over there, over here: cincinnatians and the great...

Winter 1998 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 13

Over There, Over Here:Cincinnatians andthe Great War

Peggy Brierton,William J. Smith andSteven L. Wright

Staff and volunteers from theCollections and Research Division curated an exhib-it in the Library commemorating the eightiethanniversary of the end of World War I.1 Sponsored bythe Disabled American Veterans, Southwest OhioChapter — American Civil Liberties Union and Taft,Stettinius &) Hollister LLP, the exhibit offered abroad overview of the contributions Cincinnatiansmade in Europe and at home.

Archival materials used in "Over There,Over Here" came from the manuscript holdings ofthe Historical Society Library. Some collections weredonated decades ago while others were given asrecently as 1996.1

The meaning of World War I is more sig-nificant and its impact on American society is moreenduring than often realized. The war thrust Americainto the uncertain future as a leader of the world inthe twentieth century . . . a legacy which endurestoday. However, to many Americans the "Great War"remains nostalgic images of soldiers wearing tin hel-mets and gas masks or catch phrases like "The Warto End All Wars," and "How you gonna keep'emdown on the farm after they've seen Paree?"

Cincinnatians, from all walks of life,served in the military, fought the battles and undoubt-edly made great contributions to ending the war in1918. They were not alone. Many other Queen Cityresidents went "Over There" to help make the worldsafe for democracy, from the corridors of power in thepalaces of Europe to the numerous "Y" Huts in France.Whether a diplomat, soldier, nurse, YMCA worker, orprogressive minded citizen, the war and their wartimeexperiences had major impact on their lives.

The war's effects reached beyond thefields of France to Main Street, USA. Suddenly a per-son of "foreign" origin became suspect, and the cher-ished American right, freedom of speech, came underattack. Some of the worst reactions against German-Americans, German sympathizers and German cul-ture occurred in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati School Board stoppedteaching German in elementary schools. German lan-guage books were banned from the public library.Ernst Kunwald, a native of Austria and music directorof the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), wasunder government surveillance as an "enemy alien."After being forced to resign from the CSO, he wasinterned at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Numerous"Germanic" names of streets and businesses were"anglicized." German Street became English Street,Bremen became Republic, and Berlin becameWoodrow. German National Bank was renamedLincoln Nat ional Bank. The German MutualInsurance Company became the Hamilton CountyFire Insurance Company, and its icon, "Germania"was changed to "Columbia."

Peggy Brierton, aManuscript/BusinessArchives volunteer for overtwo years, has a B.A. inhistory from MarquetteUniversity.

William J. Smith, aManuscript/BusinessArchives volunteer for overfour years, is the former VicePresident of HumanResources for QuantumChemical Company.

Steven L. Wright, Archivist,Business Historian, CincinnatiMuseum Center has a M.A. inhistory from the University ofCincinnati.

Edward F. Alexander

m m*•:.:'ti',.-'

A native Cincinnatian, Edward F. Alexander was bornin 1877 and grew up in the Mohawk/Brighton area. Heattended "Old" Woodward High School and graduatedin 1895 as class valedictorian. His valedictory addressironically was titled, "The Unreasonableness of War."He continued his education at Harvard, graduating in1899 with a BA and earning his MA degree in 1900.Alexander returned to Cincinnati and taught Greekand Latin at UC while studying for his law degree,which he earned in 1906 from the College of Law.

In addition to practicing law, Alexanderwas one of the founders of Cincinnati's Charter Partyin the early 1920s, and the key organizer and support-er of incorporating Proportional Representation (PR)into the city's new charter. However, his defense ofthe Socialists during World War I and close friendshipwith Herbert Bigelow took their toll. He was denied

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the position of city solicitor and, only after launchinga vigorous fight, was he appointed the assistant solici-tor. He ran unsuccessfully for judge of the Court ofCommon Pleas in 1930 and for U.S. Congress fromthe Second District in 1932. Political opponents neverfailed to shed a negative light on his work for civil lib-erties during the war.

Alexander remained assistant solicitoruntil 1947 when city leaders appointed him specialcounsel. He served in this capacity until he retired in1957. He continued to practice law until a few yearsbefore his death in 1967.

DOWN WITH CONSCRIPTIONThe 1st Amendment to the Federal Constitution.CongreBS shall roake no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibitingthe free exercise thereof; or ftl>rid»cing the freedom of SPEECH, or of the prom;or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Govetnmentfor a redress of grievances.

Tlie 13th Amendment to the Constitution of theUnited States reads:

"In coming before this courtwith an argument for thereversal of the conviction andsentence, counsel feelssomewhat as they imaginelawyers might feel who werecalled on to argue before thecourts of Massachusetts for areversal of the Salem witch-craft cases." Edward F.Alexander's opening remarksto the U.S. Sixth CircuitCourt, 1923

In preparation for the localSocialist Party's protest rallyagainst the Selective ServiceAct on June 4, 1917, LottaBurke had handbills printedsimilar to ones distributed inCleveland. On June 1, 1917,while eleven party memberswere distributing handbillsthroughout Clifton Heights, atriad of U.S. Secret ServiceAgents, American ProtectiveLeague members and plain-clothes policemen arrestedthem, charged all eleven withtreason and placed them insolitary confinement for three

days. A few days later, feder-al agents arrested Burke andThomas Hammerschmidt,former Socialist candidate formayor, and charged themalso with treason.


Lotta Burke was transferredto the Montgomery County-Jail where she encounteredsome abuse. Alexander'sassistant wrote to him,imploring Alexander to doingsomething: "Unless she isfurnished the security offemale companionship withthe consequent peace ofmind, she is going to die orgo insane."

Feeling overwhelmed,Alexander sought legaladvice from the SocialistParty of America.

i 6 Queen City Heritage

Bolin's predispositiontowards linking the thirteenSocialists with Communismis quite apparent in his letterto Alexander regarding theappeal process.

