USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine county in the world war > Part 20
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
CASE
RACINE FIGURES IN CROSS-CHANNEL AERIAL SERVICE
The big G Farman planes used in aerial passenger service between Paris and London have to depend on Racine for effici- ent handling. The picture shows a Case tractor used to haul the planes to their hangars when they come in from a trip. It is an evidence of the many uses this versatile machine can be put to, and one of the results of war advance- ments. It also proclaims to the world that Racine is on the map.
GETTING WAR-INJURED LANDS BACK ON A PAYING BASIS
Racine figured in a great extent in the reclaiming of European lands which were laid waste by war. A fleet of Case farm tractors, plowing fields in Italy, is shown in the illustration. They are manned by soldiers in uniform indicating the scene existed before close of hostilities.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
office show that 77,644 declarants were regis- tered. Of this number 818 in the whole United States obtained exemption by with- drawing their applications and thereby sacri- ficed forever the right to become American citizens.
In the summer of 1918 there appeared be- fore Local Board No. 1 in Racine a certain Erik E. Erickson, who had previously de- clared his intention of becoming a citizen, and was now called upon to maintain the honor of his adopted country by taking arms in her defense. But Erickson, who had left Sweden to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this free land, cared more for his own skin than he did for the country of his adoption, and wanted to keep out of the army. All other methods failing, he decided to withdraw his declaration of intention. He finally per- formed this grave act, although he was given several days to think it over before he was required to make a final decision.
Walking from the office of the local board, he met an acquaintance and told him what he had done. His companion, who had been friendly with him for months, expressed his opinion of Erickson in no mild language and turned his back upon him. News of the matter reached the factory where Erickson worked,
and at the request of fellow employes Erick- son was promptly discharged.
Unable to obtain employment here, the "man without a country" went to Rockford and ob- tained a job. A letter sent there, giving his history, resulted in his separation from his employers, He went to Minneapolis, His rec- ord followed him and he was refused work.
On September 29, Erickson, poor of purse and broken in spirit, returned to Racine and appeared before the local board, begging for an opportunity to undo what he had done. He had seen the error of his ways, and he was then willing to don a uniform and fight, or even die, to regain the priceless right which he had thrown away to escape temporary dis- comfort and danger.
But it was too late. The law was inexorable. "By this action he shall FOREVER be de- barred from becoming a citizen," were the words which had been pointed out to him a few weeks before and which he had chosen as a refuge from army service.
With tears streaming down his face, he sunk his chin deep into his collar and slunk down the stairs, around a corner and thence into oblivion insofar as Racine is concerned.
Where he went, or how, no one in this com- munity knows-or cares.
The roster of the Racine College S. A. T. C. (which is shown in the illustration on opposite page) contained the following names :- Alfred L. Agne, Keith A. Beecher, Norman B. Bengtson, William C. Benson, Frank Borsh, Harvey L. Buslett, John A. Carpenter, William H. Cart- tington, William P. Cizek, Hugh C. Cordick, Earl G. Cril- singer, Grover F. D. Croll, James C. Cullen, Carlton E. Douglas, Allen J. Drumm, William H. Dummer, Thomas Dumphy, Solomon J. Edwin, Eugene A. Erny, John W. Fitzpatrick, Russell G. Flagg, Van H. Fossler, Frederick W. Fredelake, Russell W. Frederick, Carl J. Freres, An- drew S. Gamble, Frederick D. Gebhardt. Roy W. Gower, Harry W. Groenke, Russell F. Groenke, Darwin E. Healey, Frederick E. Hegeman, Godfred F. Heinish, John E. Helm, Alfred Hermann, Wallace B. Hessler, Melvin F. Hoernel, Walter G. Horn, Clyde N. Horne, Louis Horvath, Ralph J. Humhle, Albin T. Johnson, Carl V. Johnson, David John- son, Neville Joyner, Frederick H. Joyner, Earl W. Kaiser, Fred B. Kark, Donald M. Kastler, Leon L. Katafiasz, .
