Patriotism in the Press: Media in Idaho during the Great War

During the early twentieth century, the press was one of the most reliable sources for news and information. Newspapers educated the public about important events, but also influenced social behavior. During the First World War, newspapers across the country capitalized on their authority and published articles designed to instruct the public on how best to serve the war effort. In southeastern Idaho, these articles took two main approaches: direct instruction and anecdotes which relayed examples of patriotic behavior.

Many articles instructed readers on the expectations of patriotic behavior, and appeared frequently throughout the conflict. For instance, the Red Cross published articles that informed women of goods and services they should provide to help soldiers and assist the war effort.[1] Some recurring articles were specifically targeted toward draft-eligible men. The Pocatello Tribune printed a recurring piece titled, “Home Reading Course for Citizen Soldiers,” which was a series of lessons designed to help those who were drafted to “get started the right way” for serving in the Army by teaching teamwork and other soldierly qualities.[2]

Other articles were even more specific in their instruction. Important notices and proclamations by government leaders were typically published on the front page, instructing citizens to “give a proper and patriotic observance”[3] of national holidays or to save and donate peach pits so they could be used by soldiers to neutralize poison gas.[4] Others provided clear instruction on civic duty. These include articles such as, “How to Display the American Flag,”[5] and “Food Conservation Assures Victory,”[6] an indirect yet clear attempt to inform readers that conserving food contributes to the war effort because it increases their nation’s resources.

One article in particular never explicitly called for action, but directly educated its readers of their responsibilities as citizens. Published by the Rexburg Standard in August 1917, just as the war entered its third year, this article took a full page to describe the events of the war during the previous year – a common practice within more established wartime periodicals. The front page declared that, “every patriotic American has an intense interest in the progress of the great conflict, and for that reason will find the review of the third year of the war […] a feature he will greatly appreciate.”[7] This notice instructed readers that there was an expectation of interest in the nation’s affairs, and that to be uninterested was to be unpatriotic.

These newspapers also shared stories in which people either displayed patriotic behavior or were punished for unpatriotic behavior. Many of these tales were short, simple briefings from around the country. One such story told of a German man in Texas sending his son to serve in the American Navy,[8] or a group of men in Oklahoma who were imprisoned for evading the draft.[9] Some communicated local events, such as an article about Ezekiel Garcia, who walked seventy miles from Swan Lake to Pocatello in order to enlist – an act that demonstrated Garcia had “the right spirit.”[10]

Conversely, negative articles were also circulated to remind readers of consequences for unpatriotic behavior. These examples identified slackers, the term given to those who evaded the draft, and the punishments associated with this behavior. Real and anecdotal examples of unpatriotic behavior were frequently published. For instance, one story told of a German man, who had been naturalized in the United States for thirty-six years, had his papers cancelled for refusing to aid war efforts such as the Red Cross or liberty loans.[11] Interestingly, this article was published less than two months after the third Liberty Loan was issued, which suggests a correlation between the patriotic press and soliciting war funds. Overall, one may observe a marked trend in newspapers during the war, one that linked patriotic instruction with the call for greater civilian participation toward the war effort. , such as war bond campaigns and draft registration requirement increases. Idaho was not excluded from this broader, global practice – evidence for which may been seen in various media outlets and social practices during the First World War.

– Jennifer Pearce

[1] “What can we do?,” Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), Jul. 12, 1917. Also occurs on Oct. 11, 1917 and Sept. 20, 1917.

[2] “Home Reading Course for Citizen Soldiers,” Pocatello Tribune (Pocatello, ID), Sept. 13, 1917.

[3] “Proclamation”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), May 31, 1917.

[4] “Important Notice”, American Falls Press (American Falls, ID), Sept. 10, 1918.

[5] “How to Display the American Flag”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), April 12, 1917.

[6] “Food Conservation Assures Victory”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), Aug. 2, 1917.

[7] “The Third Year of the Great War,” Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID) Aug. 9, 1917.

[8] “Speaks German Only, Gives Son to Navy”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), May 31, 1917.

[9] “Draft Evaders Imprisoned”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), Oct 11, 1917.

[10] “Walked 70 Miles to Join the Army”, Rexburg Standard (Rexburg, ID), Sept 27, 1917.

[11] “Naturalization Papers may be Cancelled”, Camas County Courier (Fairfield, ID), May 30, 1918.