Judge Howard C. Hollister,whose son served with theU.S. Food Administration inLithuania and Poland,presided at the District Courthearing. It was a drearyepisode of repression, witch-hunting, character denigra-tion and intolerance.

Constitution is being virtuallysuspended during the timewhen Americais facing thistremendous crisis."Prosecuting Attorney StuartR. Bolin summarizing thegovernment's case.

The American Civil LibertiesUnion (ACLU) becameinvolved in the case from theoutset and offered supportthroughout the seven yearlegal ordeal.

"Our courts are not permit-ting persons who have takena stand against theGovernment in this war toseek shelter behind theConstitution. The


Alexander's closing argu-ments summarized the realissue of the District Courttrial:"The first thing in this casethat you will note is that it isa case of political conspiracy,the sort of case that flouishesin every country where tyran-ny and despotism rule. Thesemen are not here for larcenyor murder or any othercharge involving self-seeking.They are here for their politi-cal views and activities."

Encouraged by Denison's dis-sent and determined to seejustice prevail, Alexanderfiled for a review with theU.S. Supreme Court.

In his dissent, AppellateJudge Arthur C. Denisonargued that the defendantsbelieved both that theSelective Service Act wasunconstitutional and thattheir rights of free speechpermitted them to voice theirdissent. Denison believedtheir ideas were "unsound,"but because the Espionage

Act was not in effect whenthe Socialists were arrested,(it became law on June 15,1917) no law prohibited themfrom expressing theiropinion.

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Herbert S. Bigelow

Herbert S. Bigelow was born in 1870 ona small farm near Elkhart, Indiana. He attendedOberlin Preparatory School and, in 1894, graduatedfrom Western Reserve University. He moved toCincinnati to attend Lane Theological Seminary.After he was ordained in 1896, Bigelow was appoint-ed pastor of the Vine Street Congregational Church.His experience working in the settlement houses inthe basin area of Cincinnati convinced him, however,that a "less traditional answer" was needed to fightpoverty, crime and social injustice.

By 1900, after conservative churchmembers had tried unsuccessfully to remove him,Bigelow formed his own church, "The People'sChurch." He remained minister of this non-tradition-

Queen City Heritage

al, reform-minded church for fifty-four years. Bigelowleft matters of theology and philosophy to individualmembers, all that he desired was a "brotherhood ofman in a world of social justice."

Soon Bigelow's interests reached beyondthe pulpit to politics and reform: 1902 — unsuccess-ful candidate as Ohio's Secretary of State; 1912 —president of the Ohio Constitutional convention andrepresentative to the Ohio House; 1935 — CincinnatiCity Councilman; 1936 — representative to the U.S.Congress.

Whether in or out of office Bigelow con-tinued to crusade for the causes in which he believed:initiative and referendum, city charter reform, pro-portional representation (PR), old age pension law forOhio, and the municipal ownership of utilities (tele-phone, gas and electric).

A life-long anti-militarist,Bigelow opposed America'sentry into the war until thelast moment. Even though hesupported Wilson's war dec-laration, he opposed sendingconscripts overseas. His dis-like of the selective servicewas so strong that he tried toorganize, along with otherMidwestern Socialists, anarmy consisting of volunteersinstead of draftees. Hisunique position baffledfriends and foes alike. Manyregarded him as a malcon-tent and a radical.

Bigelow's outspokenness soenraged Cincinnati's "patriot-ic" groups that on theevening of October 27, 1917,as he arrived to address aSocialist Party meeting inNewport, Kentucky, he waskidnapped, driven to a desert-ed field and horsewhipped —"In the name of the womenand children of Belgium."

Bigelow described his abduc-tion to parishioners atCincinnati's People's Church:

/ realized that some strangefate awaited me. But therewas not a word spoken, andswiftly we sped away, I ridingin total darkness, my mindspeculating on the goal thatwas intended for me. Andwhen I heard the machinerattle over the planks of thebridge, then I thought that Ihad the explanation, that waswhy my feet were tied andmy hands and my bodyencased in a bag, that theyintended to throw me in theriver. And so I faced thatdeath.

And when we crossed thebridge and nothing hap-pened I knew that it wassome other fate that awaitedme. When in that lonely spotthey led me up the hill and Isaw them bringing the ropesout, I said, 'They are going tohang me,' and I died thatdeath.

And then at the end, whenthey poured the crude oilupon my head I waited forthem to light the match. Iexpected that a death byburning was awaiting me,and I died that death.So I have the sacred privilegenow, as I have never hadbefore, of standing in thecompany of this brave man,Paul, and sayingthat I too have fought withthe beasts.

I have often wondered how aman would feel face to facewith a death like that. Now Iknow. There was no fear todie and most of all there wasno dread at what might fol-low death.


The federal investigationwent nowhere. The fact thata few weeks before the kid-napping federal agentssearched and seized propertyfrom Bigelow's office mayhave contributed to the gov-ernment's failure to investi-gate the kidnapping andwhipping incident seriously.

The ACLU and its founder,Roger Baldwin, took a per-sonal interest in the Bigelowcase. Baldwin became soconcerned about the plight offree speech in America thathe held a national protestmeeting in New York City topublicize Bigelow's kidnap-ping and whipping.

Attorney Edward F.Alexander, a close friend andmember of the People'sChurch, enlisted the supportof Bigelow's personal friend,Newton D. Baker, Secretaryof War in the WilsonAdministration. After twomonths it became obviousthat because Ohio andKentucky officials eithercould not or would not act, afederal investigation offeredthe only hope.

2 0 Queen City Heritage

Throughout America peoplewere outraged at HerbertBigelow's kidnapping and,whether or not they sharedhis political philosophy, theyoffered their moral and finan-cial support.


