Walter Weyl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Weyl
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Walter Weyl, from a 1912 publication
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| Born | March 11, 1873 |
| Died | November 9, 1919 (aged 46) |
| Education | Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | economist, journalist |
| Years active | 1901–1919 |
| Organization | The New Republic |
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Notable work
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The New Democracy (1912) |
| Movement | Progressive movement |
| Spouse(s) | Bertha Poole Weyl |
| Children | Nathaniel Weyl |
| Relatives | Julius Stern |
Walter Edward Weyl (born March 11, 1873, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – died November 9, 1919, in Woodstock, New York) was a very important writer and speaker. He was a leading thinker in the Progressive movement in the United States. This movement aimed to improve society and government.
Walter Weyl believed America needed stronger national systems. He wrote a lot about money matters, work, government rules, and world events. He published many books, articles, and newspaper pieces. He also helped edit The New Republic magazine from 1914 to 1916. This magazine was very important at the time.
His most famous book, The New Democracy (1912), talked about how democracy could make things better. It showed his ideas for a modern future based on middle-class values and smart thinking. He wrote that America was "in a somber, soul-questioning mood" and felt "profoundly disenchanted" with how things were going.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Walter Weyl's father, Nathan Weyl, came from Germany. When Walter was seven, his father died. Walter then lived with his five older brothers and sisters at his grandmother's house in Philadelphia. His grandmother was the widow of a merchant named Julius Stern.
Walter was a bright student. He started Philadelphia Central High School at age 13. He earned a scholarship to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined as a junior and graduated with honors two years later, at 19. He studied under a famous economist named Simon Patten.
After college, he briefly studied law. Then, he went to Europe for more studies in economics. He attended universities in Halle, Paris, and Berlin. In 1896, he returned to Wharton to finish his doctorate degree. His research paper, The Passenger Traffic of Railways, was published a year later.
Early Career and Writing
In 1899, Walter Weyl left university life. For several years, he tried different jobs. He worked at a settlement house in New York. Settlement houses were places that helped poor people and new immigrants. He also searched for minerals in Mexico. He collected statistics for the Bureau of Labor and the United States Department of the Treasury.
He even helped John Mitchell, a leader of the United Mine Workers union, write a book. The book was called Organized Labor: Its Problems, Purposes, and Ideals (1903).
Becoming a Journalist and Economist
Walter Weyl began writing articles for popular magazines. He wrote about the lives of new immigrants. Over time, he started writing more about national resources and government policies. His book, The New Democracy (1912), became a key statement for the Progressive Movement in the U.S. It talked about economic changes needed in the country.
In 1914, Weyl joined Herbert Croly and Walter Lippmann to start The New Republic magazine. He worked there as an editor from 1914 to 1916.
World War I and Later Travels
In 1915, during World War I, Walter Weyl traveled in Germany and Russia. He wrote about what he saw in two books: American World Policies (1917) and The End of the War (1918).
In American World Policies, he wrote about how the war changed Americans. He said the war "shaken our optimism" and made Americans feel less secure. He noted that Americans, who once wanted to get rid of the army, now agreed to arm themselves.
In 1917, Weyl also traveled to China, Japan, and Korea. During the war, he helped organize the quartermaster general's office in the War Department. This office was in charge of supplying the army.
Walter Weyl hoped to be part of the U.S. team at the Paris Peace Conference after the war. He didn't get to join officially, but he still traveled to Europe in 1919. He wanted to see the postwar meeting for himself. He knew many people on the Commission and thought a lot about how to explain the conference's challenges. He was especially worried about the growing unrest among working-class people.
Personal Life
In 1907, Walter Weyl married Bertha Poole. She was a labor organizer, writer, and also worked at settlement houses. Bertha came from a wealthy family in Chicago. Walter and Bertha mostly lived in Woodstock, New York. Their only son was Nathaniel Weyl.
Death
Walter Weyl died from throat cancer on November 9, 1919. He was forty-six years old.
His Ideas and Influence
Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. listed Walter Weyl among important American political thinkers. Weyl's book, The New Democracy, celebrated the democratic spirit of the Progressive movement. He believed that America's wealth gave it a chance to achieve more fairness for everyone.
He thought people were too focused on themselves. He called for more teamwork, led by experts and the government. He felt the U.S. Constitution was too limiting. He also believed that the selfishness of rich people stopped progress.
Weyl thought that progress needed:
- More direct democracy (where people have a more direct say).
- More government rules for big businesses.
- Better efficiency in business and government.
- A bigger role for labor unions.
He made fun of the rich and powerful but did not support socialism.
Writings
Books by Walter Weyl
- The Passenger Traffic of Railways (1901)
- Current Labor Problems (1903) online
- The New Democracy: An Essay on Certain Political and Economic Tendencies in the United States (1912) read online
- American World Policies (1917) read online
- The End of the War (1918) read online
- Tired Radicals, and Other Papers (1921) read online
Books Co-Authored by Walter Weyl
- Equitable Taxation. Six essays with others (1892)
- Organized Labor: Its Problems, Purposes, and Ideals—with UMW leader John Mitchell (1903)
Articles by Walter Weyl
- "The Democratization of Party Finances," American Political Science Review, Vol. 7, No. 1 (February 1913), pp. 178–182 in JSTOR
