On this date in 1918, the political climate across the state was calming momentarily with the completion of North Dakota’s primary election the week before. The Nonpartisan League made a significant showing in their hopes to control both houses of state government. Although the casualty lists from World War I coming in on a daily basis were putting a damper on the celebration of the Nation’s Birthday, unlike the previous year, many communities were planning fireworks, while at the same time encouraging individuals to purchase War Stamps instead of buying personal fireworks, stating there were plenty of fireworks in France.
For the week of the July 4th, the Council of Defense was planning Loyalty Week events in Bismarck. They were expecting 20,000 farmers to attend. Events included a Dakota Tractor Day with a large agricultural exposition to introduce equipment and methods to enhance agricultural production. There was also a War Savings Day and Red Cross Day. More traditional for the holiday were the patriotic speeches, carnivals, bands and parades.
The Devils Lake Chautauqua opened on July 3rd with patriotic programs high on the list for July 3rd and 4th. Along with the Chautauqua lecture series, there were motion pictures with patriotic themes such as “Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation,” and community singing of patriotic favorites. Almost all Fourth of July celebrations across the state included patriotic speeches, picnics and, of course, baseball games.
Motion pictures had become the rage, and movie theaters had become part of most communities in the state. Thomas Edison’s motion picture company began in 1892, but it was perhaps one of its last films that made its debut in 1918, bringing a small bit of solace to grieving North Dakota families. “The Unbeliever” was the story of a man who expresses his lack of belief in God, as well as his disdain for those of the lower classes. When he goes off to fight in World War I, side by side with men like his chauffeur, he finds God and comes to have respect for the common man. The film included battle scenes filmed with the cooperation of the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia. Among the Marine participants in these scenes were over two hundred North Dakota boys, including Ernest Robertson from Buchanan; George Stine and Harold Beltman from Tower City; and others, who had since been killed in action on the Battlefields of France. Though their names were now marked with gold stars, through the magic of Edison, they had come back home to North Dakota.
Dakota Datebook by Jim Davis
Sources:
Bismarck Tribune, June 26, 1918
The Oakes Times, July 4, 1918
Grand Forks Herald, July 22, 1918
Devils Lake World and Inter-Ocean, June 19, 1918
