USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 56
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Col. J. O. Barrett in his biography of "Old Abe, " says, that "one of the practical methods to raise money at the Milwaukee Soldiers' Home Fair was by the sale of 'Old Abe's' pictures. In the years to come, after he has 'gone to glory,' these will be of peculiar interest to new generations that read and ponder over our late war of rival civilizations, " and, we may add, they will be treasured as valuable souvenirs of the times. The sale of pictures, biog- raphies, feathers and tickets of admission to his kingly presence produced the great sum of $105,000 at this fair, for the benefit of the "Branch home of the National Asylum for Volunteer Sokliers established at Milwaukee," which was later taken over by the United States Government, and by the state of Wisconsin.
Perhaps the most important function at which "Old Abe" ever assisted after the close of the war was at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, where he was one of the most popular attractions of that great Fair. Afterwards he was returned to his home in Wisconsin and lived in comfort for the few remaining years of his life in his quarters at the state house.
Death of "Old Abe," Wisconsin's War Eagle .- On March 26, ISSI, a fire occurred in the state house at Madison, and although the flames did not reach the quarters occupied by the eagle, his cage was filled with smoke from the fire. His keeper resened him from the place and brought him out into the open air, but the suffocating fumes had been inhaled and the eagle did not rally from their effects. He died in spite of all efforts to save his life, having attained the age of about twenty years. A taxidermist was employed who set up the body which was preserved among the war relies in the state house. Here it remained for nearly a quarter of a century, or until February, 1904, when
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another fire broke out in the same building which consumed the remains of "Old Abe" utterly. This fire originated in the memorial room of the Grand Army of the Republic, and at this time the fire consumed many other precions relies of the war, among them the priceless battle flags and other cherished memorials gathered there.
There is quite an abundant literature extant concerning the famous war eagle of Wisconsin, consisting of Colonel Barrett's biography, and mmerons articles and poems written in his honor. His memory is a proud possession of the people of Wisconsin as well as of the nation, of which he was for so long the living emblem.
Wisconsin in the World War .- The war record of Wisconsin may not go as far back into antiquity as that of the older states in the Union. but it is a glorious one. All the wars of the republic, with the exception of those ocenrring before the territory and state came into existence, have been partici- pated in by the people of Wisconsin with credit to themselves and to the state from which they hailed. We have already written of previous wars and now it is our duty and privilege to dwell upon the share borne by Wisconsin and her people in the great World war which ended on Armistice Day. November 11, 1918.
Like the people of the other states of the American republic the people of Wisconsin had no thought in the beginning of the World war in 1914 that 'there might be any interruption to their peaceful pursuits as a consequence of the tremendous crash of arms in Europe. But lawless and illegal warfare soon riveted the attention of our far away spectators of the awful seenes trans- piring on those distant fields of carnage, which seemed to threaten the very foundations of all civilized institutions.
The work, entitled "Wisconsin in the World War, " remarks upon the stage of events when Ameriea was being slowly drawn into the war. "The people of Wisconsin wanted peace, but the fighting blood of those pioneers who founded the commonwealth slowly became aroused." The sinking of the Lusitania sent a shudder of horror through the hearts of the people. The brutalities of the invasion of Belgium and of the northern provinces of France by the Germans in their war-mad fury, the repeated outrages on the sea in the destruction of neutrals and non-combatants, the reckless sinking of the passenger ships of all nations, at last compelled our President to send a warlike message to Congress which was promptly followed by a declaration that a state of war existed between the United States and Germany.
Foreshadowing the World War .- The President's message to Congress which he delivered in person on April 2, 1917, is one of the mose eloquent doenments ever issued by a chief magistrate of the nation. In it was con- tained the case against Germany set forth in the most convineing language and also that memorable sentence, "the world must be made sale for democracy."
The president asked Congress to declare "the recent course of the Imperial German government to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States," and that it "take immediate steps not only to put the country in a more thorough state of defense. but to exert all its
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powers and employ all its resources to bring the government of the German empire to terms and end the war."
