USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 19
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Effigies of the Kaiser appeared in the hands of howling marchers, and were "burned" or "drowned" to the music of the crowds' screams. Hundreds of reputable and some disreputable citizens got frankly and openly drunk and even disorderly, while other thou- sands were apparently as intoxicated with ex- citement and joy as those who had looked upon liquor when it was red.
Mayor Thiesen issued a proclamation call- ing on everyone to join in a big time down- town in the evening, and the bedlam received renewed impetus. Before the sun had set every band in town was playing around Mon- ument square, and those who did not belong to bands brought various noise-making instru-
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Photos by John Hood
RACINE'S GREATEST PARADE IN HISTORY
It took place May 29, 1917 .- The first picture shows the lad on a pony leading the 30,000 marchers who turned out to "show" the Kaiser. Then come Spanish War veterans, a throng at a corner, a motorcycle float, a fraternal order's con- tingent, a Jackie band on Main street, a section of be-bloomered workwomen, another women's section, the loyalty meeting at the park and at the end is shown the ceremony of scattering flowers on the waters in honor of sailors who had given their lives.
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ments along and played them at the same time, regardless of measure or harmony.
The joyous uproar continued until early morning. When official denials of the signing of the armistice finally came, nobody would believe them. They seemed too preposterous after everyone had celebrated so unanimously. It was noon the next day before the town had fairly settled down again and there was a general acceptance of the fact that something important had been missing in the affair; namely, a good reason for it.
But Racine did not need to be embarrassed among her neighbors. From Alaska's icy shores to the wind-swept plains of Argentina, from the villages of France to sunny Aus- tralia they were all doing it. Paris, London and Rome celebrated even as Racine, Corliss and Burlington. Chicago and New York were as bad as Milwaukee. And, strange to tell, in every city and town everywhere, as far as can be learned, the same things happened in the same way. The people just naturally quit everything and went out on the streets to make all the noise and uproar and disturbance that they possibly could to demonstrate their approval of the war's end. On November 8 and 9 the public awaited impatiently for news of the actual finish of the war. On Sunday the 10th extra editions told of the abdication and flight of the Kaiser, and it was forecast that the armistice would be signed the next morning. Many sat up all night awaiting the fateful dispatch. Early in the morning the news came-authentic and correct beyond a doubt. Again the whistles blew and the bells rang. Again men, women and children sallied forth with all thoughts of the day's work cast aside. Once more the city, the nation and the whole world gave itself over to a day of noisy celebration. Joy was unconfined-and often unrefined.
The celebration of the real armistice was an
improvement on that of November 7 in only one way. After the populace had awakened after the first fete, many persons had thought, "If I had only done so and so, I could have made lots more noise yesterday." All these "hindsight" ideas were now put into execution, and new and improved devices for raising the Old Harry made the welkin ring more tumultuously than before. However, it is dif- ficult to call forth at will such a spirit of mischief-making and general abandon as arose spontaneously throughout the land on Novem- ber 7 and the justified celebration appeared a trifle forced. Too many of the people on the streets were there to get amusement from the antics of others, rather than let themselves go without restraint in expressing their joy. At that, it was the second biggest day the country had ever seen. An old-fashioned national elec- tion celebration was a Quaker meeting in com- parison. But that first affair-well, that was SOME day. No one participating will ever forget it. In connection with the "fake armi- stice," as it was called, it probably should be stated as a matter of history that a full ex- planation has never been made. The United Press, a very large and reputable news asso- ciation, has always maintained that it received the information regarding the armistice from a confidential source which it considered abso- lutely reliable at the time, and which it is still inclined to credit. Soldiers in France in large numbers maintained that the "kitchen wireless" carried some likely sounding stories to the effect that the agreement to end the war was actually made on November 7, but that delays were required in making it public so that the Kaiser could run away before his people learned their fate. Probably there is nothing to the yarn. The complete story of the ending of the war has not yet been pub- lished, and it may make some revelations bear- ing on the great hoax.
CHAPTER XVIII
CLUBS, SOCIETIES, POLITICS AND SOME INCIDENTS.
