USA > Indiana > Jefferson County > Jefferson County in the World War : an historical and sociological study of one Indiana county during the war period, 1917-1918 > Part 5
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VIII. RED CROSS WAR WORK.
The Red Cross "chapter" which was the local organiza- tion in each county, carried on two lines of work-the war work and the "Home Service." The first meant the activities in which so many women throughout the land were engaged -the preparing of surgical supplies and the making of gar- ments and other articles for the comfort and convenience of the men at the front or in the hospitals. The other was, as the name adopted indicated, a service to those at home, and concerned itself with the families of the soldiers and sailors.
The first war work done, as said before, was prior to our entering the war, when several boxes of clothing, a barrel of "comfort bags," and other articles were made and donated by the women of Madison. Also, French orphans were adopt- ed by the following persons and groups :
Kings Daughters Circle, North Madison, one orphan for 2 years; Mrs. Edward E. Powell, two for 2 years; Daily & Roth clerks, one for 3 years; First Presbyterian Church mis- sionary society, one for 1 year; Second Presbyterian Church missionary society, one for 2 years; Mrs. Elizabeth R. Trow, one for 2 years; Miss Frances Ross, one for 1 year; Mrs. Jennie V. Johnson, one for 1 year ; John Paul chapter, D. A. R., one for 2 years; Madison Lodge No. 21, Knights of Pythias, one for indefinite period; J. W. Cornett and Miss Agnes Cor- nett, three for -; Twelve Friends, one for 2 years; Child- ren of public schools of Madison (sale of tin-foil) one for 2 years; Camp Fire Girls, two for 2 years; Friends, three for 2 years.
The authority to form a Red Cross chapter was granted May 1, 1917, the organization to be known as "The Jefferson County (Ind.) Chapter," and to have for its jurisdiction the whole county.
Branches and auxiliaries established at different times throughout the county to make the work county-wide, were
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Jefferson County in the World War.
Manville, Hanover and Kent, July 1917; Deputy and Brooks- burg, September 1917; Cragmont, November 1917; Bryants- burg, January 1918; Dupont, Saluda and Home Chapel, Feb- ruary 1918; Canaan, March 1918; Monroe church and Mid- dlefork, May 1918; Smyrna, June 1918; Wirt, September 1918; Pleasant Ridge, Mt. Pleasant Church, North Madison and Rykers Ridge, dates not ascertained.
The report covering the work accomplished from June 1917, to April 1919, is as follows :
Knitted articles sent to Cleveland divisional headquar- ters: Sweaters, 808; socks, 1,880 pairs; mufflers, 83; wrist- lets, 156 pairs ; helmets, 55.
Knitted articles sent to Camp Shelby and Camp Zachary Taylor, for Jefferson County soldiers: Sweaters, 68; socks, 109 pairs ; helmets, 91; wristlets, 82 pairs.
Other articles shipped: Surgical dressings, 73,545; hos- pital supplies, 10,838; filled comfort kits, 75; refugee gar- ments, 1,397; layettes, 43; linen shower, 810 articles.
In three drives for old clothes for refugees, under Mrs. Margaret Stapp and Miss Leah Kronenberger, the results were: First drive, three large boxes; second drive, 1980 pounds ; third drive, 890 pounds.
It must be remembered that this output was contributed by the branches over the county as well as by the central organization in Madison. The records show returns from Rykers Ridge, Hanover, Manville, Deputy, North Madison, Brooksburg, Dupont, Kent, Pleasant Ridge, Mt. Pleasant Church, Home Church, Bryantsburg, Saluda, Canaan, Monroe Church, Middlefork and Cragmont, the seven first named be- ing in the lead.
School children, also, with Miss Mary Frances Hargan as director, sent in much sewing of the simpler kind in 1919, and later an attempt to organize the Junior Red Cross result- ed in contributions, chiefly from the Madison and Dupont schools.
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The Red Cross.
HOME SERVICE SECTION.
