Racine county in the world war, Part 10

Author: Haight, Walter L
Publication date: c1920]
Publisher: [Racine, Western Prtg. & Lithographing Co.
Number of Pages: 612

USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In every community hundreds of men were recruited for essential industries and placed in suitable positions. Toward the end of the war the hiring of common labor through other chan- nels than these agencies was prohibited. The Racine employment office was in charge of Arthur P. Kuning, W. R. Levy, H. G. Presser. examiners, and Miss Anna Behrmann, superin- tendent of women's division.

The Community Labor board consisted of Arthur P. Kuning, chairman, Angus R. Callen- der and Miss Sarah Jelliffe, employers; William

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

FINAL CONTINGENT, FIRST QUOTA, MARCH 29, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 1

There were listed for entrainment the following :- Valentine Dittman, Leo M. Pfeiffer, Edward Miller, Guiragos Iturshostian, Gulbenk Nalhantian, Earnest Aul, Mihran Dedarian, Carl Erke, Rosario Derosa, Mike Kalagian, l'eter Fenger, Alex Azarau, Enrico Lucarelli, Frank Amantea, William A. Hueffner, Samuel M. Tabaskman, Otto W. Tilly, Marius Jensen, Edward J. Robey, Arten Kalagian, Lester J. Clancy, Peter Zukowski, Albert Davis, Arthur E. Stephans, David Bratt, Ilans P. Clausen, Alfred P. Pierce, Edwin Baker, Lambert Butterfield, Edward Jerstad, Frank Thos. Hueller.

IFANS

QUOTA FOR COLUMBUS BARRACKS JULY 16, 1918 FROM BOARD NO 2

There were listed for entrainment the following :- Henry D. Oneson, Carl Markwiez, Martin Nelson, Fred Jordan, William J. Peil, Fred Reinholtz, Frank Groeling, Alfred I. Skoglund, William llenneman, Joseph B. Zaborowski, John Kurienowiez, Michael Sakalo wski, Stanislaus Kowaleek, Garabed Injasoulian, Bronislau Demborwski, Adolph Palcowski, Peter A. Michelson, Matthew J. Weber, Michael Pavlik, Nicholas J. Klein, Edward Hagh Price, Charles Luckfield, Otto A. Malmstadt, George II. Larson, Parnaz Shaklyian, Maurice I. Plant, William Gedemer, Casper Weber, Charles Waselafske, Harry W. Ebert, Peter Pinshakowski, Peter Louces, John Bilak, Albert J. Jerdee, Phillip A. Thoennes, Achilli Rongo, Joseph Moore, Harold Johnson, Constant Ruska, John Joseph Black, Jr., Reinhold Forwark, Peter James Hartman, Matthew P. Gitzen, Irwin A. Hegeman,

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

H. Sommers and Miss Sadie Devine, employes.

The local branch of the United States Public Service Reserve consisted of Warren H. Walk- er, G. A. Kanters, John Konnack, Russell S. Olson, Walter H. Reed, Frank Starbuck and D. E. Callender.

E. A. Polley of Rochester was the county labor agent.

Isabel Swantz of Union Grove was county director of the Boys' Working Reserve, design- ed to aid farmers during vacation periods.

With the first approach of cold weather in October, 1917, the government asked a survey of the fuel situation in all parts of the coun- try. While it was desired to provide enough fuel to keep American homes comfortable, it was essential that necessary industries be sup- plied with all the coal they needed, that trains and ships be kept moving and, if necessary, that provision be made to export fuel to our Allies.

The County Council of Defense appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. A. C. Mehder, M. J. Pettit and William Horlick, Jr., to in- vestigate local conditions. It seemed probable that Racine had sufficient coal in sight for the winter, but the question had to be viewed from a national standpoint and every possible energy exerted to conserve the supply. The winter proved to be the most severe in many years.

