrel. I am on active duty every evening. I see the city's dazzling lights and the country's twinkling lamps. I am poor and rich, young and old. I build morale and confidence in the right. I defeat fear, mistrust, and ignorance. Lies are cut down and fall naked before my sword. False rumor flies before the searchlight of my truth as does the mist at sunrise. I make clear the issues so that all may know and understand. It is my duty "to hold unbroken the inner lines," [and] "to inspire to highest action and noblest sacrifice." I am everywhere helping to win this greatest of wars and to save the world for God and man. I am here to stay on duty until the fight is won. I am the Four Minute Man. "

- Anonymous

"( I am

I am the man who speaks through the length and breadth of the country. I look to the east over the Statue of Liberty in the direction of the burning battle front. The sun is setting in the Pacific as I work along the west bank. The south hears my call, Canada knows I am their friend. I'm the military service, the Treasury, the accommodations, factories and shipyards, in the busy city office and in the village shop next to the wooden barrel. I'm on active duty every night. I see the blinding lights of the city and the twinkling lights of the country. I am rich and poor, young and old. I put morality and trust in the right place. I fight fear, suspicion and uncertainty. Lies are cut off and fall naked under my sword. False rumors flee from my searchlight of truth like the fog at sunrise. I explain the problems so that everyone can understand and know. It is my duty "to keep the inner lines unbroken" [and] "to make the greatest impact and to make the greatest sacrifice." I am everywhere to help win the greatest of the wars and save the world for God and man. I'm here on duty until the fight is won. I'm the Four Minute Man. "

- Anonymous

Well-known Four Minute Men

Lambert Estes Gwinn - Famous Four Minute Men from Covington, Tennessee

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cedric Larson, The Four Minute Men, pp. 98-100
  2. ↑ Cedric Larson, The Four Minute Men, pp. 98-100
  3. ^ Justin Nordstrom, Beyond the Bleak and Dismal Shore: 'the wartime and postwar experiences of American Four Minute Men, 1917–1927, First World War Studies 2014, Vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 305-318
  4. ↑ Four Minute Men Bulletin No. 7A, "Organization," Nov. 25, 1917 p. 3
  5. ↑ Cedric Larson, The Four Minute Men, p. 102
  6. ^ Committee on Public Information, Four Minute Man Bulletin, No. 17 (October 8, 1917)
  7. ↑ Four Minute Men News, Edition C.
  8. ^ Beasley, Gaylon N. 1981. True Tales of Tipton: Historical Accounts of Tipton County, Tennessee. Covington, TN: Tipton County Historical Society. P. 197.
  9. ^ The Register of the Lynn Historical Society 26: 51-54. October 1, 1934. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  10. ^ Otto J. Zahn Would Be a Councilman, Los Angeles Times, March 14, 1919, pp. II-1