USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of the activities of the people of Lackawanna County in the world war : under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety > Part 2
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"Organized
Patriotism."
Patriotism and patriotic public opinion supported ever war movement. The pro-eminence that Lackawanna County may claim over some localities is in this: Patriotis and patriotic public opinion and private opinion, the desire of some to fight, the necessary desire in others to support from home the fighting men, will go far of thomselves. But to get the full, one-hundred-percent effectiveness from patri- otism and patriotic public opinion, there must be organization. The private, the sergeant, the captain, the colonel in the
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army can not be left to fight the enemy according to his own rules and at his own convenience. The army must have a very close and rigid organiza ion, based moon discipline and rubor- dination. The people who stay at home and support the army, numbering one hundred at home to Gar in the army, et hove at least a loose organization, that their patriotis be not thrown to the winds in nurposeless eversion.
Council of National Defense Committee of Public Safety.
In performing home patriotie duties during the war, no citizen of Lackawanna County was over for one moment in dor bi as to where to look for advice, direction, and help, in aking his individual patriotism useful. Excepting in fa ming soc ions any citizen of Lackawanna County could reach an o ficial of the Council of National Defense in less than half an hour in person, and in less than ton minutes on the tolephone. Every town had ite local committee of public safety, constantly in touch with and acting under up-to-the-minuto instructions from the central offices of the County Committee.
Ve had, then, in Lackawanna County, not only patriotism and not alone organisation, but we hrd organized palriosism. And the patriotism of the people was organized so well that every wheel, personal, social, industrial, and financial, ran smoothly and with a maximum of oneed, fron the beginning to the end of the var. Sometimes the Council of National Defense picked up movements alrealy under way and senered Them success- ful; more often is supplied both the initiative and the anosgy. Occasionally it stopped plans that were foolich, unneces ary, or wrong.
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Alien
Sympathizers.
PENNSYLVANIA
It is certain that the thoroughness of the organization of the Council of National Defense had a most salutary effect on possible alien sympathizers within the County. Almost the first thought of every regulatly appointed or self-appointed Committee of Public Safety was to watch for trouble. The writer took his turn with others in guarding a railroad bridge in the Abingtons against a possible bomb outrage, which would have seriously ham- perod war-traffic on the Lackawanna Railroad, a main artory be- For months all the coal breakers tween Buffalo and Ne York.
and shafts were guarded. Now, there was novor a bomb exploded in the County during the war; and no one knows or says that there was ever any attempt or any intention or any idea of exploding
a bomb. And it is impossible to guess whether this over-careful- ness on the part of the committee was a prevention of outrage or was merely wasteful of energy.
Gorman Residents.
Moreover, there is a large German population in Lackawann: County, particularly in Scranton. Many of those Germans were born in Germany; many are rather recent arrivals. Some of
them are not citizens of the United States. A native of Germany -- a true American citizen -- served well, loyally, and wisely on the Executive Committee of the Lackawanna County Council of National Defense.
The war is over. The Gorman thunderstorm is passed. We havo drawn the teeth of its lightning from the clouds. Let us look back with what kindness and charity we have in us on the
AMAVIVONMON YHARBLI 3TATE
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years of 1917 and 1918. Che Gormans Livhar 'n Lerision, many un- doubtedly Jo ol to this their alonhe Lind, others juos as indomb - edly throwing all their moral symon hy to the lani of Their bir h, did not cause a ripple on the partaco. the imagination when the war etouted -- a nonce tha arildlod 40 nothing as German boys donnol the uniform and Cornan mann vene zoout their business as aid owher people. sometimes a chi per was moted,
, sometimes a sullen silence marked a man -- but nothing ever happened.
The question is well worth asking: Did the paper off ctiveness of the home war organization rondor overt acts of tresson so cute to fail that none dered speak treison or do treason?
Educational System of
Lackawanna County.
