WW1 Centennial News: Episode #46 - Suffrage in WW1 | Passchendaele ends | Meet Joe Weishaar | ”Snapshot” | Travels with Darley | 100C/100M Jackson, MO | Story of service | more..

Highlights

• The Suffragists in WWI @ | 01:20
• The Battle of Passchendaele ends - Mike Shuster @ | 11:45
• Ceremonial Groundbreaking episode announced @ | 16:30
• Meet the designer of the National WWI Memorial - Joseph Weishaar @ | 17:30
• Speaking WWI - “Snapshot” @ | 24:45
• 100C/100M in Jackson, MO - Lawson Burgfeld @ | 26:50
• “Travels with Darley” on the Western Front - Darley Newman @ | 33:25
• Native American Story of Service - Nick Brokeshoulder @ | 39:00
• The Buzz - Katherine Akey @ | 48:50

more...----more----

Opening

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is November 15th, 2017. Our guests this week include:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   
• Joe Weishaar, architect and designer of the National WW1 Memorial in DC
• Lawson Bergfeld from the 100 cities/100 memorials project in Jackson, Missouri
• Darley Newman, the host and producer of “Travels with Darley” on PBS
• Nick Brokeshoulder, veteran with a Stories of Service about his grandfather
• And Katherine Akey the shows line producer and the commissions social media director...

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

[MUSIC]

Preface

Let's begin today’s show with a single word. Suffrage!

What is that word?

Is it about the process of suffering - well yea -  but only in a manner of speaking,

The actual etymology or the history of the word comes the latin term for voting or to VOTE.

It's a little hard to remember that 100 years ago, during the war that changed the world, a large part of the American citizenry had no democratic sway or say in the governance of the country.

For some reason, in a majority of states, it was thought that you needed testicles in order to cast a vote.

The Suffrage movement - the movement for women's right to vote - was in high gear during this time  and in 1916 during his presidential campaign, Woodrow Wilson promises that his democratic party will endorse women's suffrage -

During that same election, the progressive state of Montana - surprise - surprise - elects suffragist Jeannette Rankin to the US House of Representatives.

And just 4 days after being sworn in as the first woman to serve in congress, on April 6, 1917, the house of representatives is casting its historic vote about declaring war on Germany - which eventually passed 373 to 50.

 

Jeannette Rankin remains silent during the first reading of the roll call. So--- Former Speaker of the house - Joe Cannon of Illinois -- seeks her out on the house floor and advises: “Little woman, you cannot afford not to vote. You represent the womanhood of the country...  and in the American Congress.”

So on the second reading of the roll, violating house rules about commenting on your votes, Rankin rises from her seat and intones...  

“I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war.”

While the women of America are fully engaged in the war effort... from sending their sons and husbands and even daughters into an unknown future, to taking over critical infrastructure jobs and tasks on the homefront, and in dozens of other ways --  one hundred years ago this week, the pages of the New York Times are filled with stories about suffragists, pacifists, and President Wilson's change of position on the women's suffrage movement.

Wow - So let's jump back in time 100 years and see what the fuss in all about!

 

World War One THEN 100 Year Ago This Week

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

It is the second week of November, 1917 and just a week ago, a socio political tsunami lands -- when on November 6th 1917:  Women in New York State win the right to vote!!  This sends shock waves through the political arena and emboldens the suffragists to take action in Washington DC.

In the November 11th Sunday edition of the New York Times there are three articles about the suffragist in DC.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline October 11, 1917

A headline in the New York Times reads:

SUFFRAGISTS WARY OF OLD PARTY BIDS

They Declare Purpose of Continued Nonpartisan Fight for Federal Amendment

Denounce all Political BOSS ism

Men Leaders See Danger to Their Prestige In New Political Holdings

 

And the story goes on to read:

The Suffrage Leaders have decided to keep the Woman Suffrage Party and it's organized allies alive and militant as NON PARTISAN AGENCIES to continue the fight - at least until after the congress shall have adopted - and sufficient state legislatures shall have ratified the so-called Susan B Anthony amendment to the Federal Constitution. The amendment that shall provide for the enfranchisement of women in every nook and corner of the United States!

Politicians of "the other sex" who heard of this yesterday realized with a sudden start that MAN was no longer the only pebble on the political beach.

They were not slow to sense the potential behind the plan and marveled that the woman suffrage leaders with a stiff franchise fight on their hands should have found time to think up novel and catchy devices that nad never occurred to the men politicians at all.

