Punch v. Glasgow

The-- Picture. Punch, famed London funny paper, printed a U. S. general. He stood stiff, ungainly, much medaled; surrounded by clouds of light. He pointed scornfully at a cringing figure of John Bull. He said scathingly: "What (if anything) did you do in the Great War?" (Said a subcaption: "'Big Bill Thompson,' Mayor of Chicago, is prosecuting the local Superintendent of Schools for disseminating British propaganda in history textbooks.")

The Protest. Lawyer William Anderson Glasgow Jr., Philadelphia patriot, snatched his pen. Wrote he, irate, to Punch: "Such publications are distressing ... to cordial and affectionate relations between two great countries. ... I am quite sure ... the next edition of your paper should contain an apology." Punch Unimpressed. Wrote Punch to Lawyer Glasgow: "There is not the least prospect of my publishing an apology. . . . Put it [the blame 1 on the noisy anti-British activities of the Mayor . . . who is at present making your country the laughingstock of the world. Put it also on the familiar boast of your countrymen that America won the War."

Glasgow Goaded. Retorted Lawyer Glasgow: "I find I misjudged both the intelligence of the editor-- and the character of the publication. Your reference to Mayor Thompson of Chicago and to those who 'boast-- that 'America won the War-- is hardly entitled to notice, as We in America are ... disgusted with this class of insignificants. "Your letter indicates . . . for yourself and your publication the same low character of " propaganda within the spheres of Great Britain, with like disgusting materials, which you say is the role assumed in America by Thompson, Mayor of Chicago. "I am not prepared to accept your statement that the course of the Mayor of Chicago is making America 'the laughing stock of the world.' From the contents of Punch for the last few years I am not prepared to admit that its editor is a proper judge of what will appeal to the risibilities of the world."

--Sir Owen Seaman, who signed the letters mailed to Lawyer Glasgow.