The same evening both houses of Congress prepared a joint resolution de- elaring the existence of a state of war between the United States and Germany. The resolution was referred to appropriate committees in both houses. On the next day, the 3d, the senate resolution came up and efforts were made to pass it at onee in accordance with the recommendation of its foreign affairs committee, but.Senator Robert M. La Follette, of Wisconsin, objeeted, and the resolution went over until the following day, the 4th, when it was again taken up. On this oeeasion Senator La Follette spoke for three hours against the resolution. The resolution was passed by both houses and approved by the President on April 6, 1917. This date marks the beginning of the war between this country and Germany.
Response of the States .- How Wisconsin in common with her sister states responded to the appeal contained in this declaration will be told, all too briefly, in the following pages. The story of the heroism of the men who marched away to the camps in preparation for the approaching confliet cannot be adequately told here, but some mention must be made of the glorious services, on land and sea, of those men, many of whom now sleep under the blood-stained soil of foreign battlefields. So also of those patriotic men and women who threw themselves into the work at home and made possible the victories which at length caused the surrender of the aggressive hosts of the furious invaders.
"Wisconsin gave its all for a righteous war," writes Mr. Pixley in his volume, "and when the final page is written this state, your state and mine, will be awarded its part in the glory, which will be apportioned, share and share alike, to the sisterhood of states."
Marshaling the Forces .- In Mr. Pixley's book may be found a very com- plete enumeration of the forces which composed Wiseonsin's contribution in men and material to the great armies that hastened to the battle zones in Europe. They did not all get there but they were ready for the call and formed the potential reserves that had so great a part in eventually winning the victory. In the old wars a regiment of troops consisted of 1,000 men when at full strength, but in this later war the French formations were adopted and a regiment was regarded nominally as somewhat under 2,000 men.
In the selective service law passed by Congress this state began its work by making use of the elective machinery already in existence, and thereby gained a long start in the preparatory stages. The First regiment of infantry after having completed its organization was placed under the command of Col. John P. Joachim of Madison, the Second under Col. Wilbur M. Lee of Oconto, the Third under Col. John Turner of Manston, the Fourth under Col. Robert R. MeCoy of Sparta, the Fifth under Col. Peter Piaseeki of Milwaukee, and the Sixth under Col. Marshall Cousins of Eau Claire.
Besides these there were organized many units of cavalry, artillery, engineers, signal corps, and other units necessary in the general formations. At the head of the military organization of the state were Adjutant-General Orlando Holway, Brigadier-General C. R. Boardman, and Brigadier-General
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R. A. Richards, though changes occurred in the later periods of the war. Governor E. L. Philipp was the efficient head of the entire system both civil and military, and ranks in the historical record with the previous great war governors of the state.
Four months after America entered the war, that is on August 1, 1917, General Holway was able to report that the National Guard had been recruited to its war strength of 15,266 men, consisting of the following organizations: six regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, one of artillery, one bat- talion of signal corps, one of engineers, two field hospital companies, and two ambulance companies. Many of these organizations were afterward changed, some disbanded and some merged with others, thus increasing the efficiency of the entire army of Wisconsin soldiers.
The historian of Wisconsin's war activities, Mr. Pixley, pays a heartfelt tribute to Adjutant-General Holway. In the course of his remarks he says, "a born soldier, it is certain that he longed for the opportunity to accompany Wisconsin troops to the front. Instead he remained at his post. * * * Other men were given the glory and returned to hear the applause which they so well earned on the field of battle, but those who understood what his duties were will applaud this quiet master of them all, who sent 20,000 men fully equipped into the field. men fit to represent the proudest sovereignty on earth. Men fought better because of him, men copied his quiet courage and faeed death with less fear because of his example. Ile belongs in the roster of Wisconsin's heroes of 1917 and 1918, and history will place him there."