A LL civic and fraternal organizations turned their whole membership into committees for war and relief work dur- ing the period of hostilities. After the men began to return home from service, they as- sisted in giving them a cordial community wel- come and in most instances gave dinners and entertainments for their own returning mem- bers. Such lodges as the Masons, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, etc., had special bureaus to watch out for the welfare of their members everywhere. The Eagles provided a death benefit of $1,000 for families of all mem- bers who might die in service. Several Racine families were beneficiaries of this plan. The Elks made a special effort to assist the welfare work of the Salvation army and Red Cross, and were active in all lines of war work. It gave a big "welcome home" banquet to the members of the two batteries and the ambu- lance company after they had come back from France. All societies and lodges arranged to carry the membership of men in service witlı- out requiring payment of dues. They also sent gift packages to men in service.
The Racine Commercial club was the lead- ing civic organization in the community at the outbreak of the war and embraced in its mem- bership about 500 of the leading business men of the city. It dropped almost every form of activity excepting such as were related to the great conflict. Its offices were used for re- cruiting purposes, public meetings of all sorts were held there and many of the official gov- ernmental agencies made their headquarters in the club rooms on Main street, at the corner of Fifth street. It co-operated with all war organizations and originated the plans for many. It was Secretary Walter H. Reed who proposed the establishment of the War Relief Fund. The report of Secretary Reed on Nov. 1, 1918, is given here in part to show the man- ner in which this and other organizations were transformed during the conflict:
"It hardly seems necessary, in offering a summary of the various activities of the Com- mercial Club during the past year, to call at- tention to the fact that the first consideration of the organization was that which should un- questionably be supreme with every individual citizen of this country, and that is to Help Win the War in which we are now engaged. All other activities which the Commercial Club could conduct at the present time would amount to but very little or even to nothing, if the lack of patriotic national support by every community would result in the defeat of the thousands of 'our boys' engaged in the actual struggle against autocracy and Hunnish fright- fulness.
"With a full appreciation of the crisis con- fronting our Democracy and the apparent need of whole-hearted support by every individual and every organization, the Racine Commer- cial Club has, during the past year, endeavored to meet every demand from this direction. In consequence it has been necessary to refrain from promoting many activities which normal- ly could easily have been taken care of, and without a doubt every loyal citizen of Racine approves that the Commercial Club continue to give prior consideration to all national is- sues and to all demands made upon it by the Government to assist as best it can towards the successful prosecution of the war. Be- cause of this policy the Club has been looked to by the community as the organization ex- pected to take the lead in the many issues of the past year, and a review of these activities will indicate that through the Club the com- munity forces were well mobilized and that success marked every endeavor. Accordingly the Club considers as its most important and foremost achievement the fact that it is help- ing to win the war.
"Among the Government war agencies with which the Club actively and continuously co- operated were the War Industries Board, War
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Trade Board, U. S. Shipping Board, the Emer- gency Fleet Corporation, U. S. Food Admin- istration, Railroad Administration, the United States Fuel Administration and the Council of National Defense. During the year fre- quent requests have come from different de- partments and boards of the Government for suggestions of men qualified and trained for particular lines of service in Government em- ployment. In many instances names have been furnished which have resulted in the selec- tion of men thus suggested for Government service.
"The history of the year under review has demonstrated that the Club members are will- ing to make any sacrifice necessary to enable the nation to fulfill its destiny in helping to win the war. The conditions under which business has been conducted necessarily fluc- tuated from time to time, leaving the business men uncertain as to the amount of sacrifice really required, as to the regulation or proced- ure under which they should continue their affairs so that they might preserve their busi- ness integrity and thereby be prepared to meet the nation's needs after the military side of the war is over. Through the vision and sol- emn judgment vested in the Directors and staff this organization has been able during the year to render great assistance to the business men in meeting the war problems surrounding the conduct of business.
"Not a day passes by but some request is received from the Government to co-operate in some special respect or to furnish information or submit records. These requests come from the different commissions, administrations, boards and bureans, all having as their ob- jective the successful prosecution of the war. At the request of Government departments the Club also distributed several hundred pam- phlets on various subjects, such as canning, preserving, selection of foods, conservation of fuel, federal income tax reports, etc.