In considering the war strength of Lackawanna County, i s educational systems should not be lost sight of. True, there is nothing extraordinary in the chools of the Count .. They strike the American average. The systems are not undor no local guiding executive. Thirty-one smaller districts, with their local school boards, look for educational direction to the county superintendent of schools. The two cities, Scranton and Carbondele, und the nine boroughs of Archbold, Blakely, Dickson City, Dunmore, Old Forge, Olyphant, Taylor, Throop, and hinton, have their own super intendonde of schools; and with their school boards, have no educational co- operation, except as it comes through the State Department of Pu lic Instruction and that which is voluntary. Vet the work of these educational systems for a generation proved itcele in 1917 and 1918; and the agnificent co-operation of all of them with the activities of the Council of National Defense during the var, demonstrated the
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practical value of American educational institutions.
As were the colleges of the country used to the full b the Government, so were the schools of Lackawama County made the most of by the local and county committees of public safety.
Patriotism in
our Schools.
School teachers differ considerably in thois idoes as to how a given subject should be taught; and their oninions vary as to what matter is most essential to be drilled into ils' intol- ligence. But it is safe to say that most school teachers in Penn- sylvania have during the past two decades spent a great deal of 1 energy on the subjects of American ideals and ersonal, moral, and practical patriotism; and teachoro have had much to tell o ildren and youths about American citizenship and its duties, blessings, Not only in Tonns Ivanis, but advantages, and responsibilities.
the Country over, it may be said that the schools hav unknowingly been preparing manhood and womanhood for this war during a long generation just as truly as, and in a far better, more elovatod manner, than the German schools have boon roparing their boys for "der tag."
Some teachers make a point of giving loosens in vatri- otism to all pupils; and some do not. And there are some subjects, history and civil government, for instance, in the teaching of which it is naturally requisite to bring up and discuss this lofty human attrioute. But no puoli, be it in the ublic schools, or the parochial or private schools, goos through his allotted years of training without meeting sono teachers who Lavo an especial aptitude and an especial onth siasm for he subject of oral and
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practical American patriotism. That this is the Que. has been the Nation's most valuable a. se., to which coal, gold, and wheat are almos. socondary; and the misvite have alvaro a mighty influence in peace and in war on the whole Country. The
American people had poon educated in the best possible way to fight a war; and with this education inside of them, there . o no doubt that they would win it.
be are in the habit of believing that the schools of Lackawanna County had gone somewhat farther in thin education in patriotism and citizenship than most communities in the Country. In commerce, the demand often begets the supply; and so may is
be in education. There is a certain peculiar educational domand in Lackawanna County.
Americanization.
Lackawanna County has a large proportion of foreign- speaking people . Americanization, as a principle or a necessity,
is not now with us ; although it is only now, after the war, that concerted and organized effort ie being made to Americanize the adult. But always we have been Americanizing the children. It has been more necessary to teach Americanism, in all ito many phases, in schools where a third, a half, two-thirds, four- fifths -- in school rooms where all -- the pupils come from homes where English is not generally spoken, and who have as parents men and women who were born in Europe and have not the ability and have not been taught the inclination to explain to their children what our insti ations meana The fact that it
has been nocessary to teach many of the school children of Lackawanna County American ideals and customs has occasioned that teaching and that knowledge to be emphasized in the minds of all
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our children -- many of Them now middle-aged non and women, many of them veterans of the world war; and it has made our behoolo het-beds of patriotism.
School Population.
At present, in 1920, the total population of Lacka- wanna County is 284,617. The number of uvils attending the public schools, including night schools, at the close of the school year of 1919-1920 was 57,198. This is about twenty per cent of the population. In 1914 tho mimber was not considerably fewer, because the former rapid increase in our I cal population had slowed down the increase in total population of the County
being only about 25,000 from 1910 to 1920. It is certain that over 50,000 punils attended our schools during the war. That a magnificent home war strength lay in these 50,000 chil- dren, even in those who were very small, proporly organized and sensibly handled! It must be kept in mind that superintendents, principals, teachers, almost without exception, made the fighting of the war paramount, and the "three R's" secondary for the time.
Educational Preparedness.
