By 1918 the U.S. was fully involved in World War I and anti-German sentiment ran high. Early that year the Alien Enemy Act was codified by Congress, authorizing the President to “apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove as alien enemies all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being of the age of fourteen years and upward, who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized.” The full text of most of the articles quoted below can be found in the Library of Congress database, Chronicling America. Images of the Santa Cruz Patagonian are available on The Patagonia Museum website: www.thepatagoniamuseum.org. The Alien Registration Affadavits can be viewed at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/294758
Local newspapers included articles on President Woodrow Wilson’s orders for “The registration of all German aliens … throughout the entire United States beginning on February 4, and continuing to the evening of February 9. All males 14 years old or over of German descent and not actually naturalized as an American citizen were required to register.”
The articles also cautioned that “registrants are not to be treated as persons of evil disposition, and the registration officers are urged to deal with them in a courteous and friendly manner” (The Border Vidette, 2/2/1918). Misunderstandings of the registration
regulations resulted in delays. In Bisbee “German alien enemies who appeared at registration headquarters in the city hall failed to have photographs. And… many Austrian appeared for registration, although the rules do not provide for their registration” (Bisbee daily review, 2/6/1918). The registration deadline was extended, and by June, women
were required to register.
The newspapers did not report on the number of aliens registered in Santa Cruz County. The National Archives Catalog contains images of 179 Arizona alien registration affidavits which provide a glimpse into a few locals, including Leonides Faerber, a 50-year-old widow
living at 305 Cavalry Hill in Nogales. Her late husband Pedro Faerber was born in Germany. Leonides’ 20-year-old daughter Mathilde also registered. Alfred Henry Kass, age 20, was living on James L. Finley’s ranch in Canille [Canelo]. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Alfred listed two half-brothers who were fighting in the German army. Enriqueta Moritz, age
36, living at 112 Dunbar St., Nogales, whose father Enrique was born in Hamburg, Germany also registered.
The anti-German sentiment prompted many German American men to enlist. Alfred Kass filed his naturalization papers on 9/30/1918 and registered for the draft that same month. U.S. German-language newspapers were shut down, German-language church services discontinued, and the hamburger was renamed the “liberty burger.” Thankfully, pinochle was determined to have originated with Anthony and Cleopatra. “It’s all right, brother, and the boys in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, and other sporting centers can resume their evening sessions over the green tablecloths with “pinochle” as the piece de resistance without fear of being accused of a too friendly regard for the Kaiser. Pinochle isn’t German
at all!” (The Santa Cruz Patagonian, 2/15/1918).
The Border Vidette included an article about, and a membership application for, the 100 Per Cent American Club. “Continual activity of German spies operating through Nogales between the United States and Mexico has brought into existence a new patriotic society …to which all American men and women of Nogales and vicinity are eligible for membership.” The club president was Wirt G. Bowman, who had recently opened the new Bowman hotel building in Nogales. (The Border Vidette, 1/5/1918). The Club arranged a parade in Phoenix in early May to “mark the close of the Liberty Loan drive. An audience is not desired. Only marchers. You can’t be 100 per cent Americans and stand on the side lines these days. We’re in the game” (Arizona Republican, 5/21918). Mr. Bowman also participated in at least one law enforcement activity. “Yesterday C. S. Oliver, of the Department of Justice, and Wirt G. Bowman, president of the One Hundred Per Cent American Club, went out on the river, near the Harrison ranch, and captured a man wanted in Douglas on a federal charge. The man admitted the officers had the proper ‘dope’ on him.” (The Border Vidette, 4/6/1918)