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Ottawa County Attorney, Lee Jackson, writes Governor Arthur Capper of Topeka (Shawnee County) requesting that he ask Phil Crab an Ada (Ottawa County) resident to donate to the Red Cross. Mr. Crab's refusal to donate to the Red Cross made him the object of ridicule and harassment by other local residents. During WWI, the domestic effort to support the war created an expectation that every citizen would contribute in various ways, including cash donations. Persons who did not meet this expectation, who were critical of the government, or were suspected of being German sympathizers were often referred to as "slackers." Governor Arthur Capper maintained a "slacker" file in his office and frequently appealed to individual Kansas citizens to support the war. See Governor Arthur Capper to Phil Crab, June 11, 1918.
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: June 8, 1918
Jackson's letter to Capper illustrates the difficulties faced by those that objected to supporting the U.S. war effort during World War I by either buying war bonds or donating money to the Red Cross. Therefore, the letter can be used in conjunction with other letters concerning non-compliant individuals to help students understand the level of pressure that was applied to those that did not comply with expectations.
KS: 11th: 1.7.: challenges German Americans faced in Kansas during World War I
Item Number: 207798
Call Number: Governor's Office, Governor Arthur Capper, Correspondence Files, Alphabetical File Box 36 Folder 11
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 207798
Collections - State Archives - Governor's Records - Capper, Arthur
Community Life - Clubs and organizations - Charitable - Red Cross
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - German Americans (Indicator 7)
Date - 1910s - 1918
Government and Politics - Local Government - County - Attorney
Government and Politics - State Government - Governors - Capper, Arthur
Military - Wars - World War I
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - Notable Kansans - Capper, Arthur, 1865-1951
Places - Cities and towns - Ada
Places - Counties - Ottawa
Thematic Time Period - World War I, 1914 - 1919
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Government records
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Government records - Correspondence
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/207798
