Harry F. Atwood

              HARRY F. ATWOOD


Author of the books:

The Constitution Explained
Back to the Republic
Safeguarding American Ideals
Keep God in American History



SOME years ago Harry Atwood, a Chicago lawyer, laid down his practice to take up the cause of the Constitution and representative government.
No knight-errant of old ever fared forth on a task so seemingly impossible.  Atwood was not then a conspieuous public figure, not a writer with an established following of readers, not a widely known speaker—simply an American citizen, who sought to change the political thought and habit of our people.
As 'the man who resurrected the Constitution,' he, more than any other single agency, is the inspiration of the corrective movement, now fast taking shape in the minds of thinking and discerning citizens, and we must grant his achievements wholehearted admiration.
Since the Constitution was completed, no other man has contributed so signally to reviving waning interest and to increasing understanding as this man who went forth armed only with his clear conception and the fire of his enthusiasm to rescue from the scrap heap of oblivion the founders' plans and specifications for our government.

Manufacturers Record, Baltimore, Maryland.



HARRY ATWOOD is widely recognized as the foremost authority on the Constitution of the United States and as a specialist in the science of government.

He has been called to all parts of the country to address many types of audiences, and the excerpts from letters and editorials quoted in this circular indicate the very favorable impressions ereated by his message.

He has done much to awaken the American people to the urgent need for a better understanding of the meaning, the value and the importance of the Constitution of the United States and has secured some very important and concrete results.

As president of the Constitution Anniversary Association he has led in the country-wide observance of Constitution Week.

The nation-wide Oratorical Contest conducted annually in the schools and colleges was started as a result of an address which he made at Los Angeles, California, in May, 1922.

His suggestion that the new two million dollar D.A.R. Auditorium about to be erected in Washington be named Constitution Hall has been accepted, and the name has been adopted.



Lecture Subjects

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP
THE CONSTITUTION AND PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS
AMEND THE 18TH AMENDMENT—WHY?
THE CONSTITUTION AND WORLD PEACE



To arrange speaking engagements for MR. ATWOOD,
Please Address:
D. M. SCHAEFER
Room 1511   Steger Building   Chicago, Illinois




Banquets
I am advised that Mr. Atwood is going to speak in Flint at the annual dinner of the Chamber of Commerce.  You are to be congratulated.  I feel that you should make an effort to have present not only all of the members of the Chamber of Commerce, but also all of the members of the other clubs of the city.

His address at the annual banquet of the Michigan Manufacturers' Association at Detroit was one of the most interesting, outstanding, and important that I ever listened to and should be heard by every person interested in the present and future welfare of our nation.

C. S. Mott, Vice-President, General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan.

Those who attended the annual dinner have pleasant memories of the occasion.  It was surprising the impression made by Mr. Atwood in his talk on the Constitution of the United States.  It hit home.  Here is an excerpt from a letter received from a man who was a guest at the dinner:

'If the Manufacturers' Club had failed to accomplish anything worth while during the past year, the bringing of Mr. Atwood to Mansfield for the purpose of having him deliver his talk on the Constitution would have warranted the existence of the Club.'

Wellington T. Leonard, Secretary, Manufacturers' Club. Mansfield, Ohio.

Seldom have I heard an address which so impressed me with its great educational value.  Mr. Atwood's message is one that every American citizen ought to hear.  I am anxious to provide another opportunity for the people of Connecticut to hear him and want to arrange for him to speak at the All Insurance Day Banquet.

Guy E. Beardsley, Vice-President, Aetna Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut.

I can truly tell you that I have never thought so much about the Constitution of the United States in a like number of days in my life as I have since listening to your instructive and illuminating address at the All Insurance Day Conference Banquet at Hartford.  I am confident that everyone who heard you carried away a very profound conviction that the Constitution of the United States is in truth, the greatest insurance policy ever written.

James L. Case, Norwich, Connecticut.

The address of Harry Atwood was the most logical presentation of the Constitution which it has ever been my privilege to hear.  I consider him the outstanding man in the United States today when it comes to dealing with governmental questions.

The audience was composed of the leading business men as well as leading professional men of the Southwest, and the verdict was unanimous that his address was not only highly instructive but very entertaining.

C. A. Jay, Dallas, Texas.




Educators
I remember so well the wonderful address you gave before our Assembly a few years ago and wonder whether it would be possible for you to be with us again and deliver practically the same address that you gave us on your previous visit.  I sincerely hope you can accept this invitation.

Robert L. Slagle, President, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.