Alexander received numer-ous letters from witnesseswho provided informationabout Bigelow's kidnapping.Some citizens who offered tohelp Alexander, like Mrs.Grace Mader Mack ofNewport, Kentucky, werethreatened.


ITi illlSB5'

\ :::issi^ Always the student of archi-tecture, Cellarius describedhis visit to Paris a few daysafter the Armistice:

[From] there we went intoNotre Dame. It was beingdecorated for the great cele-bration tomorrow and theinterior was just a sea offlags. The transept windowshad been removed and thesculpture of the portals wasstill covered with sandbags

and boarded up, but thecathedral was not greatlyspoiled and the flags werewonderful. I wish I had themoney spent for silk thisweek!

Charles F. Cellarius was anarchitectural draftsman fromNorwood, Ohio. Drafted in1918, he was assigned to amachine gun battalion. Laterhe directed the hospitaldepartment of the ArmyEducational Corp.

After returning toCincinnati, he founded anarchitectural firm andbecame supervising architectfor designing the communityof Mariemont. Known forcolonial architecture,Cellarius' other successes

included designing buildingsat Berea College, OhioUniversity, Ohio StateUniversity and more thanfifty structures on the campusof Miami University, Oxford,Ohio.

In 1956, Cellarius formed apartnership with Herbert F.Hilmer. One of the firm'smore prominent designsincluded the Union CentralLife Insurance Companyheadquarters building inForest Park, Ohio. In additionto being a national board

member and fellow of theAmerican Institute ofArchitects, he was presidentof the Cincinnati and OhioArchitects Associations. Hedied in 1973.


, * *

"Am leaving today at12:noon for a French regi-ment to study trench raiding.I know odds are against mefor returning, but an ordercannot be changed by me. Imust go with a clear con-scious." July 10, 1918

"Some way or another thesetrenches get on my nerves.Had a hot argument with aFrench lieutenant today whohas been somewhatAmericanized by these whiteofficers we have. He seems tothink he is a Lord or some-thing. Still, we poor coloredsoldiers fight for democracyand are constantly beingknocked and driven by ourown white officers. Someclass, eh?" September 4,1918. Ralph Taylor

African-Americans facedgreat challenges duringWorld War I. Governmentdecision makers were con-vinced that blacks wouldnever make good soldiers,and assigned a majority ofthem to labor units. Despitesuch policies, two all-black,combat divisions wereformed. Ralph Taylor's unit,the 93rd Division, wasformed from several NationalGuard units. Black officers ledthe rifle companies while sur-

plus officers from whiteNational Guard units held thestaff jobs.

Although General Pershinginsisted that the AmericanExpeditionary Force (AEF)would not be integrated into"foreign armies," this restric-tion did not apply to blacksoldiers. Shortly after arrivalin France, the 93rd Division,which included four blackinfantry regiments (369th,370th, 371st and the 372nd)were scattered throughoutvarious French army units.While the black soldiers hadto adapt to the French way of

fighting a war, including newtactics, different equipmentand "foreign" food, the unitperformed exceedingly well.In addition to numerous cita-tions for bravery, the unitreceived the Croix de Guerrewith Palm.

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Captain James G. Strobribge(standing, far left) in front ofthe destroyed cathedral atReims, France, spring, 1919.Strobridge's friend and fel-low Cincinnatian, WinifredColvin, a YWCA secretaryserving in France, describedher feelings after seeing thedevastation:

The contrast between pros-perous Germany and ruinedFrance was sickening, andReims would break yourheart. .. the cathedral is per-fectly magnificent evennow—and dominates every-thing for miles around. Iwonder if, perhaps, it has asoul that nothing candestroy.

James Strobridge was bornin Cincinnati in 1894. At ageten, the family moved toTexas and Mexico so James'father could attend Dr.Kellogg's sanitorium andrecuperate from tuberculosis.The family returned toCincinnati when Jamesbegan high school.

Strobridge was in his sec-ond year at MIT whenAmerica entered the war. Hevolunteered for service andwas commissioned a fieldartillery lieutenant. Aftermonths of training in the U.S.

he arrived in Brest, France,shortly before the Armistice.When the war ended,Strobridge decided toremain in Europe and joinedthe Polish Typhus ReliefExpedition as supply officer.The expedition's chief mis-sion was to transport delous-ing equipment to Poland andinstruct civilians on its use.When the expedition com-pleted its work in November1919, Strobridge assisted aPolish civilian group pur-chase U.S. Army hospitalequipment and ship them to

Danzig, Poland. A monthlater Strobridge returned toCincinnati and joined thefamily lithography businessas a salesman. In 1932, hetransferred to New York andbecame vice president of theStrobridge Lithography salesoffice. During World War II,he returned to active serviceand was in charge of print-ing operations at the U.S.Army Map Service inWashington, DC.

After the war, Strobridgereturned to the family busi-ness and assumed the dutiesof president and chairman ofthe board. In 1960, the com-pany was acquired by theH.S. Crocker Company of SanFrancisco. Strobridge retiredin 1962, spending his remain-ing years as an active mem-ber of the New YorkHistorical Society and theMuseum of New York. Hedied in 1985.


