CHAPTER 7 WORLD WAR I AND THE ROARING TWENTIES Durin g the second decade of the twentieth century both min­ ing and agriculture in Utah generally prospered. This development was attributed to the growth of industrial and urban centers and to World War I, which created a demand for metals and agricultural products. An article in the Eureka Reporter of 5 January 1917 stated, "Twenty-two Utah mines paid over $24,000,000 in dividends in 1916; ten of the twenty-two dividend payers are Tintic properties. This is only one of the reasons why Tintic leads all other districts, and why our district has such a bright future." After the conclusion of World War I, the 1920s also brought a sense of optimism toward the future in many county residents. The agricultural industry prospered during the war period and farm ground was improved in most of Utah. The only counties in which the farms did not increase at the time were Grand, Juab, Morgan, and Wasatch.1 However, during this period, as mentioned, ranching did grow in west Juab. In 1917, a large group of farmers and other taxpayers met with the Juab County Commission and pre­ sented a petition requesting the commissioners to enter into a con- 155 156 HISTORY OF JUAB COUNTY Parades brought out the entire community. Parade up Eureka Main Street, 1906. (Tintic Historical Society) tract with the United States through the Utah Agricultural College for the appointment of a county agricultural agent and that the com­ missioners appropriate the sum of $500 to apply toward the wages of the agent. In the meeting of 12 April 1918 the matter had been acted upon—they would have an agricultural agent.2 Prohibition The Nephi Times News repeatedly urged the people of Juab County to support prohibition of alcoholic beverages, and repeated attempts were made at local and state levels to enact prohibition ordi­ nances. In 1911 the Eureka Reporter, in regard to proposed new laws regulating the operation of saloons, published the following announcement: "On 26 June the people of all incorporated cities must vote and decide whether their respective cities are to be wet or WORLD WAR I AND THE ROARING TWENTIES 157 Interior of McCornick Bank, Eureka. (Tintic Historical Society) dry." Another article had appeared in June quoting Rev. Elmer I. Goshen, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Salt Lake City, who provided numerous reasons why he believed prohibition would not "prohibit," stating in part, If you do away with the saloon, you must supply something in its place. Well regulated saloons are not half so degrading as dives and whenever the saloons are closed the dives take their places. A dry town will mean heavier taxes, empty business blocks, . and possibly an increase in drunkenness. The article reminded the people to vote, saying that it was up to them whether Eureka would have well-regulated saloons operated by men who had the welfare of the city at heart, or dives. The well-regulated saloon would be the least injurious of the two.3 Eureka, Silver City, and Mammoth voted to stay "wet"; Goshen, Nephi, Mona, Levan, Payson, Spanish Fork, Provo, and most other Utah towns went "dry." Park City, Bingham, and Ogden were among the few Utah towns voting wet.4 In 1915 Utah legislators voted for statewide prohibition, but Governor William Spry pocket-vetoed the bill. In October 1916 the Times News published an article urging people to vote for candidates 158 HISTORY OF JUAB COUNTY Eureka City Hall was designed by lohn J. Pilgerrim and constructed in 1899. The city built the Eureka Public Library with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1909. (Tintic Historical Society) who would support prohibition. The article stated that it had been an issue since the summer of 1908 and had suffered through three stiff campaigns, with most of the people in the state in favor of it. When Simon Bamberger became Utah's governor in 1916 he insti­ tuted much legislation in favor of labor and agriculture, but one piece of legislation passed by the legislature provided for statewide prohi­ bition after 1 August 1917, something not viewed favorably by most residents of the Tintic region. With the subsequent passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution instituting national prohibition, all Americans who drank broke the law until the amend­ ment was repealed in the early 1930s. Stills and bootlegging flour­ ished throughout the nation, including Juab County, where some residents made their own liquor in backyard stills or supported the illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Due to the illegal nature of such activity, documentation of its extent is non-existent; however, a perusal of Utah papers