War Aids at Home .- The State Council of Defense was created by an aet of the Legislature soon after the United States became involved in the World war. This was followed by another act empowering the Council of Defense to meet certain emergencies, to take possession in the name of the state of all supplies "necessary for the common defense or for general public welfare." and to pay therefor "just compensation to be determined by said Council of Defense." This included taking over such buildings and warehouses as might be found necessary.
On April 20, a bill was passed to proteet soldiers and sailors in the service of the United States during the period of their service from civil process. Likewise a bill was passed to provide aid for dependents of men in the service. Adequate appropriations accompanied these measures.
After the adjourment of the Legislature on July 16, it was considered expedient to call a special session. This was done by Governor Philipp and February 19, 1918, was designated as the date of its assemblage. Many im- portant measures were mentioned in the program for the special session. Among these were: an aet authorizing the state to borrow money "to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the state in time of war" (thus providing a means of replenishing the state treasury, if found necessary, for equipping the National Guard), "to amend the laws relative to voting by electors absent from the state on account of military service:" "to authorize increase of teachers' salaries during the war;" "to enaet laws relating to sedition;" "to amend the banking laws to enable banks to qualify as depositories for goverment funds" (this was to aid the sale of Liberty bonds).
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The special session took np the war legislation recommended by the gover- nor, and many measures were passed in aid of the war. One of the bills passed was as follows: "No person shall print, publish, edit, issue or know- ingly eireulate, sell, distribute or publicly display any paper, book, document, or written or printed matter in any form, which advocates, or attempts to advocate, or advises or teaches that citizens of this state of military age should not enlist in the military or naval forces of the United States or of this state. No person shall in any public place or at any meeting where more than five persons are assembled, advocate, teach or advise that citizens of this state should not enlist in the military or naval forces of the United States or of this state, and no person shall advocate, teach or advise, that citizens of this state should not aid or assist the United States in prosecuting or carrying on war with the public enemies of the United States."
Suitable penalties were specified for the infraction of these laws. No call from the nation went unheeded and the necessary legislation was passed ahnost without opposition in every case. Several members entered actual war and others assisted in financial and other campaigns. Mr. Pixley gives the names. of patriotic newspaper correspondents who gave efficient aid in shaping public sentiment in favor of the war measures. In a list given by that author of those connected with the press there were several who entered the army. Among them is the name of Fred C. Sheasby, of the Milwaukee Sentinel, who was killed in action only the day before the armistice was signed.
Work of the Council of Defense .- The law passed by the Legislature creat- ing the State Conneil of Defense, was designed by that body to "assist the governor in doing all things necessary to bring about the highest effectiveness within our state in the crisis now existing, and to coordinate all our efforts with the federal government and with those of other states." Mr. Pixley in his volume further observes, "throughout the act it was evident that it was the legislative intent to create a board which was to supervise the mobilization of the aggregate resources of the state-military, naval, financial, industrial and social."
The eouneil at its first meeting authorized committees on finance, agri- culture, labor, manufactures, transportation, publicity, recruiting, women's organizations, Red Cross, sanitation, etc. Each county in the state was soon organized into efficient working bodies. Milwaukee County, the largest in the state, had as its first chairman Daniel W. Iloan, mayor of the City of Milwau- kee, who served from May 8, 1917, to May 31, 1918; Charles Allis, chosen May 31, 1917, who served until his death July 22, 1918; and E. E. White who served until August 29, 1918, when he resigned. Cornelius Corcoran, president of the common council, served thereafter as aeting chairman. The publication of "Forward" (the state's motto), as the official bulletin of the council, was authorized, which before the end of the war attained a circulation of 15,000 copies.