The Council of Defense finally created a County Fuel Administration consisting of F. Lee Norton, Herbert F. Johnson and James V. Rohan. The state sent a commissioner to Washington to represent the governor in an effort to secure shipment of coal to lake ports. By vigorous action, the county administration was able to procure through that channel enough fuel to obviate the danger of a fuel famine, but citizens resorted almost entirely to use of soft coal for furnaces. Wood also became popular as fuel during the war and people who had not swung an axe in forty years were glad to obtain a wagon load of chunks for use in furnace or stove. The Wis- consin Gas & Electric Company was a big fac-

tor in preventing a fuel famine, for it manu- factured hundreds of tons of coke weekly as a by-product of its gas plant. Wagons were of- ten lined up all night near the plant waiting for the opening of the yards in the morning, when the night's output would be ready to dis- tribute. The company sold the coke as fast as it was made, reserving only the right to give priority to the needs of hospitals, public institutions and homes where there were sick persons or little children. It also limited de- liveries to one ton at a time.

Fortunately the winter of 1918-1919 was very mild and the supply of coal received here up to the time of the armistice agreement was ample to carry the city through until spring.

To conserve fuel the public everywhere re- sorted to such methods as "lightless nights," "lightless streets" during the greater part of the night, and the elimination of electric signs, lights in show windows, etc. When this tend- ed to cause people to seek substitutes for lights obtained from the use of coal, the government actually prevented a shortage of gasoline for warships, motor transport and aeroplanes by decreeing that no gasoline should be used on Sundays by civilians. It was not a law-only a request-yet no law was ever more strictly observed or enforced. A man riding in an automobile on Sunday was hooted, scoffed at and perhaps assaulted. A few had forgotten the edict on the first gasolineless Sabbath, but they never forgot it again. One experience with a stern public sentiment was enough.

The patriotic people operated furnaces in their homes only when absolutely necessary during the war. There were certain days upon which no stores were to be heated. Small things, these seem, yet in the aggregate amounting to huge sums for the whole country. And it was these small things, earnestly and enthusiastically carried into effect by all the people, which enabled America to go through the war with a minimum of suffering and with- out ruining her normal industrial structure and upsetting her habits of life for all time.

CHAPTER XIV

RACINE'S FINANCIAL OFFERING

T HERE were many remarkable features connected with the financing of the war by the sale of government bonds to the people of the country. Racine county's ex- perience in finance is like that of other places. excepting that it was a pioneer in some re- spects and conducted its campaigns more effi- ciently than most communities.

In previous wars it had been customary to sell war bonds to banking houses, which under- took to dispose of them, for a premium, to wealthy investors. Taking a hint from the methods used in Europe, the United States started out to make as many people as pos- sible owners of the bonds. This would give every family a new sort of personal interest in the conflict and in the welfare of govern- ment. It offered additional opportunity for spreading government propaganda. Immense amounts must be paid in interest on the bonds, and it was felt that this should go to as many people as possible, inasmuch as everyone would have to assist in redeeming the paper later on. Instead of paying fiscal agents to sell them, the interest rate could be made more attractive to the prospective purchaser, at no greater cost to the government. Finally, it was believed that everyone was anxious to help as best he could, and the people would wel- come this method of aiding the forces in the field.

The first big problem was that of educating the masses to the character and purpose of bonds. Probably not one in five hundred men had ever owned one. This universal ignorance of long term investments made the progress of the first loan slow. The difficulty decreased with each succeeding loan until by the time the Victory loan was floated in the spring of 1919 there was no one who did not know all about the advantages of government bonds.

The first loan demonstrated, however, that merely offering the bonds for sale at banks and other places would not answer the pur-

pose. Volunteer salesmen must go into the offices and homes, explaining the project and appealing to the patriotism of the individuals. There were few who could raise the objection of poverty, for the bonds were in denomina- tions as low as $50 and $100, and were to be sold on the installment plan. By the practice of economy, which the nation demanded of everyone anyway, a bond was within the reach of all who were earning money or obtaining any sort of an income. To overcome the last possible obstacle, the banks were willing to loan money to those temporarily unable to buy, but who wanted to do so.

