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| Nameplate of the Sanders County Independent-Ledger, December 3, 1941 |
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| Sanders County Independent-Ledger, December 10, 1941, p1 |
I
expected the Pearl Harbor attack to be the major headline in the issue
following the attack, but there were no screaming headlines and only one direct
reference: a proclamation by the County Commissioners declaring “ourselves in
behalf of the people of this county, State of Montana, to be wholeheartedly in
support of our government and will do everything in our power and capacity to
repel, defeat and crush the enemy…” [1] There were two other articles related
to the consequences of the attack. One called “Defense Steps” talked about a
report written in late October or early November which concluded that while enemy
bombing of Sanders County was unlikely, sabotage was a concern, especially the
possibility that enemy agents could set forest fires thereby creating “a
serious hazard to airplane operations” [2] and destroying the timber supply. To
defend against this threat, another article informed readers that “The office
of the Sanders County Defense Commission will be held open from 9:00 A. M.
until 8:00 P. M. for the purpose of registering men for Guard Service in
Sanders County, bridges, power lines, etc.” [3] After a little thought, it
occurred to me that this issue was published on December 10, by which point
most people had probably heard details about the attack from the radio so why
would the newspaper spend precious space telling their readers what they
already knew?
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| Sanders County Independent-Ledger, May 20, 1942, p5 |
With
this local focus in mind, even the ads from national organizations seemed more
targeted. There was a map (above) of the Official U. S. Treasury War Bond Quotas for
May 1942 showing the amount to be raised by each Montana county. Meanwhile, the
War Production Board focused their scrap metal drives on heavy farm equipment.
Check out the bottom of this ad (below) where we learn what a tractor, a plow, a stove
and a pump were each turned into.
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| Sanders County Independent-Ledger, June 9, 1943, p5 |
From
how rubber and gas rationing was affecting business to the farm labor shortage,
this paper - instead of just announcing regulations and orders - reported their
consequences on the community. Still the country was at war, so of particular
interest were the local boys serving in the armed forces. “If you are one of
our subscribers and your son earns promotion let us know about it so we can
mention him with the rest of the boys whom we are proud of” declared the
newspaper. [4] Not only did they print draft registrations, enlistments,
commissions, and promotions, as the war continued, letters written by the
soldiers, sailors and airmen were printed. Occasionally these communications included
poetry, my personal favorite being this one by Dave Grant.
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| Sanders County Independent-Ledger, January 6, 1943, p1 |
Newspapers
provide a glimpse into another time, and that view is never more powerful than
when they show how big events impact their local communities.
[2]
Ibid
[3]
Ibid