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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago: State defense council plans ‘pitiless’ campaign against draft evaders

 (Spokesman-Review archives)

The Washington State Council of Defense was developing a new strategy against “slackers” (draft evaders). They planned a campaign of “pitiless publicity” against slackers, “not for merely now, but for years after the war is over.”

“If there are still half-hearted patriots in our midst, they will do well to spend some serious thought on the topic, ‘The Power of Public Opinion Properly Concentrated,’” said the council.

The council did not advocate “mob violence or other unlawful measures.” But it “is proposed to make it hard to forget the names of those who are unwilling to lend their moral and financial support to help shorten the struggle.”

From the film beat: A new Spokane motion picture company called Allied Film Corporation was preparing to release a series of scenic and educational films.

The first release, scheduled in two weeks, would be of “Spokane and Inland Empire news and scenic subjects.”

These films would be released under the name of Victory films, and were connected with the larger Titan Features Corp.

Charles B. Dreyer was in charge of production. He was “the laboratory expert for years with some of the best known studios in Los Angeles,” including those making the films of Charlie Chaplin.

The company was putting together a laboratory to develop their own film. About 15 employees would be hired, including some brought up from California.

The company planned to distribute their films to 35 theaters, already under contract.