"The first year of participation in the World War by the United States has produced un- precedented problems both for Government and for business. In the attempt to solve these problems, co-ordination and co-operation be- tween Government and business is one of the necessary elements. The events of the past year have demonstrated that this is more and more being understood, and that to an increas- ing degree the machinery of such organiza- tions as the Racine Commercial Club, already existent and prepared for service, has been utilized and has proven to be an efficient in-
strumentality for service in our present war problems.
"This fact emphasizes the opportunity af- forded to business men and business units for co-operating and serving through participation in such an organization."
The local Knights of Columbus were very active throughout the war in supporting a field organization to distribute comforts to the men in service. Every member of this powerful Catholic organization was assessed for the purpose, not only in Racine but throughout the country. Less than two weeks after the start of the war the Racine lodge offered its serv- ices in any way desired to the County Council of Defense, and a committee consisting of Rev. A. J. Berg, George W. Miller, T. A. Fagan, James Higgins, Vilas H. Whaley, Jerome J. Foley, A. D. Hermes, Edmund Collins, Edward Kosterman, L. B. Sanders and Dr. John Hogan was appointed to carry out this purpose.
Even children had their part in the war work. Through the schools and churches, they were organized to plant war gardens, sew for the Red Cross, dedicate their nickels and dimes to the purchase of Thrift Stamps, or to the re- lief of the orphaned children of France and Belgium.
Girls as young as six or seven years of age were taught to knit squares of woolen yarn, which were sewed together at Red Cross work- rooms and then sent to Europe to serve as shawls and blankets for refugees.
The Boy Scouts proved a most valuable or- ganization. There was hardly a patriotic gath- ering during the war at which these manly young fellows did not play some part. There were eighteen Troops in Racine, with a total membership of about 400.
The boys of these troops served as ushers at Liberty Loan meetings, and distributed posters for government agencies. They de- livered War Relief Fund information cards to practically every home in the city, and per- formed similar work for many of the war ac- tivities. When large contingents of draft men were leaving, they patrolled the streets along the line of march, and they were of great as- sistance to the police in regulating traffic dur- ing parades and upon the occasion of the bat- tery's homecoming.
On the "gasless" Sundays they took the li- cense numbers of all automobiles seen on the streets. During the influenza epidemic they served as messengers for the Red Cross and other relief organizations, and they even were utilized to call upon those who were back in
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Photos by Pavek-Malme-Grant
Top Row-Anthony Kralicek, Wm. H. Hayman, Hubert Gregor, J. K. Wishau, C. S. Peterson, Jno. Sinsky, M. C. Kolinsky. Second-Jas. Kahn, Rueben Anderson, E. H. Frahm, Anton Pederson, Ilarry Rooney, A. S. Hunter, G. J. Jensen, Third-J. J. Schliesmann, E. J. Klema, Jacob Schwartz, Aug. Drisner, W. J. Parks, M. E. Hoyer, J. C. Santkus. Fourth-J. Msciwujewski, I. H. Nelson, August Jensen, Cornelius Post, Martin Sorensen, R. L. Parks, G. E. Dickson. Fifth-August Wolf, Einer T. Brown, F. R. Magnan, Joe Fazzan, K. Krikonian, A. N. Kramer, Matthew Kowder. Bottom-N. J. Klein, Caspar Rizzo, Leon Korpuk, V. Keorglanian, H. Y. Grossman, Ralph Miller, Segard Husby.
