Magazines
were widely read in early 20th century America. Among the most
prominent at the time were Collier’s and
McClure’s. While other magazines,
such as Saturday Evening Post and Atlantic
Monthly were also widely read, in the
interest of time, I have selected focusing on these two magazines for their
wide circulation, slightly different tones, and generally pro-war positions.
Magazines
such as these led the charge in explaining bond purchase and ownership to the
public in a clear, detailed way. Explaining the necessity of giving to the
point of sacrifice for the cause, banker Thomas Lamont was able to explain loan
purchases in relation to other countries in Collier’s. “We must all realize that individual economy, thrift,
and saving of pennies, collected in units of dollars and invested in loans to
the Government, will shorten and help win the war,” he wrote.[1]
He explained that Britain gave 40% of the nation’s (considerably smaller)
income to the war effort, and though this may have been prompted by the volume
of death they were experiencing, “must we in America wait until our casualty
lists begin to come in before we can rouse ourselves to this same wholehearted
support of the Government?”[2]