Lawrence O. Kellogg, Edward P. Kersten, Joseph C. Kolinsky, Warren E. Lalande, Arthur G. Lunde, John D. McCarthy, Howard R. McVey, Harvey L. Marcoux. Eu- gene J. Mayer, Edward W. Mazzoni, Edwin B. Milne, Walter M. Mirow, Allyn L. Mogensen, Geo. W. Mogensen, Samuel Morgan, Earle J. Morser, Gus. V. Motteler, A. W. Neitzel, Edward Ossko, George B. Patrick, John Pekarske, LeRoy J. Penberthy, George Petersen, Victor A. Pezano- ski, Arnold O. Pieper, Walter M. Pohl, Ervin C. Raatz. Paul E. Riebs, Stanley M. Rose, Benjamin G. Schaefer. Cyril J. Schaller, Henry J. Schmidt, Ira Schnell, A. A. Schultz, Martin O. Schulz, George B. Scriven, George K. Seeber, John B. Shaughnessy, Walter J. Sieb, Walter S. Smolenski, Ed. C. Sorensen, Harold Sorenson, Harold J. Strang, Joe E. Tennes, Walter V. Wagner, Emmett M. Wallace, Jerome Wexberg, Wm. E. Wiechers, Howard F. Wiesen, Walter E. Wilson, Ed. M. Wochinski, Claire A. Wolfe, Thomas S. Wood, Emerald G. Wright, Bernard H. Yopp, Otis G. Youngquist, Armin G. Zapf, Watson W. Mitchel, Lieut. Cyrus J. Droppers, Porter B. Price.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
X
STUDENT ARMY TRAINING CORPS AT RACINE COLLEGE IN 1918. (SEE OPPOSITE PAGE)
CHAPTER XIX
EFFECT OF WAR ON RACINE INDUSTRIES
E VERY manufacturing plant in Racine felt the effects of the war in some man- er. Before the United States became involved in the conflict, several concerns were engaged in making supplies of various sorts for the Allied countries. The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company, which had absorbed the old Mitchell Wagon company, turned out a large number of baggage wagons and rolling kitch- ens for the Russian and French governments. The Gorton Manufacturing Company was mak- ing machines which facilitated the cutting of steel and iron for the manufacture of guns and shells. There was a project on foot in Janu- ary, 1917, to establish a huge shrapnel factory at Corliss to engage in a contract with the French and British governments.
When America declared war, practically every factory in Racine offered its services to the government, either for the making of their normal products or for any other production that might be required.
Naturally, the first effect of the war was a shortage of labor due to enlistment of the most patriotic of the young men of the com- munity. This matter threatened to become serious beyond words when the draft should begin to operate. The government had wisely foreseen all phases of the problem, however, and with the institution of the draft, exemp- tion was given to essential employes in all industries, and a large proportion of employes in essential industries, if their services were needed at home.
While the employers were confronted with a likely shortage of labor, they soon were faced also with a shortage of material and rising prices. For instance, the government restrict- ed the manufacture of inner tubes for automo- bile tires to 50 per cent of the previous year's production, to conserve the supply of rubber, while the price of pig iron and similar raw ma- terial advanced from 100 to 300 per cent, with deliveries limited to plants manufacturing
necessary articles. The sugar shortage cur- tailed production of many foodstuffs. How- ever, the government adopted many wise meas- ures to keep any industry from being destroyed, and so well were matters arranged that gov- ernment contracts for essential things were distributed among factories which otherwise would have been closed as non-essential, and the industrial life of the nation was kept in a healthy condition.
Inquiry among thirty or forty large manu- facturers of Racine county brought out the information that practically all of them ex- perienced these effects of the war, while it was in progress:
First, shortage of labor and material.
Second, it was easy to sell anything they could produce.
Third, profits were larger than in peace times.
The shortage of labor was offset to some degree by the fact that women and old men took the places made vacant by departing sol- diers and sailors, and the high wages were attractive to all who were able to work. Fur- thermore, there was an incentive for those at home to keep all industries going at high speed and thus help win the war. There was very little labor trouble here during the war. The government made it very plain that all who were not willing to work at fair wages must go into military service.
Racine was fortunate in that its manufac- tures were mostly of such a nature as to be classed as necessities for either the govern- ment or the civilian population. While no guns or ammunition was being manufactured, other things almost as important were being turned out in immense quantities.