The Home Service department of the Red Cross had for its aim, as before said, the amelioration of the hardships frequently suffered by families of soldiers and sailors by reas- on of the men being called into the service. The situation thus created, common to all wars, was made much more com- plicated than ever before in this country by policies or meth- ods hitherto untried. For example, the government for the first time assumed a jurisdiction over its men as to their family responsibilities. If a man was married the support of his family was made compulsory, and this was accomplish- ed by withholding a part of his monthly pay as an "allot- ment." If he had other dependents, such as parents, they would be provided for in the same way if he chose. In addi- tion to this allotment out of his wages he could apply for an "allowance," which was a clear gift of money from the gov- ernment, to be added to the allotment. The government sim- plified the matter for the soldier by paying him his wage less the amounts deducted and forwarding to his dependents what was due them. The system was complicated by a varying schedule of the sums that could be drawn by dependents of different classes.
There was also a system of life insurance and compen- sation for disabilities, the latter with its sliding schedule, and a plan for rehabilitation and vocational training of men injured in the service, all of which added vastly to the enor- mous bulk of business assumed by the government. When these several systems came to be worked out in practice with an army that numbered into the millions, some in this coun- try, some across the ocean, and all in a state of flux and change, the task proved truly herculean; and when in addi- tion the vastly increased army of government employes in the clerical work was of necessity a large percentage ineffic- ient the difficulties seemed insuperable.
The chief and most acute trouble that ensued was the frequent failure of dependents to receive their allotments and
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Jefferson County in the World War.
allowances with anything like promptness and in many an instance a wife and children went for months without in- come. Had there been no relief agency it is obvious that in very many cases these families would simply have been de- pendent upon charity until their money would finally come. Also, insurance, compensation and other phases of business had their difficulties of adjustment.
Thus the Red Cross, wise enough to foresee these con- tingencies, established its branch of "Home Service" for the primary purpose of seeing to it that the dependents of sol- diers and sailors should not suffer, whatever the contingen- cy. Its argument was that not only was this in accordance with the higher standard of justice to which we had grown, but that relief to the men from family worries would be the greatest of all factors in keeping up morale. The real and direct usefulness of the Red Cross in its Home Service, as well as in its other functions, to the government is implied by the close inter-working of the two, this agency receiving gov- ernmental recognition accorded to no other.
The work of the Home Service Section did not cease with the signing of the armistice nor even with the return of the men to their families, for not only did the same troubles con- tinue during the period of demobilization, but questions of compensation, bonuses, liberty bonds and other matters that were bewildering to a great many of the men have had to be dealt with up to the present time, and it is only fair to say that much of the confusion would never be straightened out but for the services of the Red Cross.
As stated elsewhere the Home Service was organized in February of 1918 with Mrs. W. O. McLelland as chairman and Mrs. Elizabeth Rea as secretary. The records show that between April, 1918, and November, 1919, about 964 cases were handled and money relief had been given to the amount of $759.58. The services rendered have been: Helping to ad- just allotments and allowances: Tracing liberty bonds; Re- bates from the government; Requests for clothing (uni-
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The Red Cross.
forms, equipments, etc.) ; Requests for men's discharge from service; Insurance (collecting and re-insuring) ; Applications for vocational training; Hospital treatment; Information, investigation and other assistance usually given by Home Service.
The work is still carried on and instead of decreasing it now requires the full time of a trained and paid secretary, Miss Cora Mullen, who since November 18, 1919, has occupied the position. Prior to that Miss Mullen had also served as volunteer corresponding secretary.
This organization also was instrumental in establishing the canteen service and a Red Cross hospital in the Elks' Home in November of 1918, during the influenza epidemic. In this hospital 165 patients were cared for.
RED CROSS CANTEEN.
The Red Cross Canteen was organized in September, 1918, by young women of Madison, all members of the Emma Scott Circle of Kings Daughters. The purpose of this group was to "do its bit" by cheerful little services to the home soldiers as opportunity offered. Those boys who entrained after the above date have sunny recollections of the Red Cross "bunch" in their smart, tidy uniforms, who served them, without money and without price, with chocolate and fruits, and also with stamped postcards and pencils as remind- ers to drop word back to their folks as soon as they arrived at their destination. When Battery E., after the war, returned in a body, the Red Cross girls were among the first to welcome them.