So in overview, the woman suffrage movement wins in New York state… and the suffrage leadership realizes the power of their numbers and decide to hold themselves non-partisan as a voting block until their goals are met --- all to the awed surprise and shock of the old boys club - who had not imaged that the ladies would have such strategic pluck!

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline October 11, 1917

Another headline in today's NY Times reads:

SUFFRAGISTS EAGER TO LEARN POLITICS

They Throng to hear from President William taft in discussion of "Partnership of Democratic Nations"

 

And the story reads

New York:

That the Suffragists are determined to prepare themselves for the polls by receiving as much instruction as possible in the techniques of national and international politics was shown by the throng of women who flocked to Carnegie Hall yesterday to hear ex-president Taft deliver a lecture on a partnership of democratic nations under the auspices of the league for Political Education.

Seldom has Mr. Taft had a more attentive, earnest, and interested audience, than these hundreds of women, who felt that the passage of the Suffrage Amendment in New York obliged them to absorb and understand more thoroughly than they had ever done before, the mysteries and intricacies of political science and international relations.

And yet a third article is published in the NY times on this same Sunday - this one about a defiant protest in Washington.

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline October 11, 1917

The headline reads:

ARREST OF 41 PICKETS FOR SUFFRAGE AT WHITE HOUSE

Police, Unable to Induce Them to Move On, Take them Off in “Black Marias.”

 

And the story reads:

Forty one woman suffragists from fifteen states were arrested this afternoon for picketing outside the White House. Their adventure was one of the quietest and at the same time most sedately spectacular of all the picketing affairs yet staged.

On former raids by picketers  the crowds had jeered, but today there was none of it. A murmur arose as the vanguard of suffragists marched across Pennsylvania Ave.

They carried their usual display of banners, one at the head of the line reading: “Mr. President, in your message to congress, urge the amendment enfranchising women!”

The police officers quietly informed them that they must “move on”. They replied that they intended on doing no such thing.

The captain gave them a moment to wait, then motioning to the policemen standing by at his elbow, ordered the women escorted to the waiting “Black Maria”. They went without protest filling the wagons.

Mrs. Oliver H P Belmont, member of the national executive Committee of the National Woman’s Party said:

“What have we come to in America when splendid women, loving liberty are arrested for asking this simple question: ‘Mr. President, in your message to Congress urge the passage of the Federal Suffrage Amendment enfranchising Women!”

 

Two days later….

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline November 13, 1917

A headline in the NY Times reads

SUFFRAGISTS PICKETS GET ARRESTED AGAIN

Thirty One, Including Many of The Former Prisoners, Taken at White House Again.

Protesting Delegates of New York Fail to Obtain an Audience with the President.

 

And the story reads

Thirty-one militant suffragists, most of who were among the forty-one arrested last Saturday, repeated their picketing before the White House today and were re-arrested.

This followed a hearing at which the forty-one appeared before Judge Mellowney of the Police Court, who suspended the sentences.

Mrs. William Kent of california stated:

“My conscience is clear. I walked on Saturday afternoon from Cameron House to the further gate of the White House. I obstructed no traffic. I was moving. At the further gate there was no crowd. I held a banner which all might read.

 

The administration should commend instead of allowing a prison sentence to be imposed upon women who hold aloft words which show the utmost devotion to the ideals of political liberty on which our government is founded.”

This explanation was offered by Mrs. Wiley:

“I want to state that we took this action with the consecration of spirit. We took this action with willingness to sacrifice our personal liberty, in order to focus the attention of the nation on the injustice of our disenfranchisement, that we might thereby win political liberty for all the women of the country.”

She closed with:

The constitution says that Congress shall not in any way abridge the right of citizens peaceably to assemble and petition. That is exactly what we did. We peacefully assembled and then proceeded with our petition to the President for the redress of our grievance of disenfranchisement. The constitution does not specify the form of petition. Ours was in the form of a banner. To say that we broke the traffic regulations when we exercise our constitutional right of petition is in therefore itself unconstitutional!

 

President Wilson, a previously declared supporter of suffrage now finds himself in a bind. The suffragists are in a large part anti-war, growing in power, declaring themselves apart from established parties and seemingly ever more militant.  He comes to see the movement as a threat to the war effort.