Mrs Lewis Earle Lee June 17 2

with their doll buttons. I can handle them without profanity.While I was getting ready to write this the dearest l i t t l e Frenchboy came in to see anjf Americain. I must try to get his picture, helives just across the street. He is three and real chubby abd hascurly hair - les cheveux frisks - you understand. Well, he talkssuch cute French. I would ask him things over and over again to heart&e l i t t l e fellow. He would shake hands with me on entering and onleaving and he left three different times. His name is Pierse, andhe was very much interested in seeing me prepare mjt cafe and maltedmilk together in the Mg cup (l s t i l l have though i t is mended withglue). He poured in a oeu d'leau chaud, and he chattered away andmade me wonder why I cannot learn the darned language if this l i t t l ekid can. And when I showed him the large pictures of the childrenhe kept exclaiming tilings that I got the drift of but xrannot repro-duce ~ he pointed, to Isabella's hat in the May-14th.- snap-shot andlaughed so jolly as he said - elle a un beau chapeau, and he pointed hischubby l i t t l e finger to Eleanor (and Mrae Palicot knows the childrenby name novf and told him that watt Eleanor) and commented on differentthings and one I caught was - elle a une petite main. He wasn't somuch interested in Isabella's silhouette, i t was too noir for him.When he was tempted to touch my typewriter the Mine or Mile would sayne touches pas and that settled him,I haven't wri ten you since No.37 on the 14th. and Mo. 36 on the 11th.On the 11th. I also sent separate letters to the gir l ies . On the 14th.I cabled you as follows:

Mrs. Lewis Lee, Trimble Avenue, Cincinnati.Lots of love to you and the gir ls . Am verywell and in same place. Lewis Lee.

She wouldn't let me send i t Lewis this time for some reason but mademe sign Lewis Lee. I t went French cable again and I hope I am luckyin reaching you in 24 hrs or even 48 hrs again. You deserve everythingI can possibly do for you. You are the dandiest g i r l , and I love youmore than al l the world besides, and I am stsfeing to you tight every oneof these days. I love you a million times more than I ever did before.

There is a pretty scene just across the street from iny open window:an American nurse was making love to a l i t t l e waddling child, not soolean either, and she said,un petite, and lifted i t up'and i t wiggledlike a fish, so she p t i t d.ovm and said pas bon Americain. And theregoes an American soldier. I think he must be the Major's orderly wholives just across the street, he is going there. And here come twoFrench soldiers. I can look right up one street and see people earninginto my street. One is emptying out the water from his canteen as hewalks along. He will get fresh somewhere. They have such big bundlesswung from their shoulders I guess they are ordered to the front. TheFrench canteen is bigger than ours because I believe i t has two com-partments, one for water and one for any other drink such as wine. -Thiscommon wine is pas bon. I t tastes like vinegar. I don't see anythingtempting to that. And now that same l i t t l e dirty petite has graspeda big granite^ware pitcher and is strolling this way towards the waterplug. The pitcher is a high one and more than half the heig^th of thechild, and, there, i t has safely gotten down one step to the hydrant.But now a l l will be safe because one of these l i t t l e ten year old mothershas taken the child, in charge. We have a water system here but i t doesnot deliver the water into the homes but to hydrants in the streets,to Y/hieh the dames cose. Well, now l e t ' s see, I was going to t e l l

In a June 17, 1918, letter tohis wife, Caroline, ReverendLee described an amusingencounter with a little Frenchboy and life in the smallvillage.

By the time Reverend LewisEarle Lee volunteered for ser-vice in France as a YMCAminister, he was a well-known religious leader, exec-utive secretary of theHamilton County Council ofReligious Education, and pas-tor of the EvanstonPresbyterian Church.

Born in 1870 in Brooklyn,New York, Lee came toCincinnati to attend LaneSeminary where he wasordained in 1897. From 1896-1899, he was assistant pastorof the Second PresbyterianChurch in Cincinnati, fol-

lowed by ten years as pastorof the North PresbyterianChurch in Northside. After abrief stay in Ironton, Leereturned to Cincinnati as pas-tor of the EvanstonPresbyterian and, except forhis leave of absence for warwork in 1918, he remainedthere until 1922.

In addition to writing tohis wife and young daugh-ters, Reverend Lee kept ajournal detailing his experi-ences as minister and spiritu-al counselor in the "Y" hutslocated throughout France.One "Y" hut was a converted

carriage room in a big barnwith the capacity to holdthree hundred men. Anotherhut was in a 25' x 60' tent.There were writing tables anda canteen where, as Leerecorded in his journal, "thesoldiers here are resting for ashort time, following somevery trying and importantwork. In one . . . a number ofofficers and men gathered tosing and talk about the prayer— life."

Upon returning toCincinnati, Lee served as fieldagent for the College ofWooster and, in 1923, was

selected as the executive sec-retary for the Council ofReligious Education. He wasinstrumental in initiating asystem of weekday religiousinstruction for grade schoolchildren which eventuallywas adopted nationally.Popular with young people ofall denominations, headvised church clergy on thepromotion of Sunday schoolsand leadership training forchurch school teachers. Leedied suddenly in 1937.

26 Queen City Heritage

Winifred Colvin was born inFranklin, Ohio, in 1887. Sheattended public schools andgraduated in 1909 fromMiami University, Oxford,Ohio. She worked part timeas an assistant Englishteacher and later was presi-dent of the local YWCA.

After graduation, Colvintaught English and history inthe College Hill School sys-tem. Once America becameembroiled in the war,Winifred volunteered for ser-vice as a "Y" secretary.Although she did not arrive in

Europe until after theArmistice, work still neededto be done. Her chief dutywas to administer comfort toboth the soldiers and nursesstationed at Army BaseHospital #85 in Angers,France.

Colvin found Franceappealing and, after complet-ing her "Y" obligations, shetraveled throughout Europeand did not arrive in the U.S.until 1922. After returning toCincinnati, she continuedteaching high school historyat Hughes High School in

Clifton and later at MissKendrik's Collegiate Schoolfor Girls. During the GreatDepression, Winifred wasforced to accept governmentassistance through the WPA.Throughout her life she triedin vain to become a writer. Afew of her articles onBelgium were published butshe never found great literarysuccess. She died in 1965 andis buried in an unmarkedgrave in Spring GroveCemetery.

Colvin's "Y" hut at ArmyBase Hospital #85, nearAngers, France, 1919.