The Canteen continued its work until early 1919, and on its disbandment turned into the Red Cross about twenty- five dollars which it had made by selling paper shopping bags. The girls furnished their own uniforms.
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IX. RED CROSS WORKERS.
Those who contributed personal volunteer service to the Red Cross were so numerous that to mention all by name is impossible and if in the following lists there are omissions they are unintentional.
The original chapter officers were: Chairman, Rev. J. W. Turner; vice chairman, Rev. M. L. Guthneck; secretary, Miss Cora Mullen ; treasurer, J. W. Cornett ; directors, Dr. J. W. Turner, J. W. Cornett, Curtis Marshall, Mrs. W. O. McLel- land, Mrs. E. B. Sheldon, M. C. Garber, W. A. Guthrie, Rev. M. L. Guthneck, Dr. W. A. Millis, Dr. J. M. Milligan, Mrs. Elizabeth Trow, Miss Cora Mullen, Clifford Mckay, W. L. Hill, Edward Roberts, Mrs. Ora Fuelling, Charles Horuff, Jas. E. Crozier, Richard Johnson, Miss A. Almond and Mrs. Eliz- abeth Rea. Subsequent changes in the board of directors in- cluded in that body Rev. W. W. Logan, J. L. Schofield, Jesse Salyers, E. E. Scott, Prof. Guy Pender and Miss Carolyn Ford. In January, 1919, Rev. W. W. Logan succeeded Rev. J. W. Turner as chairman of the chapter, and Miss Carolyn Ford was elected secretary succeeding Miss Mullen, resigned. Later Herbert Lyon became treasurer in place of J. W. Cor- nett, resigned.
The Home Service branch of the chapter was formed in February, 1918, with Mrs. W. O. McLelland chairman and Mrs. Elizabeth Rea executive secretary. J. W. Cornett, Dr. Geo. E. Denny, H. H. Cope and Joseph Schofield completed the committee.
The committee in charge of shops prior to our entrance into the war consisted of Mrs. Elizabeth Trow, Miss Mary Hill and Mrs. Samuel M. Ford. After June, 1917, Mrs. Trow was chairman with Miss Margaret Harper as secretary and Miss Agnes Cornett treasurer.
The Surgical Dressings work had for supervisor Mrs. G. W. Rains, instructors being Mrs. J. L. Schofield, Mrs. W. L.
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The Red Cross.
Luckett, Mrs. A. W. Glauber, Miss Mary Hill, Miss Carolyn Ford, Miss Agnes Cornett, Miss Emma Stanley, and Miss Caroline Blankinship, with Mrs. Ora B. Fuelling, instructor for the Kent branch. Chairmen of knitting committees were, Mrs. S. M. Ford and Mrs. M. C. Garber.
Three drives for old clothing for refugees were conduct- . ed by Mrs. Margaret Stapp and Miss Leah Kronenber- ger, and a "linen shower" by Mrs. A. M. Graham.
The personnel of the sewing and garment shop was: Chairman, Mrs. Margaret M. Stapp; vice-chairman, Mrs. Geo. Gabel; cutting committee, Mrs. Emma Middleton, Mrs. Frank Eckert, Mrs. Clarence Oliver, Miss Barbara Keller and Miss Margaret Mullen. Miss Mary Horuff had charge of the sew- ing room and Miss Sallie Gallagher was chairman for the snip pillow work.
Mrs. Nicholas Harper was chairman of the committee that took in hand the influenza situation, and Miss Helen Lauer was chairman of the canteen service, with the follow- ing co-workers: Miss Bess Davison, Miss Anne Harper, Mrs. M. H. Cochrane, Jr., Miss Gladys Grayson, Mrs. Glen Forry, Mrs. Melvin Blackard, Miss Agnes Donlan, Mrs. Alvin Hol- sclaw, Miss Antoinette Keller, Miss Lillian Shaughnessy, Miss Gertrude Rousch and Miss Frieda Lotz. Other members of the Emma Scott Circle of the Kings Daughters also aided in the canteen work.