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their payments to the War Relief Fund. The various troops planted two acres of war gar- dens. They secured 2,970 members for the Red Cross in 1918 and solicited $463,300 for Liberty bonds. Many received medals from the U. S. Treasury Department for selling Liberty bonds. Among them were:
Horace Burdick, Gregory Bush, Frederick Foster, Millard Williams, Einer Jacobson, Charles Dilday, John Christensen, George Field, Alfred Hansen, Marvin Ross, Harold Konnak, Theodore Ruffalo, Frank Ruffalo, Evan Miller, Michael Gillotte, Rell Barrett, John Johnson, Gordon Walker, Robert Hansen, George Christopherson, Clyde Mehder, Richard Sorenson, Arthur Dunleavy, Ralph Kister, Le- roy Pruerner, Frank Dieter, Kenneth Hancock, Arnold Griesmer, Mervil Piel, Bert Burdick, Gabriel Balazs, Kenneth Kehl, Mel Russell, Louis Moe, J. Trumbull, Glen McCaughey, V. Parmenter, Erick Lucht, Jr., Lewis Payne, George Skow, Arthur Carpenter, William Hunn, Thomas Harvey, Allan Kidd, Roland Smiley, Francis Weins, Gordon G. Harris, Per- ry Thomas, Carl Lange, Kenneth Brown, Stan- ley Knudson, Sam Meyers, Harry Johnson, Marvin Jansen, Donald Wadewitz, Randall Roth, Ralph Kinpel, Waldemar Ernst, Milton Haumersen, Carl Scheible and Harry Theres.
Congressman Cooper Defeated.
The war had its effect upon politics. It was a vital issue in the congressional campaign in 1918, and that bitter struggle at the polls re- sulted in the defeat of Congressman Henry Al- len Cooper of Racine, who had represented the First district for twenty-six years.
Two years before, Mr. Cooper had been re- elected with but little opposition and it was becoming a popular belief that he would hold his seat as long as he lived. In 1916 President Wilson had been re-elected on a "He kept us out of war" slogan, and even this Republican district had been strong for Wilson against his Republican opponent, Hughes, who had started his campaign with intimations that Wilson was not taking a firm enough stand against Ger- many.
Mr. Cooper may have interpreted the vote here as meaning that the First district was op- posed to war for any reason. At any rate he voted on certain pre-war bills in such a way as to indicate that it would be better to stand discomforts from German activities rather than get embroiled in the conflict. When the mat- ter of declaring war came up, he and six other Wisconsin congressmen opposed it. He had
previously opposed arming merchant vessels to protect them against submarine attacks.
When the election of 1918 approached, his habitual political enemies combined with those who had turned against him because of his pre-war record, and they proceeded to go after him hot and heavy. An informal conference of 400 Republicans was held at Elkhorn, May 13, 1918, at which resolutions were passed de- claring, regarding Mr. Cooper's record: "That the present representative from the First dis- triet has failed to represent or interpret the true spirit of loyalty to country and devotion to the liberties and institutions demanded by the great mass of our citizens, that in voting and speaking against war with Germany he failed to protect and guard the honor of the nation and the property of the people.
That by his actions he, in effect, justified the submarine atrocities against America and neutral nations. That in voting against the espionage bill he refused to recognize the deliberate violation of the hospitalities of this nation by the official representatives of the German government_ That his action in effect tended to protect spies and propagandists who are engaged in attempting to spread dis- sension among our people." The committee on resolutions consisted of James Kavanaugh, O. A. Oestrich, F. A. Kiser, A. J. Lunt and H. M. Youmans.
When the convention started to select an op- ponent to fight Cooper at the primary election, there was a deadlock for several hours, with various members voting for W. S. Goodland of Racine; David Agnew, Waukesha; Judge Ran- dall, Kenosha; L. C. Whittet, Edgerton, and G. L. Harrington, Elkhorn. The convention it- self was informal, but an agreement was reached whereby each county had a propor- tionate number of votes, and the ones to cast the ballots were to be decided by the delegates who were present.
Eventually Judge Clifford E. Randall of Kenosha was chosen and given unanimous en- dorsement. A campaign followed in which every voter in the district was reached by canvass- ers, mail and newspaper articles. On Ang. 6, Congressman Cooper came home to defend him- self. He held a meeting at Lakeside audito- rium. It was one of the hottest days of the year and barely 300 persons turned out. He challenged his foes to show that he was dis- loyal, and said he had voted since war was de- clared for every measure that the President had signed. He charged his enemies with per-
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Horlicks
Photos by Hood
HERE AND THERE IN WAR DAVS
At the top, the throng that greeted the batteries home; below, a draft contingent leaving. Next shows the crowd view- ing a war exhibit and camouflaged railway coach; below, Horlick employes forming to join Loyalty parade. At top, right. a feature of the Armistice celebration; below. President Wilson speaking from a train. Next is a group of returned bat . tery boys (note admiring kids in front) ; below, captured German U-boat docked at Racine on way to Chicago.