The Nation had from August, 1914, to April, 1917, to get ready for war, Many of us believed war was bound to come. Many of us believed we co id keep ourselves aloof from the European struggle. Our wishes guided our opinions. But which- ever opinion the individual hold, he prepared for war, voluntarily or involuntarily, in wisdom or in ignorance. And so it was with the school teachers and their pupils. Even in classes in Arith-
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metic, Algebra, and Chomistry, cho wor in Carodh and America's place in the internacional imbroglio, were aise esod. In the writer's classes in History, often as the text-book thrown aside for days at a time. Men in schools -- Professor Michael J. Costello is a notable example -- cad for fifteen years been interjecting Americanism in:o classes in all seln antie subjec s; and they now made newspapers their text-books in part. Such teschors played their part before the war; and they playod it over again in public affairs on a broader fiol than the school room during the war.
It was the school system, more than any other in- stitution, that had become perfectly prepared for war by the tine it was declared; and this proparation was effective far beyond the school zoom.
In what may be called American families percall 80 10- times hear discussions by their children of the fay at school. Although in these American families the boy and girl may often bring into the home circle a new idea from the school room, the relations in is superiority in intelligonce and knowledge on the part of the poront, subordination of intellect in the child. As between what the teacher says and wind Dad says, "Dad. knows" In Lackawanna County about a third of the children go homo into families where this relationship is reversed. The
parents expect their children to osse's more school knowledge and more American knowledge than they e never goin themselves. The teacher is a fountain of information. The parents, sul- lenly perhaps, and silent1; -- secretly and ashamed -- but truly, nevertheless, get many of their ideas from their children who go to the American school.
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Propaganda through the Schools.
From August, 1914, ko the present bine, tro years after the close of The war, the school children here boon mighty propagandists for patriotism, for preparo ness, for var activity, Zor ci izenship in peace, for Amonicanism and Americanization, and for social respecto ili:7. In sending messages into the families of the foreign born, the messages have been made so emphatic to all the children, that many a self-satisfied old-time American family has been strengthened in its patriotion by nearing the message sent pri vil to
others. Many an American has had so bolleh wy i. own Ameri- canism to Meep vace with the artor of a native of Dorope .
Che Schools as a practical Aid in har.
Schools and school children, besides being useful in spreading propaganda into every tone in the County in the best ay possible, that is, in doing it without knowing just what they were doing, helped the Cause during the wr in many oro direc practical ways. A largo mimber of the fifa, thousand chil- dren a sisted in most of the sivos for money, including the five sales of bonds, and they contributed small suas tha swellod into no inconsiderable amount. the girls used fois hands in fabri- cation, many of the boys helped in gardening and farming and in
the industries. No hand or mind or tongue was idle all the time and many wore active constantly.
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Graduates in Active Service.
Of course, no school exists which does not boast of graduates in active service; and there were high school bors who left school and went to war.
Dunmor o.
Dr. Charles F. Hoban, Superintendent of chools of Dunmore, has the records of eighty-one grestates of the Dunmore School System who were in the service; ant Juniors mourns the 198 of three of theso.
Technical High School.
Mr. Ronald P. Gleason, Principal of the Technical High School of Beranton, reports the names of two hundred and eighty- nine enlisted con and commissioned officers, of whom three lost their lives in the service,
Saint Thomas College .
Brother Phill , President of saint Thomas College, Scranton, states that of graduates and of those matriculated, tro hundrel and ten were in the armed forces of the United States, and that ten of them died or were killed in action.
Contral Figh School.
Mr. Albero H. Welles, Principal of the Contral high School of Scranton, has the records of one hundred and fifty-
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four Central High School boys in service, of whom fifteon did not come back home .
These proud records are only typical of the school systems of the County, the State, and the Nation.
We must never forget that in a thousand ways our great American educational system was in our war every hour for the vory principle upon which it is founded -- real Democracy.
The Foreign
Born.
A very large minority of the residents of Lackawanna Valley are recent immigrants and their children; and of these a considerable number are not naturalizeo. 02 some six hundred who have come to the writer on the question of naturalization during a year and a half, about forty were discharged soldiers. That is merely an evidence that many alien friends entered the army from our County.
