Americanism

John Dorman was the first local farmer to make good on the pledge of the previous spring: on October 1 he handed over to the Hobart Red Cross $10 from the sale of one of his farm animals.

John took a leadership role in other home-front activities as well. To promote a patriotic rally scheduled for the evening of October 13, 1917, he appeared before Hobart's town board and asked its members to endorse the rally. The board responded with a resolution calling upon all local citizens to attend if possible and to display the American flag in their homes and businesses.

A good crowd showed up for the rally, held in the Hobart High School auditorium with John presiding. A local band and pianist played, and the audience sang patriotic songs. Then came speeches from several prominent area men, including Hammond attorneys Joseph H. Conroy (a former Hobartite) and David E. Boone, along with a Sergeant Walsh, and Gary's ex-mayor, Tom Knotts. They discussed the events that caused the U.S. to enter into the war, and the need to support the war effort. According to the Gazette, the speakers "laid special stress upon the fact that this country is not fighting the German and Austrian people, but the governments of these people," and that a victory by the U.S. and its allies would ultimately benefit the people of the conquered countries. "They pleaded that all American citizens by birth or adoption stand by the flag and remain true to the government…." Next Ed Keilman read out a resolution prepared by Sergeant Walsh, proposing to organize an "American Alliance" in Hobart "to work in harmony" with national and state defense councils.

The resolution set out ten "cardinal principles" of the proposed American Alliance, all of which emphasized loyalty to the U.S. and its government, and support of the war and of men fighting it. The first was to "promote Americanism"; the last was to "bind firmly together all true Americans." (I just want you to take note of those two because I think we are going to hear similar things in a few years when the Ku Klux Klan comes to town, and this episode provides some context.)

Several prominent Hobart citizens were among the members of the committee that John Dorman appointed to organize the American Alliance: Dr. R.C. Mackey, A.J. Smith, R.R. Peddicord, Fred Rose, Charles Borger, Ed Keilman, W.J. Killigrew, John Larson, Jr., Herman Pflughoeft and John Hillman.

Given John Dorman's prominent support of the war effort, there might have been some talk if his sons avoided military service, but on October 19 his son Carlisle, known as Carl, stopped up the mouths of potential gossips by enlisting in the army. Since Carl was by then a resident of Gary (and partner in a garage business there), even the fact that he had grown up mid-way between Ainsworth and Hobart couldn't get him onto the Gazette's Roll of Honor.


Sources:
♦ "Carl Dorman Joins the Army." Hobart Gazette 26 Oct. 1917.
♦ "Hold Good Patriotic Meeting." Hobart Gazette 19 Oct. 1917.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 4 Oct. 1917.
♦ "Makes Red Cross Donation." Hobart Gazette 5 Oct. 1917.
♦ "Speakers at Patriotic Rally Enthusiastically Received." Hobart News 18 Oct. 1917.
♦ "Town Board Doings." Hobart Gazette 12 Oct. 1917.