Bruce Barton letter to Meyer Brothers Druggist - September 6, 1918
Transcript
September 6, 1918 Mr. [Henry Milton] Whelpley, Meyer Bros. Druggist 415 Clark Ave., St Louis, [Missouri] Dear sir:- More than 100 publishers of magazines and trade papers have offered to publish a Y. M. C. A. cover design or to print the Red Triangle on the cover of their issue which appears nearest November 11. This letter is to thank you for the splendid help. I want to suggest one other way in which you may help to secure the great fund which is necessary to “keep the hut fires burning.” As Chairman of the Publicity Committee I am making no effort to secure the publication of articles praising the Y. M. C. A. This is not a Y. M. C.A. Campaign; it is a campaign for soldiers and sailors. What Y. M. C. A. men say about the “Y” is unimportant; the important thing is - what do the soldiers say? 1. Could you write to some of the prominent men in your industry whose sons are in the service, and secure pictures of their boys and any extract from the boys’ letters in which the “Y” is mentioned? A page of these pictures headed “What Our Boys Say About The ‘Y’” would be a greater contribution to the success of this campaign than a dozen special articles. 2. If this is more of an effort that you care to make, will you devote one of your editorials (in an issue appearing some time in October or early November) to the necessity of this work? Shall we furnish material for such an editorial? 3. If neither of these suggestions appeal to you, will you publish a short article if we prepare it? Or one or more photographs if we will furnish them?
Transcript
[page 2] I make no apology for asking the fullest cooperation from the publishers in this great enterprise. Your paper has more influence with your special constituency than any general magazine possibly can have. I believe that General [John] Pershing knows what he is talking about when he says that the Y. M. C.A. is vital for the maintenance of the morale of our Armies. And that Napoleon knew what he was talking about when he said that “morale is as other factors in war as three to one.” To have this drive fall short of producing the amount needed to carry on the work would be nothing less than a tragedy. But with the help of publications like yours, telling the story to their readers, the drive will not fall short. It will go over the top with a bang. Faithfully yours, Bruce Barton Chairman Publicity Committee. P.S. Many editors have already agreed to do either “2” or “3” above. If you are one of these, disregard these two questions in your reply.
Details
| Title | Bruce Barton letter to Meyer Brothers Druggist - September 6, 1918 |
| Creator | Barton, Bruce |
| Source | Barton, Bruce. Letter to Meyer Brothers Druggist. 06 September 1918. Dr. Henry Milton Whelpley Collection, 1826-1929. A1737. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Bruce Barton, Chairman of the Publicity Committee, National War Work Council of the Y.M.C.A., sent this letter to Dr. Henry Milton Whelpley. Dr. Whelpley was the Dean of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and editor of the Meyer Brothers Druggist magazine. Barton asked if the Druggist magazine would support the Y.M.C.A. in their publication. This letter was written on National War Work Council of the Y.M.C.A. letterhead. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Y.M.C.A. |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A1737 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | September 6, 1918 |
| Language | English |