In the end a compromise is reached, the suffrage movement declares support for the war and the Susan B. Anthony amendment is ratified after being passed by the thirty-sixth state, Tennessee, on August 18, 1920. A woman’s right to vote becomes the nineteenth amendment to the United States Constitution - a movement that has a watershed moment 100 years ago this week in the War that changed the world!

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

Great War Project

At last the Battle of Passchendaele in Flanders ends. It is declared a victory for the allies - but at such costs - can anything really be considered a victory. Here to tell us about it is Mike Shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator of the Great War Project blog. The horror at Passchendaele is finally over! Mike:

 

[Mike Shuster]

 

Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog.

LINK:

http://greatwarproject.org/2017/11/12/a-great-battle-is-over/

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

The Great War Channel

For video about WWI - we recommend the Great War Channel on Youtube hosted by Indy Neidell.  

This week’s new episodes are:

 

• The Russian October Revolution
• The Mad Baron - Roman von Ungern-Sternberg
• And The Last Hussar - August von Mackensen

 

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

 

 

World War One NOW

Now we are going to fast forward into the present to WW1 Centennial News NOW - and explore what is happening to commemorate the centennial of the War that changed the world!

[SOUND EFFECT]

Commission News

Events: Recap of Groundbreaking

Last week on November 9, 2017 the US World War One Centennial Commission hosted the ceremonial groundbreaking for America’s WWI Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC.

The event marked an important moment in the projects realization with great guests speaking on the occasion including Muriel Bowser the Mayor of Washington DC, Congressmen Ted Poe, Emanuel Cleaver, Doug Lamborn and Kevin Yoder in a great bipartisan show of support,

the administration's US Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin,

And The Chief of staff of the army, General Mark A. Milley - now this is a post that General Pershing himself held from 1921 to 1924,

and that is just some of the great speakers…

In fact it was such an interesting series of presentations, perspectives and information that next week we are dedicating a special thanksgiving holiday episode to bringing you the event!

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

 

Memorial Update

Interview with Joe Weishaar

Joseph Weishaar, who won the international design competition to become the Lead designer for the National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC spoke at the event and is also with us here today. Joe, it’s the first time we have had you on the show but certainly will not be the last… Welcome!

 

[greetings]

 

[Joe.. we want to learn a little about you - your not an old hand at this memorial design thing - can you tell us how you decided to enter the design competition and the experience of getting selected?]

 

[So during the livestream of the ceremonial groundbreaking the chat room was full of comments from your hometown - your school, your family, your teachers -  Where did you grow up and who are all those folks?]

 

[Joe tell us a bit about your partnership with Sabin Howard - who we will have on the show when he gets back from New Zealand - how did you two hook up and what roles do each of you play?]

 

[OK - I have to do this to you… and i will ask you this again in the future - what is the most memorable thing about this experience for you so far?]

 

[Joe - I heard you just got married! Tell us about the happy bride.

 

[Well congratulations to both of you! And we look forward to having you come on the show for updates on the project and the journey of Joe Weishaar! Thanks Joe!]

[goodbyes/thanks]

 

Joseph Weishaar is the architect and designer for the National World War One Memorial in Washington, DC.

Go to ww1cc.org/memorial to learn all about the project - and we have the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org/memorial

Speaking WW1

And now for our feature “Speaking World War 1” - Where we explore the words & phrases that are rooted in the war  ---

Americans have been known for shooting skills since the colonial pioneer days, and in World War One they continued to display their sharpshooting skills in the trenches.

But shooting from a trench in the war was very different from shooting back home; lifting your head up while you carefully aimed in on a target could get you killed. So when you went to fire, speed was key. Snapping up over the parapet, aim, fire and drop became THE standard procedure, a procedure that came to be known as a  snapshot!

The word snapshot had been used to describe a quick shot from a firearm during the 1800s, but came into much more frequent use during the war.

Around the same time, the word was also borrowed for another activity - taking pictures! As we mentioned in episode #30, this era was the advent of roll film and small, portable cameras. This allowed people to take pictures casually and easily. These quickly composed photographs also became known as snapshots - pop up the camera - aim - fire with the same speed as their namesake riflemen.

A game even emerged called “snapshooting,” a sort of photographic version of tag: where you tried to escape while someone raced around trying to catch you on film. It  was a kind of photographic version of hunting…

but as we were preparing this article - it suddenly struck me how strange it is that we speak of shooting a picture, shooting video, shooting a selfie…

I mean if you think about it - that’s completely backwards - nothing comes out of the camera - you’re not shooting anything - the light and image go INTO the camera - so you’re not shooting, you’re capturing something.