When the loans began to be floated, there was one question which was in the mind of thinking men: What effect will it have upon our banks to draw out these millions of dol- lars in deposits and have the vast sums sent away to be used for government purposes ? It did seem as though it might decrease the de- posits to almost nothing. However, the banks saw their duty, and from the start of the war asked for no quarter in this respect. They knew the government must have the money, and if it closed them up in the process they would take their medicine. Incidentally, they proposed to handle the bookkeeping for the installment payments, and subscribe to large amounts of bonds themselves.

Without waiting to put the details in their proper chronological order, a summary of the effect of the bond sales upon the banks of the county will show the unexpected climax:

Deposits in Racine city banks

Oct. 31, 1914 $ 7,296,794.44

Deposits in same banks June 30, 1919 13,498,450.79

Deposits in country banks Oct. 31, 1914 2,539,517.50

Deposits in same banks June

30, 1919 4,028,937.40

A total gain in deposits of $ 7,691,076.26

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

But during that same period the people had bought Liberty Bonds of the value of $16,- 201,000.00.

These figures indicate that the people of the county gained in actual money wealth some- thing like $23,892,000 during the war, for the bonds they bought were as good as gold when the victory came to the banners of the Amer- ican army. Of course there should be sub- tracted from that amount the unknown sums previously hoarded in homes.

The people had more money than ever, the banks had prospered beyond all precedent, wages were high (and prices also) and all this in spite of the fact that the nation was turn- ing its energies to the manufacture of things meant only for destruction, and 4,000,000 of the most efficient men of the nation had been engaged in unproductive employment in army and navy.

Before the war started in Europe, statesmen said it could not begin because the financial condition of the countries involved was too poor to permit of a titanic struggle such as was forecast.

After the war opened, many financiers said it could not continue many weeks, because every belligerent nation would be bankrupt and unable to supply their armies and navies with necessities.

They were wrong. No belligerent did with- out a single gun, a single ship or a single round of ammunition because of lack of mon- ey. Germany, surrounded as she was by the encircling ring of her enemies, had millions and millions in gold ready to buy everything she needed if the means could only be found to import them. Great Britain and France were able to purchase every item they wanted in America and in other neutral countries. Their only limitation was in the number of vessels in which to carry the goods across the seas. They could have paid for any number of ships if there were any to be bought. The credit of every nation remained ample. All that was necessary was to mortgage the future for as many generations as was deemed suffi- cient. Lack of money did not bother them as much as it did the Confederate States, which fought for three years after they were bank- rupt in 1862.

America had profited immensely from the war up to the time of her entry into it. For- eign gold and paper came in great quantities to pay for war supplies, and there was noth- ing the belligerent nations had to offer us in exchange for the goods, excepting money.

Our imports almost ceased. As a result our own money stayed at home. Millions of dol- lars annually remained here which in normal times would have been expended in foreign travel and for the purchase of such luxuries and souvenirs as travellers are accustomed to purchase.

The people of this country, watching the struggle abroad, were more cautious of ex- penditures. Factories were inclined to save their profits instead of expanding during such unsettled times Individuals cut down ex- penses.

When we entered the war the habits of economy became more pronounced among the masses. The government needed supplies promptly and spent money lavishly to get quick results. Protected by government con- tracts, many manufacturing concerns expanded their plants and hired all the men they could get. Farmers raised more, and were paid higher rates than ever under government guarantee of prices. Everyone who worked prospered. Only the soldier, the sailor and the people living on small fixed incomes suf- fered financially from the war. As so often happens, some people made fortunes through favorable war contracts, and many, indeed, earned them by their services, sorely needed. Many wealthy men gave their services to the government at a salary of $1 a year.