Miss Katherine Mullen, Miss Georgine Yunker, Mrs. Wm. G. Rogers, Mrs. Champ Kahn, Miss Leah Kronenberger, Mrs. H. B. Foster, Miss Mary Pitcher and the Kings Daughters contributed in various ways to the entertainments and other enterprises for the benefit of the Red Cross. Mrs. Charles Hillabold, Miss Mary Hill, Mrs. Frank Eckert, Mrs. John In- glis, Mrs. A. M. Graham, Mrs. Elias J. Scott, Mrs. J. R. Col- gate, Mrs. John W. Tevis, and Miss Mabel Housefield conduct- ed a Red Cross booth at the Chautauqua grounds, August 5 to 12, 1917, and in the "tobacco drive" of February, 1918, previously referred to, were Miss Georgine Yunker, Mrs. W.
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Jefferson County in the World War.
G. Rogers, Miss Helen Johnson, Miss Corinne Johnson, Miss Madeline Laidley, Mrs. R. W. Cochran, Mrs. H. W. Graham, Mrs. Fred Herbst, Mrs. Samuel Boyd, Mrs. W. Luckett, Miss Agnes Cornett, Miss Frances Ross, Miss Adelaide Jones, Mrs. Chas. Hillabold, Mrs. Thomas McGregor, Mrs. Chas. Craw- ford, Mrs. Oliver Roe, Mrs. Elmer E. Scott, Mrs. Otto Rott, Miss Lide White, Mrs. J. J. Rapp, Mrs. W. O. McLelland, Mrs. John Clements, Mrs. G. E. Simpson and Mrs. Gale Crozier.
The fifteen Red Cross branches and auxiliaries through- out the county were organized as follows :
Brooksburg: Chairman, Mrs. Armetta B. Calvert; vice- chairman, Miss Nancy Mckay; treasurer, Clifford Mckay; secretary, Mrs. Lulie A. Brooks.
Bryantsburg: Chairman, Miss Hallie Royce; treasurer, Miss Mayme Chambers ; secretary, Mrs. John S. Murphy.
Canaan: Chairman, Mrs. Marion Wilkins; vice-chairman, Mrs. Lydia Land; treasurer, Thomas Buchanan; secretary, Mrs. B. O. Cornwall.
Cragmont: Chairman, Dr. Frances G. Hankins ; treasur- er, Harry A. Fries; secretary, Mrs. J. M. Milligan.
Deputy : Chairman, Mrs. Dell Robertson; vice-chairman, Mrs. Hiram Foster; treasurer, F. A. Anderson; secretary, Merle Hord.
Dupont: Chairman, Mrs. W. M. O'Neel; vice-chairman, Mrs. Mattie Richardson; treasurer, Miss Agnes E. Wilson; secretary, Mrs. Vincent Shepherd.
Hanover: Chairman, H. M. Rogers; vice-chairman, Mrs. Chas. Schmidlapp; treasurer, Dr. Carl Henning; secretary, Miss Jennie G. Lee.
Home Chapel: Chairman, Mrs. Minnie Brooks; treasur- er, Mrs. Christine Demaree; secretary, Stanley Demaree.
Kent: Chairman, Mrs. Jessie G. Crosby; vice-chairman, Mrs. Ora Fuelling; treasurer, Miss Ada Mount; secretary, Miss Mary Hensler.
Manville: Chairman, Mrs. Thomas Pommerehn; treas- urer, Mrs. Martin Brown; secretary, Mrs. James Sheets,
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The Red Cross.
Middlefork: Chairman, Mrs. Ethel Craig; treasurer, George H. Dryden; secretary, Miss Edith Harrell.
Monroe Church: Chairman, Mrs. Emma Nicklaus; treas- urer, Mrs. Rose Wilson; secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Elliott.
Saluda: Chairman, Mrs. Eva B. Wells; treasurer, Mrs. Mabelle Mills ; secretary, Miss Ora Hearn.
Smyrna : Chairman, Mrs. E. Jeffries ; vice-chairman, Mrs. J. Underwood ; treasurer, Mrs. J. Borcherding ; secretary, Miss Mary Officer.
Wirt: Chairman, Mrs. J. D. Bramwell; vice-chairman, Mrs. John Corya; treasurer, C. B. Hoefling; secretary, Miss Hazel Black.