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sonal animus. On Aug. 25, the Journal-News contained a lengthy attack upon Cooper by Martin J. Gillen, in which it was alleged that Mr. Cooper had taken no hand in war work, and had failed to encourage his neighbors at home in their efforts. His opponent, Mr. Ran- dall, maintained that Mr. Cooper was derelict in not even sending a message occasionally to Liberty Loan workers, and to the draft con- tingents about to leave for camp.
On Aug. 30 Mr. Cooper held another meet- ing at Dania hall, attended by 200 persons. E. E. Gittins introduced him. At the previous meeting Albert Linck of the Trades & Labor council had presided and was the only person on the stage with the Congressman.
The primaries were held on Sept. 3 and al- though Cooper carried Racine county by 445 and Walworth by 73, Judge Randall got a ma- jority of 467 in Kenosha county, 94 in Wauke- sha and 110 in Rock, and was declared the Re- publican nominee by a majority of 153.
Congressman Cooper believed that the ver- dict did not express the will of the people, and after a fervid defense of his record in a speech before Congress on Sept. 19, he announced him- self as an independent candidate for election, and obtained the necessary number of signa- tures to get his name on the ballot in that capacity.
The Democratic candidate was Calvin Stew- art of Kenosha, who had run for the office sev- eral times before. Another fierce campaign followed and the candidates and their friends were kept busy making speeches and circular- izing the voters. Several newspaper advertise- ments regarding his record appeared in the newspapers over Mr. Cooper's signature. He made a strong fight and his wide acquaintance- ship stood him in good stead throughout the district, but he was defeated overwhelmingly at the election Nov. 5. Racine county gave him a plurality of 1000 over Judge Randall, but he was swamped elsewhere. Judge Ran- dall was elected by 750 over Stewart and 3848 over Cooper. Congressman Cooper retired March 4, 1919, and was given a good federal job at Washington.
Despite the result of the election, there was never any reason to believe that Mr. Cooper was really disloyal. The outcome merely is an indication of the popular attitude that any person whose record did not show continuous and hearty support of all measures to main- tain American rights against Germany was not a suitable man for public office.
There was considerable contrast in this re-
spect between the feeling in the First district and in Milwaukee, which had thousands of pro- German sympathizers. Victor Berger, a So- cialist, was an active speaker against govern- ment war measures even after war was de- clared and not only was his newspaper barred from the mails, but he was indicted and con- victed for treasonable utterances. Despite this he was re-elected to Congress from the Fifth district. Congress promptly refused to per- mit him to be seated and declared the election null and void, in accordance with numerous precedents. Berger, while awaiting an appeal from his prison sentence, in November, 1919, became a candidate for the office again and actually was elected again due to the numer -· ous Germans and Socialists of his district. In fact, so un-American was the district that the most pronounced objection to his election again seemed to be the fact that the voters felt he would not be able to serve because he would either be unseated again or be in the peniten- tiary. During the campaign the national con- vention of the American Legion was held and passed resolutions asking Congress to deport Berger to his native Austria.
A Man Without a Country.
America expected every citizen to do his part in the winning of the war. It co-operated with the governments of the Allied nations in procuring the enlistment of eligible men who were residents of the United States, but citi- zens of those countries. It could not, of course, require military service of men who were still subjects of alien neutral nations.
As soon as the Selective Service act was passed, a question arose as to the status of those foreign-born residents who had declared their intention of becoming citizens of the United States, but had not yet applied for their "second papers." Technically they were still subjects of their mother country if they cared to ask for protection there.
In order to avoid any complications, these men were required to register and were as- sumed to be loyal Americans. To prevent any violation of international treaty obligations, however, Congress provided that any subject of a neutral country who had declared his in- tention of becoming an American citizen should be relieved from military service upon his making a formal declaration withdrawing his declaration of such intention.
But by this action he would forever be de- barred from becoming a citizen of the United States.
Records of the Provost Marshal General's
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