But… somehow the term SnapCap just does not have the panache of this week’s speaking WWI word - SnapSHOT

See the podcast notes to learn more!

 

link: https://www.amazon.com/Tommy-Doughboy-Fritz-Soldier-Slang/dp/144563

7839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508848013&sr=8-1&keywords=tommy+doughboy+fritz

https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/photography

https://books.google.com/books?id=e1uOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=snapshot+word+origin&source=bl&ots=lbRMBtv72g&sig=0z6RxsEwfHGJrS79B1ivAL5GoKI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs3Nijnr7XAhWH0iYKHcyvC-M4ChDoAQgoMAA#v=onepage&q=snapshot%20word%20origin&f=false

100 Cities/100 Memorials

[SOUND EFFECT

 

Jackson, Missouri

Moving on to our 100 Cities / 100 Memorials segment

about the $200,000 matching grant challenge

to rescue and focus on our local WWI memorials.

As you listen to our guest tell us about the project, remember that we are taking grant applications for the second round of awards - the deadline to submit the applications is January 15, 2018 - go to ww1cc.org/100Memorials to learn all about it.’

 

This week we are profiling the WW1 Doughboy Memorial Project in Jackson, Missouri-- one of the first 50 awardees of the 100 available grants.

with us tell us about the project is Commander Lawson Burgfeld, USN RET, and the WW1 Doughboy Memorial Project Lead for the American Legion Post  #158

 

Welcome Lawson!

[exchange greetings]

[Lawson - looking through your grant application, your project reads like a textbook case for our program! First of all, the memorial in in front of your county courthouse where SO many WWI memorials are to be found - but there is so much more.]

 

[Would you start by telling us a bit about the project itself, please…]

 

[What made you decide to participate in the 100 Cities / 100 memorials project? How did you hear about it?]

 

Commander Lawson Burgfeld is the WW1 Doughboy Memorial Project Leader for American Legion Post  #158 in Jackson, Missouri a WWI Centennial Memorial project awardee!

 

If you have a local project you want to submit for a grant - go to ww1cc.org/100 memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes to learn more about how to participate in this program!

 

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

 

[SOUND EFFECT]

 

Spotlight in the Media

“Travels with Darley” - France’s Western Front Region

 

For our Spotlight in the Media segment this week, we are speaking with Darley Newman, the host and producer of “Travels with Darley” on PBS, where she travels the world with locals as the guides to uncover great food, culture, history and outdoor adventures.

 

Darley produced a 2 episode series about traveling to France’s Western Front -  which is airing on PBS stations across the nation now...

Welcome, Darley!

[greetings]

 

[Darley, there are so many amazing things to focus on in France: the food, the wine, the fromage, the architecture… how did you come to focus on American WW1 sites as a topic for your travel show?]

 

[Which site sticks out in your mind as particularly affecting or interesting?]

 

[If I wanted to take a trip through the historic areas of the Western Front in Northern France - how should I prepare?]

 

[Last question - if I take this trip - what should I NEVER DO?]

 

[goodbyes/thanks]

 

Darley Newman is the host and producer of “Travels with Darley” on PBS, and you can watch the “Travels with Darley: France’s Western Front” episodes, see the online videos and get other special content by following the links in the podcast notes.

Links:http://us.media.france.fr/en/node/6461

https://travelswithdarley.com/tv-show/pbs-tv-preview/#season-four-episodes

Romagne Museum http://www.romagne14-18.com/index.php/en/

 

Remembering Veterans/Stories of Service

Interview with Nick Brokeshoulder

 

This week in our Remembering Veterans segment, we have a special guest Nick Brokeshoulder from the Hopi Tribe of Arizona & Absentee

Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma-  Nick is a Retired US Army-Sergeant First Class and is with us today to tell us about his Grandfather Guy Maktima (mahk-tay-ma), a son of the Hopi tribe.

 

Welcome, Nick!

 

[greetings]

 

[Nick… As a child of 12, Your grandfather was taken from his Hopi village by US cavalry troops and sent for “white” education in 1907. That is a pretty brutal experience - How do you think that affected his decision to join the military?]

 

[It turns out your grandfather also had musical talent and played the trombone! And played in the 158th Regimental band. Tell us that story!]

 

[when Katherine was researching your story, she came across a recording of the 158th regimental band - it’s possible your grandfather is in the trombone section of this recording! Let’s take a listen!]

