Celebrating History: A poem for Herbie Hoover

By Emily Mayer

The Montana Council of Defense issued a press release its “order” regarding people who were not working, “affecting loafing and idle men generally.” The Havre Plaindealer printed the information in its May 4, 1918, edition, which stated, in part:

The duty is hereby imposed on every adult person having the necessary physical and mental capacity and ability to do so, to work and engage in some legitimate occupation for at least five days during each calendar week for the period of the existing war.

Failure to do so would be considered a misdemeanor. Those not engaged...