For this episode of Nevada Experience, we decided to look at Nevada during the Great War — the five years between 1914 and 1919. When war erupted in Europe in 1914, Nevada paid it very little attention. Newspapers mentioned it occasionally but it was a distant event.

Of course for Nevada's immigrant population, the war in Europe was important. Nearly 24% of its population in 1910 were foreign-born. At the outbreak of hostilities, advertisements in papers around the state called upon Austrian and Serbian residents to return home to fight for their countries. State officials expressed concerned about the loyalty of foreign-born residents. Loyalty parades and flag-placing ceremonies became a popular expression of patriotism in many towns.

The start of the Great War coincided with the 1914 elections in Nevada. The state's economy was on the downside of its last boom cycle. Domestic issues certainly outweighed foreign problems. America as a whole wanted to remain neutral. Probably the biggest issue in this election was women's suffrage. Having passed two prior legislative hurtles, the issue was now up for the voters to decide — and the voters were all men. But Anne Martin and the women campaigning for suffrage targeted their effort in the small towns and rural counties.

Of the three candidates running for Governor in 1914, Emmet Boyle was the most interesting. He was the first native-born Nevadan to run for governor. He was born, raised, schooled, and worked in Nevada. He had one try at an elective office a few years earlier that was unsuccessful. But the leaders of the Democratic Party tapped him as their candidate.

The election of 1914 was a bit of a surprise. The incumbent (Tasker Oddie) lost to the newcomer (Emmet Boyle) and the male voters approved women's right to vote. Nevada seemed poised on the threshold of a new progressive era.

Boyle's first legislative session came in January 1915 and by all accounts it wasn't a pleasant experience for him. He was forced to sign bills he didn't want and failed to get many of the ones he did. Some pundits viewed him as "wishy-washy" on important issues. Later he would be accused a being a fence sitter.

But when it came to rallying the population behind President Wilson in 1917, Boyle found his leadership voice. He traveled across the state building support for the war effort. His critics and supports applauded him for his tireless efforts. He was both the voices of reason and patriotism.

Nevada became the first state to fill its quota for military service. It also led on the sale of war bonds. Loyalty parades became a regular feature in Nevada towns. Surprisingly, the state that once celebrated its ethnic diversity now looked with suspicion on its foreign-born population. The "America First" movement was began sweeping the nation found a home here.

Nevada sent some 4,700 young men to war, proportionally one of the highest involvements in the nation. The White Pine News on January 21, 1918 reported the draft registration of Nevada’s five largest counties as follows: Washoe 2,388, White Pine 2,124, Elko 1,529, Humboldt 1,176, and Nye 872.

At the war's end, one hundred and ninety-nine Nevada soldiers didn't return. Ninety-six died from influenza and other diseases, twenty died in accidents, and eighty-six died in battle.