Since your address at our Commencement exercises, we have heard from many who were deeply impressed with your message.

John L. Alger, President, Rhode Island College of Education, Providence, Rhode Island.

Mr. Atwood has just completed a series of addresses before the High School teachers of the nine districts of the Michigan Education Association.

He knows his subject thoroughly and his address challenges attention and leads to a careful consideration of the problems of today.

E. T. Cameron, Executive Secretary, Michigan Education Association, Lansing, Michigan.

Mr. Atwood gave a series of four addresses at the annual Teachers' Decatur County Institute.  In language very clear and forceful, he inspired our teachers anew with the significance of our Constitution.

Step by step he led through the historical setting, the development, ratification, and interpretation of that great document.  His excellent work did us great good, and his message should be heard by all teachers.

J. R. Crawley, Superintendent of Schools, Greensburg, Indiana.

Mr. Atwood delivered six strong addresses before the Sharon Teachers' Institute.  His messages make people think.  Any group of teachers who will think things through with him will be not only better informed citizens themselves, but better prepared to teach intelligently the youth who are citizens in the making.

W. D. Gamble, Superintendent of Schools, Sharon, Pennsylvania.

If you are looking for a speaker that will give your teachers the correct point of view in Civies and United States History, get Mr. Atwood.

Howard Williams, County Superintendent of Schools, Wabash, Indiana.

I have heard you, I don't know how many times, but each time I have come away from an address of yours feeling inspired to go out and try to do my share toward making this country a better place in which to live.  We all need your message at this time.

F. M. Longanecker, Superintendent of Schools, Racine, Wisconsin.




Open Forums
I feel that Harry Atwood, who spoke before our Jersey City Forum, should appear before every Forum in the country.  Whether one agrees with his thesis or not, he marshals the facts so that the best of intellects are challenged to thought.  He is as effective in his answers to questions as in his address.

Harry L. Everett, Manager, Jersey City Forum, Jersey City, N. J.

Harry Atwood and his address are more discussed than any speaker or any lecture that has been in this section for many a day.

Dr. F. M. Cole, Caldwell, Idaho.

Atwood's message grips everyone who hears him.  He presents the Constitution in such a fascinating manner that a subject, which might at first thought be considered dry, is molded into a story of gripping interest.  It is not only interesting but highly educational.  When he closed, we felt we wanted him to go on indefinitely.

Harry M. Webb, Fremont, Nebraska.



Conventions
I cannot tell you how very much your wonderful address before the Lions International Convention was appreciated.  Its inspiration was immense—the finest patriotic message I have ever heard.  I believe hundreds of your listeners went away better and bigger Americans, and the echo of your address will resound throughout America for many months to come.

As I have gone over the country visiting our clubs, listening to reports on the convention, the outstanding part of each report has been an attempt to visualize your address.  I would like to suggest that it should be printed in the American Bar Journal.

Edward H. Ellis, Chairman, Board of Governors, Lions International, Greybull, Wyoming.

I heard many complimentary remarks from the delegates regarding the very excellent message which you delivered at the National Convention of Exchange Clubs at Detroit.  Only a speaker with a vital message and a commanding personality could have held the attention and interest as you did.

Herold M. Harter, National Secretary, National Exchange Club, Toledo, Ohio.

We greatly enjoyed your address at the convention of Lions International at San Francisco.  It is a much needed message.

Melvin Jones, Secretary General, Lions International, Chicago.




The Press

Harry Atwood has been delivering in Minneapolis some messages of great value to the consciousness of this community.  It is a pity there are not more evangels of sound government like him to tell us things we ought to know, and which most of us do not know about our Constitution and about the great wisdom and far-reaching purpose of those who drafted that great charter.
Minneapolis Morning Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota.


The lecture by Harry Atwood was a revelation to the audience.  For many years he has devoted his time to acquiring all possible data relative to the Constitution of the United States.  Consequently he speaks with a real knowledge and authority and every statement he made was substantiated by ready and convincing data.
The Portsmouth Morning Sun, Portsmouth, Ohio.


Mr. Atwood's address on the Federal Constitution was a real treat.  Every man who heard him was given an inspiration for better citizenship and a clearer understanding of the most wonderful governmental document ever written.  He carries a torch that lights the path to the solution of most of our governmental problems and his message should be spread and absorbed.
Grand Rapids Chronicle, Grand Rapids, Michigan.


Mr. Atwood is one of those speakers who has saturated himself with the facts pertaining to the Constitution of the United States and presents them with an appeal that is refreshing.
Louisville Herald, Louisville, Kentucky.



