100 YEARS AGO IN THE SARATOGIAN
Wednesday, April 17, 1918. On the day of a massive Liberty Loan rally in Saratoga Springs, The Saratogian reports a “small riot” earlier this month over the alleged lack of patriotism of a Saratoga High School student.
“Six thousand men, women and children marching in behalf of liberty; six thousand flags fluttering in the breeze; six thousand voices singing the songs of freedom,” a reporter rhapsodizes, “Such was the response of Saratoga to the Kaiser’s challenge thundered back to the Hun in the great Liberty Loan parade.”
The city calls a holiday so as many people as possible can take part in the parade and rally at Convention Hall. Speakers encourage the audience to purchase more Liberty Bonds to fund the U.S. war against Germany.
“The Germans must be punished,” thunders former state senator Edgar T. Brackett, “The German people who allow such a government to exist must be punished. God has said, ‘I will repay;’ let us help God fulfill that promise.”
Earlier today, city school superintendent Charles L. Mosher describes a disturbing incident at the high school.
“On the morning of April 5th when leaving the recitation in drawing, Erika Plaug, on seeing the draft men at the Armory remarked, ‘O yes, they’re going to fight for that dirty old rag.’
“The result and response was immediate. The young lady was practically assaulted by the other girls nearest her. To any one knowing the temper of the High School in relation to the war that is what would be expected though it was a thing entirely foreign to usual conditions.
“The teacher in charge quieted the small riot and explained in definite and clean cut terms the duty of all to the country and particularly the duty of any who had or might be expected to have sympathy with Germany. Every one in this country must be openly for us or must be absolutely quiet and absolutely neutral, or must be dealt with as an enemy.”
In the principal’s office, Plaug explained that “she spoke suddenly and on the impulse and was moved only by sympathy and sorrow at seeing some of her friends going out possibly to die and that her whole thought was one of horror at the sacrifices demanded by war and was not at all any feeling of disrespect for the flag.”
Mosher took no disciplinary action because Plaug’s offense was “the first of its kind” locally, She has since “comported herself with entire correctness.” In a separate letter, Otto Plaug notes that Erika’s uncle is currently serving in the U.S. military, and that Erika has never said anything unpatriotic at home.