Such Homes.„,,,. »...,,,,.,»„-

The "Y" hut was invented togive soldiers and nurses ameeting place when off duty.The huts were constructedby the Red Cross and staffedby the "Red Triangle," work-ers of the YMCA and YWCA.Known as "secretaries," theycould be found in French vil-lages where a thousand sol-diers were billeted, behindthe front line trenches butwithin range of big guns, oron army base hospitals toserve the soldiers and nurs-es. The job of the "secre-taries" demanded the abilityto remain cheerful, bringinspiration, and maintain themorale of the men, many ofwhom were war weary,homesick and frightened.Their job was not withoutdanger. Six male and twofemale "secretaries" werekilled in action, 123 menand two women secretarieswere wounded or gassed,and 319 secretaries receiveddecorations and citations.Over 13,000 "secretaries"served with the AEF duringthe war and the demobiliza-tion period.

The "Y" huts served asclubs, churches, schools,libraries, post offices, infor-mation centers and canteens.They provided athletic equip-ment, game rooms, writingtables, music, motion pic-tures, as well as office andtheatrical supplies. The hutswere a place where the sol-diers and nurses could cometo find physical and spiritualcomforts, hot drinks, socialatmosphere and relaxation.

On April 7, 1919, Winifredwrote a friend in Cincinnatidescribing the schedule of atypical day as a "Y" hutworker.

"We have many woundedhere in hospital, includingtwo German soldiers . . . Thenurses have been great —even to the spending of allthey earn on artificial limbsfor the poor boys who can'tafford them. . . . The stories Ihear every day just break myheart. How people suffer andendure and still go on livingnormally and even happily is

one of the great marvels ofthe war." Winifred Colvin,February 6, 1919


VIVE LA FRANCE

39 RUE TRAVERSE,

BREST, FRANCE

*

In 1919, Glendale native, ElsaBateman, worked as a "Y"secretary at the Red TriangleCanteen in Brest, France.During her six months over-seas, she filled an album withher photographs of the can-teens, villages and battle-fields of France.

Bateman's "tour" of the bat-tlefields included the ceme-tery in Lambezellec, France,where 1,600 American sol-diers were buried. "Yesterdaymorning a crowd of Y work-ers, Red Cross workers andnurses . . . placed a flag and abunch of flowers on everygrave," Bateman wrote. "Inever saw a cemetery inmore perfect order."

Bateman's guide book to thecity of Brest, France, includeda code of regulations forYMCA workers.


• I

...% '. .. mmI t

a ' • • • -

In Bateman's "Red Triangle"the men could sit aroundtables and order hot choco-late, tea or coffee, sandwich-es and snacks. On March 17,1919, Bateman wrote homestating that the "Y" girls had"used up over two thousanddoughnuts in a day.. . . Wehave been told so manytimes by the boys we do notrealize how much good weare doing by giving themplaces like that to go t o . . . .The boys would come into anew town and not be able to

find anyplace to go, andthey'd say, 'Where is thatdamn Y anyway.'"

Bateman's "Red Triangle"Canteen in Brest, France,along with her co-workers.

Queen City Heritage

Robert S. Marx

Robert S. Marx was well-known toCincinnatians as a judge and internationally promi-nent lawyer, a decorated war hero and founder of theDisabled American Veterans (DAV). Born inCincinnati on January 28, 1889, Marx grew up in sub-urban Avondale and attended Avondale Public Schooland Walnut Hills High School. After earning his lawdegree in 1909 from the University of Cincinnati LawSchool, Marx joined the firm of Paxton, Warringtonand Seasongood.

Once America became embroiled in thewar, Marx spent a majority of his time in France asthe Operations Officer with the 357th InfantryRegiment, 90th Division—"the fighting cowboys ofOklahoma and Texas." He saw action seven timesand served on the front lines for seventy-five continu-ous days. A day before the Armistice, Marx went for-ward to find an infantry company that had lost con-tact with headquarters. Advancing under heavy fire,he discovered a disorganized and decimated compa-ny. Marx reorganized it and, although wounded inthe head and chest by an exploding shell, he led thecompany to the furthest point of the Allied advanceof the war. His injuries were so severe that the U.S.War Department advised his mother that he had beenkilled in action. He was awarded the DistinguishedService Cross, the Verdun Medal and the PurpleHeart.

While recovering from his wounds Marxbecame concerned about the needs of disabled veter-ans. Thousands had returned from the war with dis-abling injuries, gas-seared lungs and debilitating ill-nesses. Medical facilities and assistance were inade-quate. Marx responded by galvanizing support amongveterans nationwide, and, in 1921-1922, founded and

served as the first commander of the DisabledAmerican Veterans (DAV) organization.

After returning to Cincinnati in 1919,he was elected judge of the Ohio Superior Court, theonly Democrat elected that year. Six years later helost the judgeship through court consolidation. In thelate 1920s, he became a partner in the firm ofNichols, Wood, Marx and Ginter, and specialized in

"Thirty-two thousand ofthese men and women aretoday, four years after theconclusion of the war, still inthe various hospitals of theland. One hundred and ninethousand soldiers and sailorswere so badly injured thatthey can not follow theirvocation in life and are todaybeing trained by theGovernment of the UnitedStates for a new vocation inorder that they may againbecome self-supporting andindependent citizens.Thousands of disabled ex-

servicemen still need hospi-talization; thousands arebeing inadequately trainedand thousands who havecompleted their training arewithout employment."

Judge Robert Marx's addressat Temple Emanu-EI in SanFrancisco, California, July 7,1922

Winter 1998

corporate law. Some of his clients included: TheKroger Company, Schenley Distillers, The GreatAtlantic and Pacific Tea Company, The F.W.Woolworth Company and J.C. Penney.

Marx died suddenly on September 8,1960, at age seventy-one. His estate funded theUniversity of Cincinnati Law School Library andmade a major donation to the Playhouse in the Park.Both buildings bear his name.

His funeral took place at RockdaleTemple in Cincinnati. He was buried with his moth-er, father and grandparents in United JewishCemetery in Walnut Hills.

Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 31

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As a supporter of prepared-ness, Marx spent July-August1916 as a naval volunteeraboard the USS Illinois. Itwas an early effort by thegovernment to orient civil-ians with officer potential tothe military. Marx acted alsoas a special correspondent tothe Cincinnati Times-Starwhile on the trip.

Marx graduated in 1909 fromthe University of CincinnatiLaw School. The next year hetook the bar examination andachieved the highest grade inthe state, a 93.6.

Queen City Heritage

'W:Mi^A:Mi\JA

As a young attorney, RobertMarx had the only seriousromance of his life. He court-ed Helen Trounstine, a vivid,young lady his own age.However, their marriageplans were interrupted inJanuary 1917, by her tragicdeath from polio. Trounstinewas a progressive reformerdedicated to improving childwelfare in Cincinnati. Shewas also a founding memberand civic director of theWoman's City Club.

President Wilson inCincinnati during the October26, 1916, PreparednessParade.

Official badge worn byRobert S. Marx. As a promi-nent Democrat, Marx waspart of the organizing andwelcoming committee forPresident Wilson's "pre-paredness" visit to Cincinnatiin October 1916.

Winter 1998 Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 3 3

Robert Marx was vacationingin Belgium when World War Ibroke out. Like manyAmericans, he was trapped inEurope without a way back.He witnessed and pho-tographed strandedAmericans and the Belgiummobilization. His photographof Americans outside theAmerican Express Office try-ing to find a way home wasused in The SaturdayEvening Post.

Marx traveled to Europe in1914 on the English WhiteStar Line luxury liner R.M.S.Arabic. On August 15, 1915,the Arabic was torpedoedwithout warning by aGerman U-boat, movingAmerica closer to war withGermany.

During the American Legion'sofficial pilgrimage to France,Marx visited the graves ofmany Cincinnati comrades.

34 Queen City Heritage

After addressing an annualDAV meeting in 1960, Marxvacationed at his summerhome in Charlevoix,Michigan, where he died sud-denly on September 8.

Winter 1998

John B. Hollister

The son of a U.S. District Court judge,John B. Hollister was born in Cincinnati in 1890. Heattended Cincinnati public schools and St. Paul'sSchool, Concord, N.H. In 1911, he graduated fromYale and, after a year abroad in Munich, he enteredHarvard Law School, graduating in 1915. He workedtwo years as a clerk with the law firm ofWorthington, Strong and Stettinius. In 1917, hejoined the army and served as a captain of artillery.After the Armistice he volunteered for additionalduty where he was assigned to the American ReliefAdministration in the newly created nations ofPoland and Lithuania.

Hollister returned to Cincinnati in 1919and rejoined his old firm. He remained there until1924 when he formed a law partnership with JohnStettinius and Charles and Robert Taft. In addition tohis law practice, Hollister served nine years on theCincinnati Board of Education and, in 1931, waselected to Congress from the First District . Heremained in the U.S. House for six years, becomingthe ranking Republican on the House BankingCommittee. Although defeated for re-election in theRoosevelt landslide of 1936, Hollister remained activepolitically as a local Republican leader and importantfigure in both the senate and presidential campaignsof "Mr. Republican"—Robert A. Taft.

Hollister's commitment to public ser-vice continued during and after World War II. In 1945,he led the United Nations Relief and RehabilitationAdministration (UNRA) mission to the Netherlands.From 1953-1955, he served as executive director ofthe second Hoover Commission and later as a specialcounselor to the Secretary of State. In 1955, PresidentEisenhower appointed Hollister as Director of the

Over There, Over Here: Cincinnatians and the Great War 3 5

International Cooperation Administration, an agencywhich administered the country's non-military for-eign aid. He returned to Cincinnati in 1957 and con-tinued practicing law until his death in 1979 at ageeighty-eight.

"Another great danger is thatwe are too liable to see theside of the aristocratic or edu-cated classes. It is naturalthat the expectations of thisclass should be those withwhom we are thrown social-ly, and that we hear theiropinions on all sides, but wemust not lose sight of the factthat it was the developmentof this class at the expense ofthe peasants which broughton the French Revolution andis responsible for the desper-ate plight of Russia today. Itis only by a great concession

of the aristocratic element tosocialism that most of Europewill be saved fromBolshevism. Luckily most ofthe thinking people realizethat the day when the oldfamilies ruled with a highhand, is over. The voice ofthe collarless proletariat mustbe heard, and we must onlysee that the pendulumdoesn't swing too far. . . ."

John Hollister writing to hisfather concerning events inPoland and Lithuania, March30, 1919

Queen City Heritage

After the Armistice CaptainHollister was not in a hurry toreturn home. Although herequested to remain on activeduty with occupation forces,in January 1919, he receivedorders to report to HerbertHoover, U.S. FoodAdministration, Paris, France.

Officers of Battery B, 46Artillery, CAC outside theHotel de France in Branne,France, October 1918.Captain Hollister is in themiddle.

Fall 1998 \iment in Prison Reform 37

cos*

On March 12, 1919, Hollister'sboss received orders fromHerbert Hoover requestingreports on numerous issuesin Lithuania, from the foodsituation to the status ofGerman troops. Hollister wasdispatched the same day tothe small town of Kowno,Lithuania, to begin his inves-tigation.

Besides investigating thefood situation, Hollisterencountered numerousGerman and Bolshevik troopsas well as the SpartakistGerman soldiers, the ultrapatriotic, paramilitary organi-zation. He missed seeingRussian revolutionary, LeonTrotsky by three weeks. Thebiggest impression onHollister came from govern-ment leaders of the newnation. As one leaderexplained to him, "Your verypresence here puts anothernail in Germany's coffin."