Citizens' Alliance Meeting
I want you to know about the splendid work that has been done in St. Paul and Minneapolis by Harry Atwood.  He spoke at the annual meeting of this organization.  We had something over four hundred people present.  At the completion of his address, they voted unanimously to bring him back St. Paul to speak in our big auditorium.

He came back to the Twin Cities for a week and made some nine or ten addresses in Minneapolis and spoke to 3500 people in our auditorium.  The meeting was a tremendous success and that big audience rose to their feet in tribute when he had finished.  I have never heard such commendations as we have had from all classes of citizens.

E. H. Davidson, Managing Director, Citizens' Alliance, St. Paul, Minnesota.



Bankers' Meeting
I have never forgotten your address before the group meeting of the Illinois Bankers' Association and have wished many times we could secure you to speak here; and, I know every one will be delighted with your address.

H. O. Tunison, President, Peoples First National Bank, White Hall, Illinois.




Women's Clubs
Harry Atwood treats a fundamental subject with power, proving it vivid, understandable, and necessary to good citizenship.

Myrtle Dean Clark, President, Conference of Club Presidents and Program Chairmen, Chicago.

Thank you for giving us such an illuminating and interesting talk on the Constitution.  Those who heard you are enthusiastic and want your new book as soon as it is available.

Winifred Smith, President, Government Club, Inc., Chicago Branch, Chicago.



D. A. R. Leaders
I was fortunate enough to be present when you gave your very interesting address on the Constitution.  I feel that you were most effective and shall be most happy to recommend you as a speaker on all possible occasions.

Mrs. Alfred J. Brosseau, President General, D. A. R. Washington, D. C.

The Minnesota Daughters did so thoroughly enjoy your inspirational address on the Constitution.  We were very happy to learn that the name, Constitution Hall, which you suggested for the new Auditorium at Washington has been accepted.  We are proud to think that your suggestion was made at our State Meeting.

Mrs. Wesley J. Jameson, State Regent, D. A. R., Saint Paul, Minnesota.

We are constantly hearing echos of your address at our State Conference, in Evansville, and I think that we will never know how far-reaching has been the message which you delivered there.

I presume that you have heard your suggestion to name the new D. A. R. Auditorium in Washington Constitution Hall has been adopted.  So you have the honor of having chosen the name for this wonderful building.

Mrs. Charles William Ross, State Regent, D. A. R., Crawfordsville, Indiana.



A Challenging Statement
Dr. John J. Tigert, United States Commissioner of Education, in October, 1924, said:

I do not believe there are more than a very limited number of persons, perhaps a hundred, who really know what is in the Constitution of the United States. 




Safety Council Meetings
Harry Atwood addressed the St. Louis banquet meeting which closed our school for safety supervisors this year.  We thought so much of his address that we are recommending him as a speaker for other safety meetings.

Girard C. Varnum, Secretary-Manager, St. Louis Safety Council, St. Louis, Missouri.

I have heard directly from nearly all the companies having groups of men in attendance at our banquet, and have talked personally with quite a number of the individual members, and nothing but the highest praise comes to me from them in expressions like the following: 'Gee, I never understood what the Constitution really meant until I heard that man Atwood.'

E. G. Clarkson, Executive Secretary, Western Pennslyvania Division, National Safety Council, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.



General Meetings
It was my good fortune to hear the address of Mr. Atwood in the House of Representatives.  I feel that it was the cleanest cut and most scholarly discussion of the Constitution and the fundamentals of our government that it has ever been my pleasure to hear.

His address made a profound impression, not only on the Senators and Representatives, but on large numbers of the general public who were present.  I have never known a speaker to hold the attention of an audience as he did no this occasion.

Henderson Hallman, Atlanta, Georgia.

Few men are so splendidly endowed with the power of interpreting and so wisely and clearly imparting the fundamental principles of Government as Harry F. Atwood.  It was my privilege to hear him speak four times last week, and I never before heard the fundamentals of our form of government so clearly and forcibly expounded.

Geo. A. Kingsley, Atty., Minneapolis, Minn.



A Remarkable Confession
The report of the Committee on American Citizenship, presented at the meeting of the American Bar Association, Denver, Colorado, July 14–16, 1926, contained the following:

Lawyers are being graduated from our law schools by the thousands who have little knowledge of the Constitution.  When organizations seek a lawyer to instruct them on the Constitution they find it nearly impossible to secure one competent.