The multitudinous activities of the committees of the state council and of the various county organizations are recorded at length in Mr. Pixley's book which it is unnecessary here to follow in detail. In every ward and preeinet of Milwaukee, plans were announeed for the formation of women's councils. Four
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hundred representative women of the city cooperated to perfeet these plans. Committees of the Milwaukee County council were formed to conduct patriotic work, campaigns of education and similar activities. There were forty women's organizations and as many branches headed by men. The inspiring details connected with the work, as they were published from day to day, were incentives to further efforts in numerous ways in aid of the great cause.
The Milwaukee Hotel Men's Association was cooperating with the county conneil in its food-saving campaign. Ninety per cent of the housewives had signed the food pledge cards, and Milwaukee was showing signs of that splen- did patriotism which marked it during the critical war months. At the Wiscon- sin state fair, held in Milwaukee in September, thousands of citizens inspected the fine exhibitions of grain and other erops, and the best display of live stock ever previously shown. These great displays were ample evidence of the re- sponse of the Wisconsin farmers to the appeal of the State Council of Defense for the increased production of all kinds of food.
The parade in honor of the Milwaukee County selected men, on September 15th, was under the direction of the county conneil, and was participated in by more than 6,000 marchers and through crowded streets. The parade was followed in the evening by a huge banquet at the Auditorium, and as each group departed for the train it was escorted by numerous friends and well wishers. These stirring seenes reminded the hoary-headed veterans of former wars, who were present in great numbers, of the days when they had marched away in response to the call of their country, and who were now cheering the younger heroes on their way to the distant seenes of heroic actions.
Character of the War Work .- Let us pause to contemplate the wide range of the countless war activities carried on under the auspices of the State Coun- cil of Defense. Some of these have already been mentioned. As the work progressed it grew in magnitude and these activities embraced a great variety of effort. We shall attempt to mention only a few, as the details as narrated in Mr. Pixley's exhaustive account remain the great storehouse of informa- tion concerning them.
There were the food administration, taking under publie control the numer- our branches of work included under that term : crop production : fuel conser- vation : labor problems: fire prevention : the work of the medical fraternity : instruction of nurses: marketing of farm productions: cultivation of "war gardens"; campaigns of the "Four Minute Men": Christmas presents for the men in the field : encouragement of recruiting ; patriotic meetings; and every variety of effort to "help win the war."
Such a mighty outpouring of cooperative endeavor had not been seen since the days of the Civil war. Addresses of welcome, farewell addresses, parades of every description, participation of school children in patriotie demonstra- tions, women engaging in every form of activity. the old men undertaking the lighter tasks of community life, were but a few of the activities engaged in by the State Council of Defense.
Providing the Sinews of War .- At the conclusion of his account of Wis- cousin's war activities Mr. Pixley briefly sketches a review of the work that had been accomplished. "This chapter. " he says, "has been written to give.
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in part, a record of the State Council of Defense and its auxiliary organizations. It gives only a partial record. It cannot name the thousands who gave their time to the work. It mentions only the leaders. But to the unnamed thousands who made the success of the State Council of Defense possible, and who justified its creation by the Legislature, the state owes a debt which it can never repay. Their payment will be, as it will be for the members of the state council, the realization that when the state and nation were in peril they came to the rescue, giving their services without stint, that Wisconsin's record might be placed high up in the roll of the nation when the war was won."
"Of all the activities in which Wisconsin took part during the World war," says Mr. Pixley in his book, "perhaps the War Savings Stamp campaigns were the most important in their far-reaching effeet upon the citizens in- volved." When the government of the United States came directly to the people to supply the "sinews of war" the response was tremendous. We need not enter into the details of the operation here, simple and direct though they were, but they were productive of results to an amazing degree. By the first of December, 1918, just after the armistice had been signed, the state of Wis- consin showed a total of $29,100,000 derived from the great effort. Milwaukee's contribution to this result alone amounted to $6,247,000. The war savings stamp campaign was conducted under the able management of Mr. John H. Pnelicher of Milwaukee.