Queen City Heritage

Albert Halstead

It would be expected that AlbertHalstead, son of Cincinnati newspaper editor, MuratHalstead, be caught in the whirlwind of historicalevents. While Murat reported on the importantevents of his day, Albert experienced them. Born inCincinnati in 1867, Albert attended public schoolsand completed his education at Princeton University,graduating in 1889. He tried studying law for a yearbut quickly found it boring.

He decided to follow in the footsteps ofhis father, mixing newspaper work with Republicanstate poli t ics . In addition to working as theWashington correspondent for his father's paper, TheCincinnati Commercial Gazette, young Albertserved as aide de camp for Governor WilliamMcKinley. After McKinley became president in 1897,Halstead became editor of the Springfield Union. Afew years later, he worked as the Washington corre-spondent for the Brooklyn Standard Union and thePhiladelphia Evening Telegraph.

In 1906, Halstead entered the U.S.Consular Service and was posted to Birmingham,England, where he remained until 1915. His nextassignment was as consul-general in Vienna, Austria.It proved to be both an interesting and a trying timefor Halstead. Although his country was not at war,Europe was bleeding itself to death and Halsteadfound it challenging to "be neutral in thought as wellas deed." Not only did he look after German,Austrian and Turkish interests, he also distributedthousands of English pounds to Brits needing relief inAustria. Once America entered the fray, Halstead leftVienna and was posted to Stockholm, Sweden, wherehe remained until after the war. He returned toVienna as the Commissioner of the U.S. Mission, a

powerful and influential position.Shortly after the peace was signed in

1920, Halstead was appointed consul-general inMontreal, Canada, where he remained until 1928.His last assignment returned him to England wherehe served as consul-general until 1932 when heretired. Halstead spent his last years writing andspeaking about his experiences abroad. He died inNew York City in May 1949.

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"Though the cost to us hasnot been great the results areof enormous benefit to thefuture of our country. .. . Wehave a greater realization ofwhat democracy is and thetendency to form classes inour population is checked—temporarily at least.. . . Still Ihope for greater social jus-tice, a wider understanding ofthe community of interest ofall, a better knowledge ofeach other, and greater sym-pathy between the better off

and the poor. Further, I lookfor a higher standard of pub-lic service. . . . The people willbe less willing to permit theblatant self-seeker who cantalk well and promise muchwhile his performances arenegligible to represent theirinterests. Each individualwho had to make a sacrificefor his country will have agreater sense of his responsi-bility to it. But above all, wehave learned the beauties ofself-sacrifice, while a spend

thrift people, we have learnedsomething of thrift."

Albert Halstead, reflecting onthe war's end, November 27,1918


In May 1919, Halsteadreceived orders to leaveStockholm and proceed viaParis, to become the commis-sioner of the U.S. Mission inVienna, replacing ArchibaldC. Coolidge who wasappointed a delegate to theParis Peace Conference.

Stockholm, Sweden, ca. 1910 As head of the AmericanMission in Vienna, Halsteadhad to oversee and coordi-nate the various U.S. StateDepartment's diplomaticinitiatives throughout theformer Austro-HungarianEmpire.

Vienna, Austria, ca. 1910

A majorityof Halstead's work inStockholm, Sweden, con-cerned reviewing visas. OnJuly 12,1918, Halsteaddetailed his activities in a let-ter to his family:

"Stockholm is a place whereone meets all nationalities. Ina restaurant the man at yournext table is as like[ly] as nota Bosche [slang for German]or an Austrian. The Boschesare more modest than inMarch when their offensivebegan. They are learning that

Americareally counts in thewar and some of them areable to see the handwritingon the wall. I have had aninteresting experience withsome men fromTransylvania, who areHungarians legally, butRoumanians at heart. Theywere captured by theRussians and then enteredthe Roumanian army. Thepeace Roumania made withthe Central Powers, because

ofthe Russian col-lapse, has left these men highand dry. Five of them wantedto go to America. They hadbeen in Russia when theBolsheviks developed andthere is really nothing forthem to do in the U.S., so Ihave had to refuse them per-mission."


Colonel Sidney D. Waldon

In 1917, America realized that it wouldhave to create a professional military air service andaviation industry from scratch. To accomplish thistask, hundreds of businessmen were brought toWashington, given military commissions and put intouniform. One of the most influential "businessmenturned soldier" was Sidney D. Waldon. As a memberof the Air Production Control Board, Waldon played amajor role in selecting, designing and producing allaircraft and equipment used by the AEF.

Waldon, an automotive industry pioneerand an early aviation enthusiast, served as VicePresident and Sales Manager of the Packard MotorCar Co. In 1916, the infant Army Air Service turnedto Waldon, who by then was known as an expert ontransportation.

In the early months of the war and as amember of the Air Production Control Board, ColonelWaldon attempted to establish national aviation poli-cy, select allied aircraft for production in the U.S. andestablish an aviation industry where none existed.Results were mixed.

After months of wrestling with produc-tion challenges, General Pershing requested ColonelWaldon take over the business side of establishingbases, locating flying fields and directing the handlingof all Army Air Service equipment.

Waldon's most dramatic accomplish-ment in France was establishing the American air-craft assembly and repair base at Romorantin, France.By war's end, the base was nearing completion andhad room for 20,000 men. This became the home ofthe Motor Mechanic Regiments staffed by craftsmenfrom U.S. plants.

Sidney D. Waldon was bornin London in 1873. He cameto the United States when hewas twenty. He marriedHelen Rentschler, sister ofFrederick B. and Gordon S.Rentschler of Hamilton, Ohio.

42

On June 8, 1917, the Air ProductionControl Board announced plans for the creation of afleet of 25,000 airplanes. The Board believed that avi-ation would be so decisive in winning the war, theU.S. Army would not have to fight in Europe.Congress acted quickly and on July 24, 1917, appro-priated $640,000,000 to establish the aircraft pro-gram. Although an army of 3.5 million had beenraised by mid-1918, the aircraft situation was far lesssuccessful. By July 1, 1918:

• Only 67 observations planes were deliv-ered to the front.