In Racine, people who had been in the habit of spending their money in larger cities rc- mained at home. Travelling was discouraged. Economy was urged. Money earned here was either spent here or banked. Factories mak- ing war supplies drew back to Racine much of the money which had been sent away for Lib- erty bonds. Other plants manufacturing lines outside of war supplies were busy supplying customers with tractors, farm machinery, mo- tors, and hundreds of other products which were necessary to carrying on the nation's business.

They brought added millions of money to town. Even those concerns whose output was limited by government order appeared to pros- per because of increased prices.

A veritable "wheel of fortune" resulted; a circular chain of finance. The people saved money and bought bonds, which enabled the government to buy supplies here and else- where, which gave local factories lots of work, which brought money to the city, which was paid out in wages and dividends, which were again invested in bonds, and so on. Just as the banks of Germany were overflowing with

QUOTA FOR FORT RILEY JUNE 29, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 2

There were listed for entrainment the following :- Raymond M. Zinnen, Oscar C. Helding, Edward B. Held, Edward J. Ritter, Christ Svenningson, Hector D. Paton, Geo. D. Miller, Samuel Panzer, Reinholdt Ager, Martin Wawzynkiewicz, Albert C. Sittig, John Gentile, Alonze F. Quick, Anton Wisniewski, Frank Nasswist, Carl Howard Lund.

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

QUOTA FOR COLUMBUS BARRACKS JULY 6, 1918 FROM BOARD NO 2

There were listed for entrainment the following :- Holt Byron, Jens J. Kinnerup, James Il. Doherty, Oscar Wolk, Stanley Krusinski, Conrad A. Larson, Christ E. Nelson, Chas. E. Miller, John Remmert, Kazimer Kreucess, Samuel R. Harrison, Mark Jerome Mickulecky, Nels C. Holgard, Felix Kemzura, Henry A. Manderfeld, Christian F. Larson, Carl N. Frost, Walter Gill, Stanley L. Stotkovich, Herman C. Jensen, Rudolph Fehler, Isador Salamon, Albert J. Held, Nick Zanko, Denny Edward Nelson, Robert Kowalsky, Thomas E. Foxwell, Anton Glinske, Joe Kisiel, George C. Due, Ole C. Nelson, Harry H. Reth, Hughe O'Malley, Nagarat Nachadian, Joseph Zambzycki, William Pieper, Charles J. Judd, Hans Nielson, James H. Graham, Joseph Curty, Frederick Zierk.

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

money after four years of devastating warfare, so the banks of Racine found themselves ex- panded beyond their wildest dreams by the very process which had seemed more likely to reduce them to the proportions of a village counting house.

Of course, some one has to pay for the ex- pense of the war. Future generations of Americans will do it in part. The present generation is doing it now. But the custom- ary post-war decrease in the value of money already has tended to make the burden much easier than might have been expected. It is not hard to pay a debt of $1 with a $1 which is worth only half in labor or goods what it was when the debt was contracted. In 1914 a dollar was a third of a day's pay for skilled mechanics in many lines. It was the equiva- lent of a bushel of wheat. In 1919 the dollar used to pay off the debt, was but a sixth of the same mechanic's daily wage. It took less than half a bushel of the farmer's wheat to pay off his dollar of indebtedness.

The United States financed the war largely by bonds. The five issues amounted to $18,- 500,000,000. The amount was huge, but every issue was over-subscribed. In the case of the last two or three, it required only a couple of weeks to sell them all.