Che people of foreign birth and parentage who live among us are by no means a blot upon our social landscape, & menace to our community organization, a trial to our business man of industrial operator. There are plenty of people of intelligence, even with education, among them; the average being somewhat lower among recent arrivals than among those who immigrated a generation of two ago, or among those of American ancestry, because the call to America of late years has sounded loudest to the uneducated of Europe. Take an educated European, and he becomes an educated American pretty soon without the "Americaniser's" persuasion, for the simple reason that he knows what education is and what its advantages to him ill bo. Che
uneducated laborer fron mirono is content to remain tho nn- educated, une sibilated labores of Myrica,, male at ba prored to him that he will eran more onor by los why the Inglish language and American wars.
There are all sorts of total codes along die people of foreign extraction, just te there are all ports of roz 7 codes among the rest of us. That our cri.incl count records are reslete with foreign sounding nomes mount less than some are in- clined fo think. A thorough inprix; into the question night demonstrate that the recent immigrant is a chill ciber in the hands of those who would imnose upon him. Imposed non, he gets mad; and failing to understand the le. of the land, he gers into trouble by making reprisal by some short ent, or like the inarticulate man he is, by hitting somebody with some thing. No helo of virtue should be placed above the heads of our foreign born -- they are just human, that is all, Bu people who do not understand the situation should not frown unon them for Saults they have been taught by the unscrupulous, Zor weaknessos due to an ignorance that it is a duty of government to ronody, nor blame them for a suspicion that sharpers have beused to be justi- Zie8. They are strangers in a strange land; and they have learned only this -- that they can get help only by paying much
money for it. They encounter many more difficulties then we do, right next door to us; and they live generally in a ost deplorable fashion, packed together in miserable hovele. No,
it is not good enough for them; and it is vory bad for all of us that they do so, and it will be very bad for Those who come after us, unless conditions are corrected. It would be the life work of several big, strong, wise men and women to American-
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ine our foreign born, not so much in language as in living.
The Younger
Generation.
Their children, and this is the grandest part of their story, are becoming more truly American esgh day, undor the care of our school system. The hundreds of mong men who went forth from sich homes to fight, come beef with an in- estimable increase of Americanism and American ideals and as- pirations within them. Certainly the effec noor the neighbor- hoods to which the returned can not be lost.
The Foreign Born in War.
In regard to the spirit in which our foreign born residents took up war activities, it was hard to soe much dif- feronce between them and any other element of ons population. Perhaps there was a smaller number of leaders and a larger pro- portion of followers among them. And there was a smaller num- bor of men with their hands in their nockets among them. Natural instinct, Ruropean training -- some thing made them keen in war. And where they may have done nothing else, they mined the coal.
Leaders among the Foreign Born.
It must not bo sunposed either, that there were no leaders among Them; and upon thede leaders the committees of public safety and the Council of National Dofonse olaced much reliance ; and the Council had no reason to be disappointed.
Throwing out of consideration peo ilo who have come to
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us from the British Isles, who are not in the nestion of Azoricanisation at any time, any way, there are many im igrants and sons of immigrants from mid-Europe who are le wiers in busi- ness, industry, society, in all parts of the County. One of the most successful business men in wer iton cane boro se an adult from the Czecho-olovakian torritor. of kuigery. More has been an interesting though unconfirmed innor has chis gen .le- man was smoken of for the presidency of the Repas'je ta Cacchio- Slovakia -- or was vendered the honor. A new Gurorean Republic could do Little better than to place the guidance of its affairs in the hands of the successful business man, trained is a 2ere- sentative American community that offers every inducement to enterprise and intellectual attainment. So it is, that tho foreign born among us are a most valuable clement in the every- day life of the community.
Contributions of the Foreign Born.
They are more saving and frugal as a rale than those
of American ancestrys It is therefore positive that next to keeping our mines to a great extent, and dur industries to a less extent, in operation by supplying labor during the war, tho great thing contributed by the foreign born was moneys They had 1t. Away out of proportion to their earnings did they buy bonds and give to war work oumpaign funds; and in giving they did not hesitate and they did not argne and they did not dodge. In rallying to the Colors it is believed that they did
just about their share; so it was in the sacrifice of lifo
in the war . It has been said thet there wern nos many clains for
exemption among them.
