100 years ago in Spokane: German ‘aliens’ of various temperments submit to registration

The Spokane Daily Chronicle highlighted the two contrasting attitudes of “German alien” women who registered at the Spokane police station.

The first was described as a “vivacious and intensely patriotic ‘haus frau’ ” who was actually French. Six of her brothers were fighting for France and her father was a French army cook, she said. However, she was married to a German, which meant that she was considered a German alien.

She did not resent this, however, and she “accepted her anomalous rating and willingly submitted to registration.” She said her German husband opposed Prussian militarism as much as she did.

The second woman was described as a “full-fledged German woman of middle age, who rebelled bitterly against the presidential edict and its requirements.”

She told the man taking her fingerprints, “Ach, I wish I was back in Germany now.”

The fingerprint expert replied that he wished she was, too.

The Chronicle estimated that there were still at least 100 German women who had not yet registered.

Also on this date

(From Associated Press)

1377: King Edward III died after ruling England for 50 years; he was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II.

1989: A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag as a form of political protest was protected by the First Amendment.