Advocacy chain letter. Against German propaganda. "Every
loyal citizen should assist in stopping these malignant lies..." US,
1918.
The false rumors and malicious
stories constantly being circulated as facts, discrediting our high officials,
the Red Cross, the care and conduct of our troops, the condition of the cantonments,
etc. is German propaganda intended to create distrust and discontent among
our people and to discourage those working for the country.
These stories are accepted as news and unfortunately are being given
the widest circulation by patriotic Americans who do not realize that they
are aiding our enemies.
The Espionage Act provides punishment for those who convey any
false reports or statements concerning our Government. Those who are fighting
for us deserve the fullest measure of our loyalty and support both in word
and deed.
We have resolved to close our ears to all such stories and so discourage
their circulation. Will you do the same?
Every loyal citizen should assist in stopping these malignant lies,
so enlist your friends by mailing today three or more exact copies of this
letter. Do not break the chain.
Published: The Brooklyn Daily
Eagle (Brooklyn, New York), June 13, 1918, p. 3. "STOP GERMAN LIES,"
SAY CHAIN LETTERS.
New Plan Formed to Shut Off Malicious Stories About Our Troops. Also
Regarding Red Cross. Firm in Rochester Sends Out Chain of Missives to Stifle
Propaganda. "Copies of a chain letter that have just reached Brooklyn show
that a new plan has been devised and is already fairly under way that should
deal a straight-from-the-shoulder blow at German propaganda which is responsible
for the circulation of malicious stories regarding our American Red Cross,
our high officials and our troops.
The letter is designed to unite all loyal Americans in stopping these
stories, many of which are accepted as authentic by those to whom they come.
It asks that every recipient shall immediately mail three or more copies
of the letter to friends, in this way making a tremendous unbroken chain
of patriots who will stamp out the German propaganda.
It is not known where the plan originated. The letters reaching Brooklyn
have come from the advertising firm of Lyddon & Hanford, in
Rochester. The Manhattan office of this firm said today that letters had
been sent out from Rochester about two weeks ago, and it is believed that
the chain has already reached hundreds of thousands of people. This is the
letter:" [text] Entered by DWV, Aug. 7, 2014.
ae1918-06-13p1_anti-propaganda_q3+
The Paper Chain Letter Archive
- contents Chain
Letter Evolution
A nearly identical letter was published in the Nov. 9, 1918 edition of The
Charlotte Observer (p. 11). A full text is given. This was received by
Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. The only difference is that this urges
"six or more exact copies" be made, rather than the three as above.