In an address made by Mr. Frank A. Vanderlip before the Illinois Manu- facturers' Association, in December, 1917, he said that the War Savings Stamps and the War Savings Certificates were the most important financial operation that this country had ever known. The details as worked out were, that for an investment of a fraction over $4.00 a certificate for $5.00 could be obtained, payable by the United States treasury, January 1, 1923, and the holder would get, under this plan, the return of his investment at four per cent compound interest. The habit of "thrift" thus ineuleated was said by President Wilson to be one of the most valuable "by-products" of the war, and which alone would fully repay the efforts made in promoting the plan as it was worked out.
There were four Liberty Loans made during the World war, and a fifth loan, known as the "Vietory Liberty Loan, " made nearly four months after the armistice was signed. The total amount of these five loans was upwards of $24,000,000,000.
The state of Wisconsin subscribed $335,000,000 to the four Liberty Loans; Milwaukee subscribed $108,382,200 of this amount.
Milwaukee Oversubscribes all War Funds .- Mortimer I. Stevens, a member of the War Finanee Central Committee, reported in the Year Book of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce the following :
"Milwaukee has raised for war purposes since the entry of America into the world struggle more than $160,000,000, and in every instance where its citizens have been called upon for funds the qnota asked for from Milwaukee has been heavily oversubscribed. Early in the war a permanent organization, known as the war finance eentral committee, was organized, which has carried on the drives for Liberty bonds, War Savings and Red Cross.
"This organization has about 5,000 active volunteer workers, divided into
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groups, and has maintained records and accumulated other data which has materially aided the speed and efficiency of their war work.
"The campaigns for other war purposes all met with the same enthusiastic response and Milwaukee has demonstrated since carly in the war that her citizens have formed the habit of giving liberally.
"Milwaukee has always met its quota and further demonstrated its loyal support of the war by piling up a huge oversubscription in each loan. In every rause in which the city has been called upon to participate it has gone mag- nificently 'over the top' in the same generous and enthusiastic spirit with which American troops have overcome gigantic obstacles on the battlefields. What has also been gratifying to the great body of patriotic Milwaukeeans, who have freely given their time, efforts and money to support all war move- ments conducted here, has been the fact that each succeeding Liberty loan has shown a large increased number of individual subscriptions over the previous loans, demonstrating that Milwaukee rallied in stronger numbers to each succeeding campaign eondneted in the interests of the country and the war.
First Loan Success .- "In the first Liberty loan Milwaukee, with an allot- ment of $13.700,000, subscribed $16.164,700, or $2.464,700 over its required amount. With this loan Milwaukee set a pace for itself in war work, which the eity has never failed to maintain in any of the patriotic activities in which it has so wholeheartedly engaged.
"Milwaukee's quota in the second Liberty loan was $24.948.000, which was quickly obtained in a whirlwind campaign, typical of Milwaukee's participa- tion in all war work, and the city forged ahead with unrelaxed determination and enthusiasm for a huge oversubscription, which was realized in the total subscription of $32,701,950 to this loan. Although in this Joan Milwaukee's quota had been the largest the city had given up to that time, its final returns showed it had gone over its mark with subscriptions of $7,753,950.
"In the third Liberty loan Milwaukee piled up an oversubscription of $8,120,550. In this loan Milwaukee was asked to raise $14,880,000, but the patriotie Milwaukeeans refused to stop when they had obtained their quota and continued the work in whirlwind fashion, until the final figures on the last day of the campaign showed total subscriptions of $23,000.550. Sinee its allotment in this loan was smaller than that given the city in the second Liberty loan, Milwaukee demonstrated its eagerness by obtaining the largest oversubscription it had seeured in any campaign up to that time.
Way Over Top Again .- " With an allotment of $32.646.300 in the fourth Liberty loan drive, Milwaukee seeured a total subseription to this loan of $36.214,350, or an oversubscription of $3.563.050. Although this was the largest quota Milwaukee had ever been given. the city's oversubscription showed practically the same proportion it had in the previous loans and the number of subscribers materially increased over that of all other Liberty loans.
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