Going to war 100 years ago

Arkansas and America were gearing up for war at this time 100 years ago.

According to the June 7, 1917, edition of the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock, 72 of 75 counties in Arkansas had reported the number of men who had registered for the draft on June 5 of that year, as required by the Federal Selective Service Conscription Law.

The nationwide call required men in each county, ages 21-35, to register for the draft in the precinct of their home.

The draft was implemented because the United States had declared war on Germany in April 1917, and was committed to send millions of men into the fight that would later be known as World War I.

America didn't want any part of the war in Europe when it broke out in 1914, but ongoing interference in American shipping and the loss of American lives meant that she could no longer remain on the sidelines.

In its afternoon and evening editions in the spring of 1917 the Arkansas Democrat chronicled the pathway to war from an Arkansas perspective.

"Now that the United States is in the war," aMay 8 editorial began, "...it is absolutely necessary for this country to raise an army of formidable proportions."

The May 18 edition of the Democrat told of how Gov. Charles Hillman Brough (who had taught at the University of Arkansas before being elected governor) was to issue a proclamation making the June 5 draft day a holiday in Arkansas with patriotic observances.

The May 18 "6 o'clock edition" of the Democrat told of how five new sites were announced for camps to train soldiers for war.

Because the Arkansas Democrat came out in the afternoon and in the evening, it was able to have reports in print about the June 5 draft in the June 5 edition.

A large two-line headline across the top of the front page read, "10,000,000 Americans Offer Their Lives to Crush Rule of Autocracy."

Another headline read, "Little Rock Registrars Kept Busy." The story detailed how there wasn't any controversy in Arkansas about the war or the beginning of the draft, saying, "There was not a single report of trouble from Little Rock or any part of the state during the morning."

A patriotic fervor was established in the articles and editorials of the day.

"The real business of the war has begun," a June 5 Democrat editorial stated. "Registration Day brought to Americans ... a clear realization ... that American lives are to be offered up on the battlefields of Europe as a sacrifice in order that the ideals of our forefathers may be perpetuated and that the patriots of the thirteen original States may not have died in vain."

War-related reports continued in future editions.

The June 6 Arkansas Democrat had a local story with a headline stating 5,200 had registered in the draft from Little Rock. A headline over a national story said, "America's Millions are Registered for War with Germany."

Ordinary life went on as well.

The May 18, 1917, Democrat told of how the Chicago Cubs were at the top of baseball's National League with a 22-9 record. The Boston Red Sox were leading the American League.

May 19 had an editorial about the benefits that come to companies who deal with employees in a friendly and tactful manner, enabling them to be productive for years.

On June 4, the Arkansas Democrat had an article telling of how Confederate war veterans in Arkansas had left to attend a reunion in Washington. (Hard to imagine, but 100 years ago the Civil War was still a fairly recent event in American history).

The June 4 issue also told of how rural teachers in the state were going to have summer training at the University of Arkansas.

But, overall, there was no doubt about the effects of war on everyday life for Arkansans a century ago. Out of a sense of loyalty and duty, families were prepared to do whatever it took.

Almost 72,000 Arkansans served in World War I and it is good that we can remember their dedication. An interesting website about Arkansas' role in the war has been set up at www.wwiarkansas.com.

You might want to take a look.

A hundred years ago the United States was, in many ways, like it is today. Some people followed baseball. Information was available about making things run more smoothly at work. In their minds and in public discourse, people were sorting out the most appropriate way to remember the Civil War. There was also much discussion about how to improve education.

And the country was at war.

It's a different world in Arkansas today. But the matters that require our attention remain very much the same.

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David Wilson, EdD, of Springdale, is a writer, consultant and presenter, who grew up in Arkansas but worked 27 years in education in Missouri. You may e-mail him at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 06/07/2017