The Walker Manufacturing Company fur- nished the government with auto jacks and other accessories. The Hartmann Trunk Com- pany made locker trunks for army and navy officers. The Racine Tool & Machinery Com-
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
pany was making cut-off machines for cutting steel and iron. The Hilker-Wiechers Company and the Alschuler Manufacturing Company made shirts and other parts of uniforms, and shoes were sold to army and navy by the Mill- er Shoe Company, and the Racine Shoe Com- pany. The J. I. Case T. M. Company was making tractors for the United States and Allied governments, and the J. I. Case Plow Company did the same with plows and har- rows. The Chicago Rubber Clothing Company manufactured rubber aprons and sheeting for hospitals, and rain coats for troops. The Hor- lick Malted Milk Company's products were used in many military establishments and hos- pitals, and the company was perfecting a con- densed emergency ration to be carried by all soldiers and sailors. The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company had contracts for auto trucks and trailers, and the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company sold all of its vast output of cots, tents and camp supplies to the army.
No attempt will be made to list all of the products made here which were considered essential to the carrying on of the war, but it can readily be seen that Racine county in- dustries were doing their share.
The Racine Manufacturing Company, for example, practically originated a new line of industry-the building of lifeboats and life rafts in large quantities. Prior to this time, these were produced by hand work, and the process was very slow. The organization of the Emergency Fleet Corporation under gov- ernment auspices, and the announcement of plans for the construction of hundreds of sea- going vessels in a short time, made the pro- duction of these accessories very necessary. The lifeboats were made with a steel keel and a releasing gear, so they could be launched from their davits automatically. The lifeboats, as shipped from Racine, were complete with canvas cover, emergency rations for a capacity load for five days, oars, sail, boat hooks, pails, hatchet, matches, compass, lantern, cups, dis- tress signals, rockets, sea anchor and hand pump. The life rafts were nearly as well equipped with supplies. They consisted of two metal cylinders to which was bolted a frame- work of wood. The rafts were meant to be thrown in the water, so people could hold onto them until picked up by boats.
The Freeman Manufacturing Company also rendered great service to the United States Shipping Board. When it was planned to con- struct a huge fleet of wooden ships, the Free- man Manufacturing Company accepted a con- tract for a special type of marine boiler and
manufactured forty-two of the monsters. To do this it was necessary to interrupt work on many private contract jobs, and for a time the government would not allow the company to send out any of its men to repair boilers of old customers. Realizing the necessity for haste, the employes of the plant often worked thir- teen hours a day to get the work out for the government.
The Silver Iron & Steel Company, organized to buy and sell scrap material, reported that they collected and shipped nearly a thousand tons a month of metal for use in war indus- tries during 1918.
Practically every foundry in Racine had sub- contracts for making parts of machinery used in war work of some sort.
The factories were the centers for much of the war work at home. In all the Liberty Loan drives, for instance, there was an organi- zation at each plant to solicit from each em- ploye, and when the Racine County Relief Fund was instituted all employes donated the earnings of one-half hour each week to this fund, while the employers contributed a sum equal to the donations of all their employes.
The J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company is the largest manufacturing institution in the county. There were 844 of its employes in the service of the government, or one out of every five of the 4,000 employed. Some of these were from branch houses in other cities, but the majority were from the Racine works.
As an example of the way in which the fac- tories assisted in civilian war work, it is worth while to record the following figures showing the record of J. I. Case T. M. employes in the Liberty Loan drives:
Employes
Per Company
Subscribed Capita Subscribed
Totals
First
$ 63,950.
$21.
$ 100,000.
$ 163,950.
Second
90,000.
36.
200,000.
290,000.
Third
185,000.
62.
300,000.
485,000.
Fourth
251,000.
99.
400,000.
651,000.
Fifth
276,000.
79.
400,000.
675,250.
8866,200.
$1,400,000.
$2,266,200.
Besides buying Bonds to the limit, the em- ployees purchased $111,265.00 worth of War Savings Stamps.
Early in the war, on the first Y. M. C. A. drive, a sum of $1,700.00 was raised at the plant. In November, 1917, when our country had become more deeply involved in the strug- gle, the people from the company raised $9,- 211.75 for the "Y." This was twelve per cent of the entire allotment for Racine county.
Probably the most war-like activities noticed around the plant was the period when a com- pany of the 37th Engineers from Fort Meyers, Virginia, were stationed at the South Works.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
Official U. S. Photo
ROAD CAMOUFLAGE-PROTECTION FROM AERIAL OBSERVATION
The strange looking scenery shown above doesn't look very substantial from the ground, but when an enemy was above it, the strips of wiring presented a ground shadow which completely obscured moving troops or trains.