For the entire country, the per capita sales averaged $162.54. In Racine county, the aver- age sale per capita was $192.40, or 147 per cent of the amount of bonds allotted to the county. Of the total, the banks of the city of Racine themselves subscribed to $1,696,100. The other banks of the county took bonds worth $262,350. The city banks took rather more than their share according to the per- centage of deposits, while those outside of the city took less. All together, they absorbed 111% per cent of the county's total of bonds,

Following is a tabulation showing the dates of the various bond issues during the war, the amount of them allotted to this county, the number of individual purchasers, and the value of the bonds bought:

Date

Quota

Buyers

Amount

May, 1917 $ 941,000

6,663

$ 1,815,350

Oct., 1917

2,646,000

9,418

3,384,350

Apr., 1918

1,641,000

20,394

3,360,200

Oct., 1918

3,601,800

23,224

4,427,050

Apr., 1919

2,776,400

18,330

3,214,050

Total

$11,606,200

78,029 $16,201,000

Every loan saw Racine county "go over the top" with a large margin to spare. In the third loan, floated just as the American army

was preparing to take a major part in the operations in France and the first large casual- ty lists were beginning to appear, the county subscribed to honds amounting to 221 per cent of the quota assigned. There were 20,394 in- dividual subscribers. This percentage was never equalled, but the total sales and number of subscribers was exceeded on the fourth loan, floated just at the time that Germany was being crushed beneath the weight of the American armies this money was helping to equip and supply.

The Council of Defense was appealed to by the government to handle the first loan, in May, 1917. No instructions were given or advice offered. The county was asked to take $941,000, which seemed a pretty big sum at the time. A committee consisting of F. Lee Norton, W. H. Armstrong, H. N. Bacon, War- ren J. Davis, W. C. Hood, A. F. Erickson, Wil- liam Horlick, Jr., O. W. Johnson, F. J. Osius, L. J. Quinn, H. J. Rogers and John Weichers was appointed to plan the sales.

It was decided to try selling the bonds over the counter at the banks. To assist in this, advertising space was used in newspapers and the banks themselves urged their customers to invest. In three weeks a third of the issue was sold, but as the campaign was to close June 15, it was realized that something must be done to speed matters up, and it was also appreciated that what was needed was the education of the people to both the necessity and the wisdom of buying the Liberty bonds.

It was to assist in the advertising of this loan that the huge Loyalty parade was held on May 29, 1917. Business was suspended and practically the entire city participated in this parade, despite a drizzling rain. On June 7 the loan committee called a meeting of a num- ber of business men and it was decided to fin- ish up the campaign with a week's drive simi- lar to those organized in years past to raise large sums of money for local institutions. In substance, this involved the appointment of a central executive board which would appeal to wealthy people and factories, and a large number of "teams" of five workers each, headed by a "major," who would by dint of numbers be able to make a rapid canvass of houses, stores and factories. This sort of organization was formed roughly and the members of the teams were carefully coached in the educa- tional talks which must be given to the people, if the bonds were to be sold.

Although the plan was hastily adopted, it sent Racine county "over the top" within the