of the period reveals numerous articles on such illegal activity and law enforcement efforts to combat it. WORLD WAR I AND THE ROARING TWENTIES 159 Eureka High School Girl's Basketball Team, ca. 1910. (Tintic Historical Society) World War I and the Influenza Epidemic—1914—1919 The declaration of war against Germany by the United States on 6 April 1917 in the long term perhaps influenced the lives of people in Utah more than any other event to that time. On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife were killed in Sarajevo, Bosnia, initiating a series of events that soon embroiled most of the nations of Europe in what has become known as World War I. The United States attempted to stay out of the war, although the sympathies of most Americans were with the Allied forces led by Britain and France against the Central Powers led by Germany. German submarine warfare provoked American ire as it resulted in the loss of American lives, and the nation gradually prepared for war. On 26 February 1917 President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress and asked that diplomatic relations with Germany be sev­ ered. On 4 April he again appeared before Congress and asked that 160 HISTORY OF JUAB COUNTY Tintic High School's Football Team, 1919. (Tintic Historical Society) war be declared against Germany. The Senate passed the war decla­ ration on 4 April, and the House of Representatives passed it on 6 April. Utah's territorial militia, the Nauvoo Legion, had been abolished in the move toward statehood, and a unit of the National Guard had been organized in the territory in 1894.5 Many Utah men served with enthusiasm in the Spanish-American War at the turn of the century; however, by 1906 the enthusiasm for military service had waned; membership in the volunteer National Guard had dropped from 1,012 men in 1894 to 363 officers and men. In 1916 enlisted guards­ men were paid 25 percent of the initial pay of enlisted men of corre­ sponding rank in regular military service.6 When war was declared, Juab County responded with enthusi­ asm to every request that was made. Patriotic gatherings were held and young men volunteered for military service. On 13 April 1917 the Eureka Reporter stated, Over at Mammoth they have the proper kind of patriotism. This WORLD WAR I AND THE ROARING TWENTIES 161 0 % ••'..•,• •• .. • Baseball proved to be a most enthusiastically supported sport in many Utah towns. The Blue Rock Mine (Centennial Eureka) sponsored an impressive team in 1904. (Tintic Historical Society) prosperous mining camp can boast of the largest bunch of recruits of any city in the state, population considered. On Friday evening of last week twenty-eight young men announced their willingness to serve their country and the following day they departed for Provo, but they were later sent to Salt Lake where they were examined and sworn in. By 8 June 1917 Juab County had registered 1,144 men for mili­ tary service. "Eureka the metropolis of Tintic registered 597—more than one-half of the total registration of the county," it was reported.7 Almost every newspaper on both sides of the county contained a list of men who were leaving to serve their country. On 3 October, forty- seven men from Juab County gathered in Nephi, where they were entertained with a dinner, free movie, and rooms at the Forrest Hotel. Included were men from most of the towns in the county. On the morning of 4 October they stood for roll call and then left on a train for training camp at American Lake, Washington.8 Women in Utah also served in many capacities. They helped the 162 HISTORY OF JUAB COUNTY Eureka's Finn Hall provided entertainment for both the Swedish Finn com­ munity and the entire town. (Tintic Historical Society) Red Cross, served as nurses, and filled positions formerly held by men, among other tasks. They also served as telephone operators, secretaries, and in many other capacities.9 Among the women who served actively in the war was Maud Fitch of Eureka. According to a report in the local paper, Miss Maude Fitch, daughter of Mr. 8c Mrs. Walter Fitch, Sr. of this city has the honor of being the first Utah woman to receive signal recognition from the French government for gallantry and brav­ ery at the front. Miss Fitch is an ambulance driver in the Hackett- Lowther unit, attached to a division under the tricolor. The young lady was one of six selected for special recognition and was awarded the French war cross [croix de guerre] and the bronze star. While in Paris awaiting the arrival of her specially constructed and equipped car, purchased at her own expense, the young lady engaged in relief work, assisting in caring for the refugees of the war zone.