 

[Play segment]

 

What was Guy Maktima experience during the war?

 

[What did Guy Maktima do after the war ended?]

 

[last question Nick - how has the Centennial of WWI affected your remembrance of your grandfather?]

 

Thank you Nick!

 

[goodbye/thanks]

 

Nick Brokeshoulder is the grandson of Private Guy Maktima (mahk-tay-ma), who served in the US Army during WW1. If you want to hear more stories of individuals who served in the war, head over to our Stories of Service page at ww1cc.org/stories  where you’ll also find a link where you can submit your veterans story.

 

Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/commemorate/family-ties/stories-of-service.html

 

Recording of the 158th band: http://www.forttuthill.org/band.html

 

Articles and Posts

The Expeditionary Corps of Armored Cars exhibit

 

In Articles and Posts this week, we are profiling unique story --- of a unique military unit that had adventures unlike any other, during the World War I --The Expeditionary Corps of Armored Cars.

The Corps, often called ACM, was a military division formed by Belgian volunteers during WWI. It was sent to Russia at the request of the Tsar to fight the German Army on the Eastern front.

After the Bolshevik revolution, the ACM corps found itself trapped in hostile territory, unable to return to Allied territory through Europe or the Middle East - so to reach safety, the Corps headed east, eventually reaching the US through China and Siberia. Talk about a road trip!

The Embassy of Belgium has a new World War I exhibit on the ACM that has been traveling across the United States. We caught up with two members of the Belgian Embassy staff, who worked on the exhibit -- and you can read the interview with them at ww1cc.org/news or by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3630-four-question-for-gaelle-powis-de-tenbossche-and-carl-vander-maelen.html

 

The Buzz - WW1 in Social Media Posts

And that brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine, what’s going on in the world of social media this week?

 

Hi Theo!

 

Veterans Day in Gondrecourt

Veterans Day and Armistice Day commemorations took place all across the world last week, and you can see many photos and videos of various events shared on our Facebook and Twitter or on our social media wall at ww1cc.org/social.

One post in particular that I wanted to share come from the Facebook page “Les Americains de la Gondrecourt Area”, a very franglais page that commemorates the history of the American presence in Gondrecourt during WW1. On November 10th,  the college students of Gondrecourt paid tribute to 131 American soldiers who died at the American hospital there between 1917 and 1919 by planting a tree in honor of each soldier. Each student received a card with the details of the American Soldier they were to represent in the commemoration, including his regiment and his hometown.

You can see images from this commemorative event by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:https://www.facebook.com/lesamericainsdegondrecourt/posts/516814575343417

 

Eagle Scout Sign Project

Here in the states, a young man has completed a very ambitious project in Huntington, West Virginia. Benjamin Woodard has just finished installing 17 signs honoring WW1 soldiers as his Eagle Scout project in Ritter Park. The park already contains trees planted in honor of ww1 veterans as well as a WW1 Memorial Arch, so Woodard’s signs fit right in but also provided more information on the individuals who served.

He did research on 91 local veterans of World War One during the course of the project. Coolest of all, he has given all that research to the Clio App, an app which takes your location and guides you to landmarks, museums, and historic sites nearby. People in Huntington will be able to open Clio and hear and read the stories of the soldiers that Woodard found during his work on his Eagle Scout project. Learn more about his project, and the Clio app, by following links in our notes.

That’s it this week for the Buzz!

link:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clio-your-guide-to-history/id897995724?mt=8

http://www.wsaz.com/video?vid=453068653

 

Thank you Katherine. And that’s WW1 Centennial News for November 15, 1917 and 2017

Our guests this week were:

• Mike Shuster with a look back at the Battle of Passchendaele
• Joe Weishaar, talking to us about his voyage with the National WW1 Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC
• Lawson Bergfeld from the 100 cities/100 memorials project in Jackson, Missouri
• Darley Newman, giving us an insider look at her PBS travel episodes trip to Northeastern France
• Nick Brokeshoulder, sharing the story of his grandfather’s WWI service
• Katherine Akey the Commission’s social media director and also the line producer for the show.

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

 

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News, and on Amazon Echo or other Alexa enabled devices. Just say: Alexa: Play W W One Centennial News Podcast.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thank you for joining us. And don’t forget

to share the stories

you are hearing here today

about the war that changed the world!

[music]

 

Up, point, aim, squeeze - Got it!  Snapcap - I mean Snapshot!

 

So long!