1
Photo by H. J. Sanders
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED IN FRANCE
Many Battery O men attended the Memorial services on May 30, 1918 at Camp Williams Cemetery, Is-sur-tille, as shown in the illustration. On each of the graves a tiny American flag fluttered the message of Liberty from those who lay sleeping there.
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
These soldiers were sent here by the Govern- ment to study the operation and construction of the modern iron horse, the tractor. While they were in Racine, they were comfortably quartered at the Motor Works, which was con- verted into a fine barracks. They were fed at the South Works restaurant, on regular civil- ian chow. While here the men studied the tractor as it was constructed in the shops, and also did practical work of plowing and prepar- ing the seed bed on surrounding farms. Lec- tures and classes were also conducted by the Case Research Engineering and Educational Departments.
Another phase of the war work in the Case plant, which while it did not assume to be any- thing tremendously great, yet it illustrated the splendid feeling of fellowship that existed be- tween the soldiers in overalls and the soldiers in khaki, was the Case Eagle jitney fund. This was purely and simply a stunt put on by the men in the factory themselves.
Immediately after the boys of the Batteries and the Ambulance departed for camp, there was posted around the shop, a placard bearing the following slogan, "A nickel or more for the Case Boys at war," and was dubbed "The Jitney Fund." Everyone contributed anything from a nickel to a quarter each month. The money thus raised was used to purchase candy, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, paper, pencils, shav- ing soap, tooth brushes, and other toilet ar- ticles, and in general, many of those little things which the boys were in the habit of having at home. A jitney package such as this was forwarded each month to every Case boy in service, as long as he could be kept track of. After the boys reached the other side, of course it was not as easy for the packages to reach their proper destination. While this fund was in active existence, it collected $2,800.56, and spent in jitney packages $1,597.44. At the end of the war there was quite a sum being held in trust, to be used to aid some worthy Case soldier or his family. Money from this fund was also used to send floral tributes to
the funerals of Case soldiers who died and were buried in this country.
There is published at the J. I. Case Thresh- ing Machine Company's factories, a little monthly factory paper, known as the "Case Eagle." On July 18th, 1917, the editor of the Eagle established a section in this paper, and termed it the "Old Abe Warrior." This de- partment was given over entirely to the doings of Case boys in service. Letters were pub- lished, photographs were printed, and anything interesting to Case soldiers could also be found on these pages. The Eagle was always mailed each month to every former employee in the service. Many interesting stories have been told how the "Eagle" helped many fellows to locate their friends, through reading the "Old Abe Warrior" section.
The officials of the Company were also very active in the war. Warren J. Davis, the presi- dent of the company, served as Racine County Chairman of the War Savings Stamp Commit- tee. During the war Mr. Davis wrote letters to every boy in service, advising them on the matter of War Risk Insurance, and received hundreds of replies from the young men. Mil- ton H. Pettit, vice-president in charge of plants and production, was an enthusiastic worker in the Racine County Council of Defense. Oth- er officers and division sales managers were always prominent in the various drives. When the two companies of Wisconsin State Guards were formed, five out of the six commissioned officers were men from the Case organization. Richard P. Howell was in direct charge of most of the Liberty Loan and other financial war work at the plant.
In the summer of 1918 Racine was on a war basis. Her young men were rapidly being en- rolled in the armed forces of the nation. Her factories were working at high speed to make military supplies and products needed by the civilian population of America and the Allied nations.
Toward the end of July some strangers ap- peared in the city and made a hasty survey of
TROOP NO. 10, RACINE BOY SCOUTS, WHO WERE IN ACTIVE SERVICE DURING THE WAR. (SEE PAGE 185.)
These Boy Scouts were veteran scout troops. They were active in war garden work, liberty loan drives (capturing highest honors in one) and in all kinds of service which their organization was called upon to give. There were other troops as active during war days, but photographs of them were not available at the time these pages went to press. In the photograph are shown :
Top Row-Clarence Rassmusen, George Christopherson, Gabriel Balazs, Glenn McCaughey. Burt E. Burdick, Wil- liam Foster, George Peterson.
Second-Clyde Mehder, Frank Dieter, Kenneth Hancock, Kenneth Russell, Ervin Shrader, Louis Moe, Arnold Bor- nofska.