In the various Red Cross drives many men and women gave freely of their time as speakers and canvassers and in other capacities. To secure a complete list of them is now impossible, but it would include the following :
Elmer E. Scott, chairman of the various drives; Rev. J. W. Turner, Rev. W. W. Logan, Nicholas Harper, Chas. N. Horuff, L. E. Hitz, Richard Johnson, Geo. Schwab, Geo. A. Monroe, Robt. Yunker, Graham Ross, Howard Graham, W. G. Rogers, R. L. Ireland, Walter Caplinger, Edward Reed, Jas. Wood, Wilbur Bear, Geo. W. Frank, Earl Miller and Geo. Austermuhle, all of Madison.
In the drive of January, 1918, township canvassers were: Graham, Mrs. Hiram Foster; Hanover, Miss Jennie Lee; Lan- caster, Miss Agnes Wilson; Madison, Howard Douglas and C. G. Boerner ; Milton, Albert Rogers and Clifford Mckay; Monroe, John Paugh; Republican, Mrs. Ora Fuelling; Saluda, Dr. Robt. A. J. McKeand; Shelby, Jesse Salyers; Smyrna, Mrs. Walter Ritchie.
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X.
BUSINESS EFFECTS.
Not the least interesting phase of the great war was its effects upon the industries and prosperity of the community. These effects were too complex and too far-reaching to be traced with anything like thoroughness, but the obvious, more immediate results may be noted.
Conspicuous among the war industries and of especial interest at the time because the money involved was directly distributed to local workers was the government sewing for the Jeffersonville station. According to a report of the Com- mercial Club, to Mr. J. E. Crozier, the mayor of Madison, belonged "the credit for the splendid new enterprise." Mr. Crozier secured the work from the depot quartermaster and the material and garments were for some time hauled back and forth by trucks between Jeffersonville and Madison. The advantage offered by this sewing was that women could take it to their own homes and work at their convenience.
There was some trouble at first in getting as many work- ers as were wanted, especially in the city of Madison and at Milton, across the river, but in time these increased to over two thousand, partly due to Mayor Crozier's soliciting. The headquarters at the city hall became one of the busiest places in the city with its daily throngs receiving material or deliv- ering finished garments. The output of these sewers amount- ed to many thousands of articles, and the wages paid out averaged, in 1917, $8,512, and in 1918, $13,209.17 per month. The papers have frequent notices of huge truck loads of fin- ished goods shipped to Jeffersonville, and we have an account of the steamboat Catherine, "loaded to the guards" with ap- proximately 3,000 bundles of garments.
In March, 1918, through the efforts of Mr. Crozier back- ed by the Commercial Club a sub-station was established at Madison which facilitated the industry. The report on which we draw for the above affirms that "as a business proposition
Business Effects.
the government sub-station was one of the biggest things brought to Madison in recent years."
The annual reports of the Commercial Club throw further light on the business conditions of the community. Much money found its way into the county and merchants reported trade as active throughout the war period, while factories were running full capacity, a number of them stimulated by war orders. The large demand for food stuffs and the con- sequent high prices enhanced land values and created a brisk real estate trade in farms. The agricultural propaganda re- sulted, for one thing, in a banner wheat crop for 1918, and the phenomenal prices for tobacco caused a great expansion in the crop that found its way to the Madison warehouses. An estimated value of the sales for 1918 put it at more than $2,- 000,000, and this was duplicated in 1919. It is stated that in 1917 the aggregate deposits of the local banks and trust com- panies increased several hundred thousands of dollars, and this evidence of prosperity has continued.
On the other hand there were certain social and indus- trial detriments arising from the war conditions. Along with the increased business and the removal from the county of approximately 700 young men for military service went a scarcity of labor. From the beginning to the present the cost of living has steadily increased to the hardship of many whose incomes have not correspondingly increased.
The interference with the normal coal trade worked hard- ships alike on dealers and consumers, and, so far as can be seen, had no compensating features. On account of the high price of materials and the diverting of energy to the "essen- tial" industries building was virtually suspended and road improvement much retarded.
