Carl Arthur Pappe's Alien Status during WW I The Deming Headlight (Luna County, NM), 29 March 1918 This 1918 article attests to the strong anti-alien sentiment that existed during the World War I period. In spite of the objections made to the appointement of Carl Arthur Pappe (1883-1931) to head the bakery division of the State Food Administration, he eventually did hold that office. Carl Pappe, son of Karl Pappe of Leipzig (brother of Richard Sr., Albert L. and John Hermann Pappe) was naturalized as an American citizen in 1929. Appointment of German Reservist as Head of Bakery Division Stirs Huge Protest DEFENSE COUNCIL IS ACTIVE Matter to be Laid Before Federal Food Administration by Bernalillo County Committee The appointment of C.A. Pappe, a registered alien enemy, as head of the bakery division of the state food administration by Ralph C. Ely, federal food administrator of New Mexico, has aroused such a storm that it is liable to result in Mr. Ely's removal from office. Mr. Ely appointed Mr. Pappe last week and when the appointment became known the Bernalillo county counsel of defense met and considered it, when a committee, consisting of A.B. McMillen, Paul G. Reddington and Jesus Romero, was sent to bring Mr. Pappe's status to the attention of Mr. Ely and to ask that he appointment be rescinded. Other patriotic citizens, incensed at the action of the food administrator, called his attention to the fact that Mr. Pappe was an alien enemy and that he was registered with the German consul at Denver as a German reservist. As soon as Mr. Pappe heard that objections had been raised to his being head of the bakery division he tendered his resignation to Mr. Ely, and in accepting it the latter said that certain citizens had filed charges with him against Mr. Pappe, but this assertion was strenuously denied by those so credited by those so credited by Mr. Ely. It is understood that the Bernalillo county council of defense will take the matter up with the national food administration at Washington, looking to the possible removal of Mr. Ely from his office. A.B. McMillen, one of the committee appointed to take the matter up with Mr. Ely, made the following statement: "I was one of the committee of three appointed by the county council of defense to interview Mr. Ely and protest on behalf of the council against the appointment of Mr. Pappe because he was registered as an alien enemy, and was registered wit the German consul at Denver as a German reservist. "Mr. Ely attempted to discuss the good qualities of Mr. Pappe, as if it were a question of some disloyal act of Mr. Pappe's but was told that it was not so much what Mr. Pappe had or had not done, but was entirely a question of propriety of Mr. Ely appointing anyone to take part in the food administration who was known to be registered here as an alien enemy, and who had earlier registered with the German consul at Denver as a German reservist. "Mr. Ely, from his conversation with the committee, evidently takes the position that it is proper and commendable to appoint an alien enemy to assist him in the food administration. I think it is highly improper. "Mr. Ely did not deny that the records showed that Mr. Pappe was registered as an alien enemy, and had registered wit the German consul at Denver as a German reservist, but in his letter and statement in the Herald evades this fact. "Mr. Ely did also misrepresents the facts that when he states that objection was made because of Mr. Pappe's German birth. No such objection was made. "Mr. Ely stated to the committee as an excuse for his appointment of Mr. Pappe that there were only German bakers here, but had to acknowledge that at least some of them were American citizens." |
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