Third-Melvern Russell, William Wenszell, Arthur Kuck- enhack, Harold Kuckenhack, John Johnson, Robert Han- son, Ralph Kister. S. C. Burdick.
Bottom-Leroy Puerner, Arthur Liesner, Arnold Gres- mer, W. J. Burdick, John Trumbull, Richard Sorensen, Rell Barrett.
The insert upper left hand corner is Harold E. Burdick who died in service.
RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
185
me
Photo by Malme
L
1+
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RACINE COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
lands lying north of the city, near Ives, in the town of Caledonia. They were followed by other men, who were evidently engineers of considerable authority, who checked over the work of their advance guard, and made in- quiries regarding railroad facilities, labor mar- ket, water supply, and other matters. They presented credentials to Secretary Walter H. Reed of the Commercial club, Postmaster Her- zog, and other prominent citizens, showing that they were representing some government- al department. They kept their mission a secret, and asked that they be given such in- formation as they needed but that their opera- tions he not talked about.
Officers of the Commercial club were in- formed that the government had in view some important construction work. As was custom- ary, details of such matters were not discussed in war time.
After a few days spent here, the engineers began to ask for options on a huge tract of land near Ives, and the Commercial club and Council of Defense were asked to assist, as a patriotic task. Federal representatives came and went. It became known that all property between the Four and a Half Mile road and the Seven Mile road, and east from the Chi- cago & Northwestern right of way to Lake Michigan was needed.
Rumors hegan flying thick and fast. Some said an aeroplane factory was to be established. Others decided a big base hospital was contem- plated. One man claimed to know that a fac- tory for making naval guns was intended. A shipbuilding yard was deemed possible.
Finally a party of engineers arrived to stake out a system of roads through the tract, and on some of their baggage were seen the words, "Dupont Engineering Company." The cat was then out of the bag and it was realized that this concern proposed to erect a plant for manufacturing high explosives. Eventually it was admitted that this was the case, and that the recently perfected "TNT" powder was to be made there.
There was objection to the proposal at once, as citizens feared to have such a dangerous neighbor. The Dupont people were unable to get their options. The War department then took a hand.
Owners of property were appealed to as pa- triotic citizens to grant the option. Public sentiment, the most powerful instrument for any purpose during the war, was crystalized in favor of the project. Racine people felt that if their boys across the water could stand having TNT shot at them, the home folks could risk
having it manufactured near them. On such grounds, the land owners, mostly farmers, agreed to give sixty day options to the govern- ment. A Mr. G. B. Groesbeck of Cincinnati was in charge of this work.
While the options were being signed up, two representatives of the Industrial Service Divi- sion of the Department of Labor came here and obtained the assistance of prominent citi- zens in making a thorough industrial survey of the community. In three days these men were able to give the government agents exact facts regarding every feature of the city and county which needed to be considered in con- nection with the establishment of a huge in- dustry.
The Dupont company, as contractor for the government, then entered upon the 2,200 acres of land under option and proceeded to do some rather rapid work. Owners of the small farms were evicted. Signs were posted ordering trespassers to keep out, as it was a govern- ment reservation. Railroad sidetracks were built into the tract. Trainloads of supplies be- gan to arrive. Laborers were imported by the thousands. All available lumber and building material in the city was purchased regardless of price. Teams and trucks were engaged at prices which then seemed fabulous.
Buildings were erected almost overnight to house the workers, and other structures were begun for offices, engine rooms, warehouses, etc. A complete water system was installed with many miles of mains leading from a pumping station near the lake. Expensive roads were built. The tract was graded, and surface soil used to fill depressions. Along with this went crops of potatoes, cabbages and other vegetables which the contractors would not allow the land owners to remove lest they interfere with the work at hand.
Expense seemed to be no object. On the contrary, no bill ever seemed to he questioned. Laborers and clerks were hired at wages high- er than they themselves asked. The rates of pay for everyone was far above what was paid for the same class of work in the city, and a serious industrial situation was threatened in Racine due to the enticing of help from the local plants. Office girls who had been get- ting $40 to $75 a month in town were given jobs at $125 to $175 a month without any at- tempt being made to test their ability. Skilled mechanics could double their income by taking a job at the TNT plant.
Special trains were run to the plant every day from Milwaukee and Racine, and the con- tractors paid half of the employes' carfare.
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