In the way of industrial stimulus, several businesses se- cured war orders. The Bear Brothers' Lumber Company re- ceived an order for 3,000,000 tent pegs and other orders for tree nails, or locust pins, used in ship building, to the number of eight or ten millions, these war orders affording employ-
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Jefferson County in the World War.
ment to about four times as many men as the pre-war work.
The Schofield Woolen mill filled orders aggregating 40,- 000 army blankets. As the pre-war work was discontinued this did not involve an increase of the working force.
The flour mill of the W. Trow Company furnished flour to the United States Food Administration to the amount of 58 car loads, or 21,000 barrels. The Taylor-Hitz Flouring Company supplied 2,850 barrels. The statement of these firms is that while the government restriction of prices was a hand- icap to business the war period was, on the whole, one of pros- perity.
The wholesale groceries of Cofield-Barber and The E. E. Scott Company agree in the statement that on account of the government regulation of prices their business suffered. They were restricted to 10% margin on the commodities hand- led; it took 81/2% to conduct the business, and this left 11/2% net profit. On sugar the profit was 25 cents per hundred- weight.
The Tower Manufacturing tack factory was devoted to the making of hob nails for shoes, first for the French gov- ernment, then, after April, 1917, for the United States. After the latter date the factory ran thirteen and one-half hours per day, producing each day eighteen to twenty thousand nails, the aggregrate output being about 3,000 tons. The cessation of war activities left them with two carloads of nails on hand and something like 300 tons of hobnail plate-enough to supply their normal demand for sixty years. Fortunate- ly for them the steel strike made a market for this overplus. There was little increase in the number of employes, the nor- mal domestic work being suspended during the war work.
The Columbus Handle and Tool Company supplied the sawed material for tree-nails or ship pins of hickory and lo- cust to the amount of about 60 carloads. The normal work was suspended, and there was little increase of the working force.
The Thomas Graham Company spoke factory filled orders
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Business Effects.
for spokes and felloes for artillery carriages and escort wag- ons to the number of about 29,000 wheels. For 18 months the business was 95% government work, and the number of employes was practically doubled.
The Geo. J. Hummell and Ben. Schroeder saddle-tree factories both filled government orders for saddle-trees, both direct and by sub-contracts. The Hummells made 8,000 or 10,000 altogether during the war, most of which went to Louisville, where they were made up into saddles. The in- crease of employes over pre-war times was to 25 as against 15. The Schroeder factory made between 4,000 and 5,000 trees, and the working force was increased from 5 to 15 men.
ECONOMIC AFTERMATH.
The economic aftermath of the war has been so phenom- enal that it calls for comment, although the causes are so in- tangible that any analysis of the situation must be colored largely by individual opinion with which others might not agree.
Briefly, the facts seem to be that the unprecedented disturbance arising from the withdrawal of such vast num- bers of men from industrial pursuits and the substituting of war industries for those that make for the maintenance of life, has disarranged economic laws as never before, and the disturbance has been so profound that now, after the armies of soldiers have returned to the pursuits of peace the eco- nomic world seems running in purposeless chaos like a wild sea after the lashing of the tempest.
Everything is in a state of reaction. The sublime hero- ism to which the nation was keyed up when aroused by the outrages of the unspeakable Hun-the stupendous outpour- ing of money and of personal service given without stint, is followed by a universal scramble for money in which the thought for others is, apparently, wholly swallowed up by the thought of self. The conspicuous sin of the day is the one known as "profiteering" or the wringing of gain to the
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Jefferson County in the World War.
uttermost from every opportunity. A curious psychological element has been a feeder to this profiteering tendency, and it is this:
The abnormal conditions created by the war educated people to demands of many kinds that seemed extortionate, until they virtually ceased to protest because to protest was useless. Those whose first business was to make a profit off their fellows were quick to take advantage of this enforced acquiescence and exploit it to the utmost with an ever-in- creasing pressure of the screw. The public to the present day is bled white for the necessities of life, and only those escape the hardship of it who can profiteer in' turn. Hence all along the line, from the unskilled laborer to the expert and special- ist the situation is worked for all it will yield. Money comes easy and goes easy, the extravagance of all classes is a mat- ter of common note, and the pendulum has not yet turned for the backward stroke.
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