1918 Give War a Chance, premature peace announcement

November 6, 2009 – 1:40 pm

November 6, 1918

It could be the biggest mistake combined history of the Telegram or Tribune’s.
An hurried Extra edition was put out on Wednesday (the nameplate says Sunday) with the screaming top headline:
GERMANY ASKS PEACE ON WILSON’S 14 POINTS

Problem was it wasn’t true yet. The United Press wire service reports do not cite a specific source and at best say the Axis powers are ready to discuss peace. There is no Allied source cited that confirms the reports or that the terms are acceptable.

We celebrate Armistice Day, now Veterans day five days later on November 11. The fighting was halted on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The Treaty of Versailles formally ending the war was signed on June 28, 1919.

The Daily Telegram was in its 13th year of publishing and was well on its way to consolidating its hold as the dominant regional paper. Under owner C.L. Day the paper had a punchy, crowing aggressive style.
The nameplate featured an eagle holding an American flag and a ribbon proclaiming the San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram as AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER.
The rival Tribune had been founded in 1869 by Walter Murray to support his Republican ambitions. The Telegram was also independent of any chain affiliations like the Hearst papers.
The Telegram had come a long way from its origins as a temperance organ that the founders sold when the business foundered. The paper now had a brisk, energetic tone and was fun to read.
Owner Day would incorporate smug self promotional comments and stories sprinkled throughout the paper. Page one had two such items. Atop the front boxed type read: EXCLUSIVE TELEGRAPHIC SERVICE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY OF UNITED PRESS NEWS ASSN. TABLOID FOR BUSY PEOPLE
Tucked next to the date: There may be a better climate than San Luis Obispo’s – but not on earth.

The First World War had been raging four years would be given the hopelessly naïve sobriquet, ‘The war to end all wars.’ The Atascadero Veteran’s Memorial lists 11 county World War I fatalities and in my research I have found one additional, Joe Clark Kelley of San Miguel.

Between the horrific toll of the war and the even more horrific Spanish Influenza (more would die from flu than war) now sweeping the world, people were ready to reach for an optimistic straw.
Previous reports from the front had documented Allied army breakthroughs. Axis governments were in disarray and starting to sending feeler signals that they were open to negotiations but nothing concrete had been set. President Woodrow Wilson’s plan consisted of a complicated 14 points that in the end even the United States would not completely ratify. (Congress would later shoot down his dream of joining a league of nations to prevent future aggression.) Some have argued that the end of the Second World War was prolonged by the Allied insistence on unconditional surrender but it kept the negotiations clear and straightforward.
The local celebration story took up three whole columns on the front page which was a lot of page real estate for the time. Here is most of what ran on on the front page:

Thousands Gather for

Celebration When News

of Peace Move Comes

Several thousand people gathered at the ringing of the fire bell and blowing of the roundhouse whistles upon receipt of confirmation of the wonderful news Saturday night.
The municipal Band, the Elks’s Band and Home Guard rapidly assembled and within a few minutes a monster parade was under way. And a happier crowed never paraded the streets of this city.
Usually it is rather difficult to get many people to walk in a parade, most of them preferring to stand on the sidewalks and play the part of spectator. Not so last night. Hundreds of men and women of all ages fell in behind the Home Guard and marched.
Others followed the Elks’ Band which headed a second section of the parade. All cheered and sang as the long line passed through the streets.
There was little or no attempt to form the line but every one was able to find a place in it.

“Telegram” Dispatches Read.

Parade started from Chorro and Higuera Streets thence on Chorro to Monterey to Osos and Higuera to Nipomo where it counter-marched on Higuera to Chorro to monterey to the court house.
The cheering multitude gathered as close to the courthouse steps as possible, where the short informal program was carried out.
As soon as quiet could be secured the United Press dispatches to The Telegram were read. Each was received with cheer upon cheer. The crowd wend wild when the dispatch stating that the peace proposal is to be made inconformity with President Wilson’s terms. Some most dignified citizens for got their dignity and a bunch of college boys at a rooter’s convention would have had nothing on them.
After the reading of the dispatches the Municipal Band Played “America” and thousands of voices joined in singing the old song so dear to Yankee people.
The big crowd was asked, “Who do you want to speak to you?” and without a dessenting voice the answer came, “Habbick.” So “Habbick” it was who delivered one of those rapid fire, patriotic, heart-throbbing speeches such as only Rev. J. D. Habbick can give.

Habbick Thrills the Crowd.

The speaker said in part: “You have heard the news and the statement that it has been confirmed from more than one source. It is no doubt authentic and we are fully justified in accepting it.
“Germany is asking for peace under the terms designated in President Wilson’s fourteen points as given in his speech of January 8, the four points in his speech of February 12 and his declaration of September 27. I want to say to you that these are the only terms which Germany will obtain peace with this country.

No Slowing Up.

“Even though the authorities should be inclined to accept peace under other conditions (which they are not) the people would never stand for any other terms. (Cries of “Never” from a thousand people).
“This is a time for rejoicing because it looks like the beginning of the end. But there is perhaps in the mind of each of us the question, “Is it possible that Germany is but playing for time?” I do not believe it. I think that she is about through. But this must not be allowed to cause us to slow up on the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign. If Germany is not in earnest her principal reason for making such an announcement as just read would be to kill this loan. There must be no let up. We must raise every dollar of our quota and the country must take every bond offered.
“We must show Germany that we mean business and that if she is not ready to come to our terms she must fight. Our boys are there, more are ready to go and we will fight to the finish in support of the principals outlined by our great president.
“Again let me repeat: Buy bonds and then buy more bonds so that glorious day when your boy and my boy shall come back. He may come back crippled, or racked with pain of his wounds, but he is our boy and we know that he has done his bit toward bringing an end to the things for which Germany has stood.
At the conclusion of Rev. Habbick’s remarks the Municipal Band played a selection.
Mr. Parker of Los Angeles was introduced as a man who has been selected for overseas service with the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Parker recited Will M. Cressy’s poem, “The Boy Next Door.” He was compelled to respond with another and game “The Little Red Flag With Its One Blue Star,” Also by Cressy.

Friday’s paper would backtrack from the all night party euphoria.

UPDATE: I forgot to include the Thursday November 7 copy of the regular Daily Telegram edition as well. It is an amazing tabloid graphic tour de force, unfortunately the news was several days premature.