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

GEER

QUOTA FOR CAMP GRANT MAY 27, 1918 FROM BOARD NO. 2

There were listed for entrainment the following :- Tony Girdzdis, Ernest F. Behrend, Robert W. Frazier, Kasmier Bazylewicz, Bill Budney, Frank Wojcechowski, Stanislaus Mochiewicz, Ernest A. Peterson, Clifford C. Buckingham, Alfred Johnson, Reuben Mayer, Peter Luke, Hans L. N. Sorring, Henry C. Struck, Aloysius W. Pfeiffer, Harrie E. Stell- berg, William P. Olson, Ben A. Mischo, William Eiekk, Frank F. Tuttle, Alex Zvorsky, Einer A. Knudson, Joseph Zabelesky, Michael Mawoicek, Alex Hritzey, Sigvald Rasmussen, Dominik Cerqua, Frank Venchevic, Sidney Clarence Wells, Walter Gill, John Albert Erickson, John Kisiel, Carl A. Hansen, Waddock Goretski, Wilhelm Dahse, John Mikolaeczyk, Tony Wuertz, Christ Christensen, Jerome George Meischke, Peter Frint, Edward Andrew Butzine, Frank Waldemar Swanson, Edward Peter Karodewnak, Ernest F. Ortlieb, Walter Gedemer, John Rosplock, George Fobair, Richard Samuel Blackburn, John Sankauskas, Mark Hurn, John Ronsholdt, Henry C. Bradtke, Henry Adam Small, Gazarvo Hagopian, Isaac Carasso, James A. Thompson, William Whowell, Andrew C. Thorsen, Sam Hiles Armstrong, Charles Anderson, Kereacus Karahaleos, George Cramer, Otto Lee, Donald Bain Harcus, Otto Kautz, Ignatius Jaskowski, Joseph Raddis, John Laube, Peter Wm. Jacobs, August Peterson, James A. Perkins, Frank Newatmy, James Jos. Ryan, Robt. Wm. Olson, Arthur A. Pieper, Frank Leo Lackowski, John C. Lange, Anton Klemus, Victor Beugaard, Arthur H. Kramer, Peter A. Johnson, Felix John Zuris, Mathias Manderfeldt, Apkar Markarian, Joseph B. Nelson, Micylaw Antoniewicz, John Postarner, Loyal F. Dinnauer, Antony Pinuta, Clarence D. Fritchle, Alfred W. Kuhm, Lawrence Nelson.

RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR

week, and not only that but the subscriptions were almost double the allotment. These pioneer workers had answered the question of how to do it, and thereafter the subscription of Liberty loans was never a matter for worry in Racine county.

Other problems than the mere amount of money to be gotten did arise, however. It was desired that everyone should become a partner of the government in this war enterprise, and as time went on the faithful solicitors not only tried to over-subscribe their quota, but they "hitched their wagon to a star" and proposed to devote their utmost efforts to see that every- one in the whole county owned at least one bond.

While this was not accomplished literally, perhaps, the total sales to 78,029 subscribers in five drives indicate that they did not fall far short of their goal. In the first loan little attempt was made to sell bonds outside of the city.

When announcement was made regarding the second loan, the people of this and every other community received a jolt. They had decided that by hard work they could dupli- cate the result of the first campaign, in spite of the fact that many had subscribed to an amount which they felt was their limit. But they drew a deep breath when they were in- formed that Racine county's quota this time would be three times as great as before, or $2,646,000. The solicitation of such an amount of money was by all odds the biggest thing ever attempted in the county. However, there was no faltering. It had to be done, and it was deemed wise to take another leaf from the book of peace-time solicitors and do it quickly. It was resolved to finish it in one week.

On Oct. 3, 1917, a meeting was held at the Commercial club to perfect an organization for selling the bonds. J. V. Rohan, John Dwight, Otis W. Johnson, F. Lee Norton and Herbert F. Johnson formed the executive board. O. W. Johnson was chosen as general chairman. J. V. Rohan was given charge of the work in the city, and Peter J. Myers of the work in the rest of the county. John Weichers was to have charge of solicitation in factories. Mrs. John W. Owen, chairman of the Woman's Committee of the Council of Defense agreed to organize the women to as- sist. At another meeting on Oct. 13 it was decided to incorporate the Boy Scout troops into the Liberty Loan organization, and they did fine work in all subsequent drives.

The second campaign began Oct. 15, and at

noon that day the captains of the various teams reported about $800,000, or very near- ly a third of the quota, subscribed. By Thurs- day, Oct. 18, only $100,000 was needed. On the following day the quota was $125,000 over-subscribed, and the workers decided to keep on so as to overcome a possible shortage elsewhere. By Saturday night sales of $3,- 384,350 were recorded.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Racine county in the world war, Part 10

Author: Haight, Walter L Publication date: c1920] Publisher: [Racine, Western Prtg. & Lithographing Co. Number of Pages: 612

Author: Haight, Walter L
Publication date: c1920]
Publisher: [Racine, Western Prtg. & Lithographing Co.
Number of Pages: 612