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Gold Stars.
About four hundred and fifty men from Lackawanna County lost their lives in the war; and two hundred and fifty of the o were from the City of Scranton. It appears from the names that seventy-four of the two hundred and fifty wero of mid-European or south-European stock. Thus run the names -- the Scranton list
in order: Allen, Alvord, Athas, Barber, Bartoli, Batula, Baxter, -- feiss, Williams, Wisniewski, ward, food, Yarasunas, Yusliawylka. Were a similar illustration made from the county list, the provor- tion of those of foreign extraction would be soon to be greater. Here, for instance, is the complet: roster of the Borough of Arch- bald, under the letter "A"; Ackerman, Aggentovich, Aquello, Antencrio, Anthony, Apogli, Appleton, Appolinasi.
The Thirteenth
Regiment.
In organized military strength, Lackavanns County look pride in its Thirteenth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. Headquarters of the Regiment and eight companies were within the County Besides, there was a company of engineers.
The regiment was organized some forty years ago, had had oxperience several times in strike duty, and had gone through the Spanish War; and it had just returned from a long tour of duty on the Mexican Border when war broke out. It was under the command of Colonel Ezra H. Ripple, Jr, and a former commander of the Regiment, General Prederick #. Stillcell wes for a time in command of the Twenty-eighth Division, Lieutenant Colonel E. H. F. Conrad, Major kobort M. Vail, Major Ralph A. Gregor,, and Major Laurence H. Warres were field officers of the
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Regiment. In this connoesion iv nia. be added that Colonel David J. Davis, a former officer of the Thirteenth Lopinout, embarked for France as Adjutant -General of the fronty-eighth Division, and served in that capacity until he became a member of General Pershing's steff. Colonel Deris 's now ( 1920) Deport- mental Commander of the American Legion of renns. Ivonia. Among the regiments of the National Guard the Thirteenth had a magnificent record in the past. Thousands of us have be- longod to it; and so it was with a universal feeling that it would bring honor home to us that the people of scranton say it depart to the mobilization comp.
One Hundred and Ninth Infantry
One Hundred and Third Engineers
One Hundred and Eighth Machine Gun Bat alion.
The expectation was more than justified. Combined with the First Infantry of Philadelphia into the 109th United States Infantry, our regiment went through the tour of duty of the Twenty- eighth Division -- the Iron Division -- fourth in the number of casualties. Prom Chateau-Thierry to the Argonne, the 109th, 103rd. Engineers, and the 108th Machine Gun Battalion, art of which organ- izations were Lackawanna Boys, made a fighting record for them- selves not surpassed by the soldiers from any part of the Country, A history of the war as it was fought would lay great stress uron the hard fighting engaged in by Major R. M. Vail, and his 108th.
Volunteers and Drafted Men.
Volunteering was general in Seranton and thro cho ho
County up to the tine it ceased by governmental mandate. Most drafted men went away as choerf Ily as did the volunteers. The
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The proportion of our young men -- and older ones, 100 -- at officers' training camps was fairly great; and Who number of members of the Students' Army Training Corps was becoming Fory large at the time of the end of the war.
Number of Mon in Active Service.
The total number of men in active service from Lackawanna County was about eleven thousand, out of a population (1920) of 284,617.
Chapter II.
The Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety.
One would delight in the occupation of writing the history of the boys of Lackawanna County who served in the World War; of recounting the experiences of the many units and of the Divisions of which they were members; of relating the acts of heroism of which we who stayed at home will always be proud. But another ven than this, wielded by one who had the honor to wield the sword or shoulder the rifle, must tell of those who arose to the roll of the drum.
Our responsibility at present lies in another direction. It is simply to speak of the less heroic service that was ner- . formed here at home that those engaged in actual varfare might have every possible ounce of support. Mon, the same American fighting vlood coursing quick in their veins, mado speochos, hood potatoes, sat in conforence, shoveled coal, solicited money, their longing eyes fixed overseas on the fields of Flanders, Champagne, and Picardy.
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