• Not a single American made fighterserved in the front.

• Not a single American made heavybomber served in the front.

• The U.S. used every plane that could besecured from the French, British andItalians.

The Senate Commit tee on MilitaryAffairs blamed the disappointing results on thefollowing:

• The airplane program was placed largelyin the control of automobile and othermanufacturers who were ignorant ofaeronautical problems.

• These manufacturers had the impossibletask of creating a motor which could beadapted to all classes of planes.

• The U.S. failed at the beginning of thewar to adopt the common sense courseof reproducing the most successful typesof European planes without any changes.

Queen City Heritage

The Air Production Control Board ini-tially depended on automobile engineers for the solu-tion of aviation problems. But the analogy betweenthe two pursuits virtually begins and ends with thefact that each used a gas-explosive motor.

On August 26,1918, Colonel SidneyWaldon responded:

It has at last become my turn to becross-examined by Judge Hughes. I have also justhad an opportunity to see some of the testimonygiven in secret session before the sub-committee ofthe Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate onAircraft Production.

I realize how difficult it is for anyonewho has not lived through the early days of the up-building of the Air Service to have any idea of theconditions that existed then, or in the light of thepresent, to have any sympathy with our puny effortsto bring order out of chaos and to create an organiza-tion and an industry where none existed. . . .

. . . there was on order on that date (May12, 1917) date orders for 334 airplanes outstandingdivided among 16 airplane manufacturers representing10 distinct types and 32 different designs . . . most ofwhich never were delivered as the manufacturers gen-erally requested their release from their contracts. . . .

No airplane made in America up to thistime had ever mounted a machine gun. . . .

When I first came to Washington inDecember, 1916 the Army had delivered to it duringthe nine years of aviation 118 airplanes. These hadbeen supplied by nine different companies . . . This initself is a very small encouragement from the countrythat developed aviation. . . . S.D. Waldon


... ,. ., „

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The Air Production ControlBoard (APCB) was responsi-ble for inspecting aircraft fac-tories. At the CurtissElmwood plant, The APCBinspector reported: "The bulkof the men on airplane con-struction have the impressionthat they are not expected towork.. . . 75% wear whitelinen collars and businesssuits and apparently [are] notaware of the fact that any-thing is dependent on theirefforts."

Women played a key role inplacing the linen fabric cov-ering on the airplanes. Thefabric was tediously sewn oneach diagonal seam. The AirProduction Control Boardinspector at the CurtissElmwood plant reported thatmen did not know how todeal with women in theworkplace. "Throughout thefactory much time is lost inmen talking to girls. If girlsare to be used they shouldbe used exclusively in vari-ous departments and keptout of others."

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Queen City Heritage

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Colored tracing of proposedcrating for the Capronibomber produced by theStandard Co. of Elizabeth,New Jersey. The tracing wasdone by Major A. W. Harris ofthe Air Production ControlBoard. Note the multipleparts which were included toprovide spares.

Letter keyed photographdetailing a standardizeduncrating procedure forDeHaviland 4 aircraft (DH-4).The photographic manualwas developed by DaytonWright Airplane Co. engi-neers for use at the AEF'sRomorantin, France, assem-bly facility.

Located 100 miles south ofParis and 50 miles east ofTours, the Romorantin AirProduction Center covered anarea of four and one-halfsquare miles. When complet-ed the center was expected toaccommodate a staff of20,000. By the cessation ofhostilities it was 85 percentcomplete and was used toassemble and sometimesrebuild aircraft arriving fromthe U.S.


Side elevation of England'stwo-seater Bristol Fighter,drawn by Major A. W. Harrisof the Air Production ControlBoard. This late designsolved the problem of com-munications between pilotand gunner by placing themback-to-back in what was vir-tually one cockpit.


Volunteers and staff members who researched and producedthe exhibit included: Barbara Smith, Manuscript/BusinessArchives Volunteer; Jan Francis, Audio Visual Volunteer; MaxFrankel, Photograph Department Volunteer; Peter J. Bahra,Curator of Prints &) Photographs-, David Conzett, MuseumCurator; Beth Gerber &) Scott Gampfer, ConservationDepartment; Cynthia Keller, Audio Visual Curator.

i. Manuscripts used in the research for Over There, Over Here:Cincinnatians and the Great War include: MSS 779 and MSS507, John Baker Hollister; MSS qA375RM/ Ed F. AlexanderPapers,- MSS 6592, Herbert Seely Bigelow Papers; MSS qHi96a,Albert Halstead Papers; MSS 903, Robert S. Marx Papers; MSS996, Waldon-Rentschler Papers; MSS qB3284, Elsa F. BatemanCollection; MSS qC727, Winifred Marie Colvin; MSS Micro#65, Ralph Taylor; MSS qL478, Lewis Earle Lee, World War I;MSS 898, Strobridge Family Papers; MSS qC393W RMV, WarDiary of Charles F. Cellarius, Vols. 1 & 2; MSS VF 252, GeorgeC. Crout, "A Cincinnatian in World War I: Letters fromFrance" (Newman Ebersole);MSS VF 2561, Leo A. Stump;Newly acquired collection, Lieutenant John P. Childe Papers.All are in the Manuscript Collection of the CincinnatiHistorical Society Library.

After the Armistice, the U.S.Committee on PublicInformation (CPI) sponsoreda traveling War Expositionshowcasing elements of thewar. Some items included thearmaments used by bothsides, a reproduction of "NoMan's Land," combat filmfootage, prominent speakersand music performed by mili-tary bands.

"I hope you have taken in theshow at the Music Hall. Itwould give you at least a feintidea of the many inventionsthat played a wonderful partalong with the doughboys tobring the war to an end"

Private Leo A. Stump,28th Infantry, AEF, urging hisparents to attend the WarExposition.

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