Racine County, Wisconsin - Chapter 19: Effect of War on Racine Industries, 1920

Chapter 19: Effect of War on Racine Industries

EVERY manufacturing plant in Racine felt the effects of the war in some manner. 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 kitchens for the Russian and French governments. The Gorton Manufacturing Company was making machines which facilitated the cutting of steel and iron for the manufacture of guns and shells. There was a project on foot in January, 1917, to establish a huge shrapnel factory at Corliss to engage in a contract with the Trench 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 community. This matter threatened to become serious beyond woi'ds 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, exemption 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 risingprices. For instance, the government restricted the manufacture of inner tubes for automobile 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 material advanced from 100 to 300 per cent, with deliveries limited to plants manufacturing necessary articles. The sugar shortage curtailed production of many foodstuffs. However, the government adopted many wise measures to keep any industry from being destroyed, and so well were matters arranged that government 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 manufacturers of Racine county brought out the information that practically all of them experienced these effects of the war, while it was in progress:

The shortage of labor was offset to some degree by the fact that women and old men took the places made vacant by departing soldiers and sailors, and the high wages were attractive to all who were able to work. Furthermore, 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 iri that its manufactures were mostly of such a nature as to be classed as necessities for either the government 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 furnished the government with auto jacks and other accessories. The Hartmann Trunk Company made locker trunks for army and navy officers. The Racine Tool & Machinery Com- pany was making' cut-off machines for cutting steel and iron. The Hill^er-Wiechers Company and the Alschuler Manufacturing Company made shirts and other parts of uniforms, and shoes were sold to army and navy by the Miller Shoe Company, and the Racine Shoe Company. 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 harrows. The Chicago Rubber Clothing Company manufactured rubber aprons and sheeting for hospitals, and rain coats for troops. The Horlick Malted Milk Company's products were used in many military establishments and hospitals, and the company was perfecting a condensed 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 industries were doing their shai'e.

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 government auspices, and the announcement of plans for the construction of hundreds of seagoing vessels in a short time, made the production 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, distress 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 framework 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 sei'vice to the United States Shipping Board. When it was planned to construct a huge fleet of wooden ships, the Fi^eeman Manufacturing Company accepted a contract 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 thirteen 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 industries during 1918.

The factories were the centers for much of the war work at home. In all the Libei-ty Loan drives, for instance, there was an organization at each plant to solicit from each employe, 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 bi'anch houses in other cities, but the majority were from the Racine works.

As an example of the way in which the factories 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 Libei'ty Loan drives:

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 struggle, the people from the company I'aised $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 company of the 37th Engineers from Fort Meyers, Virginia, were stationed at the South Works.

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.

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 tlag fluttered the message of Liberty from those who lay

These soldiers were sent here by the Government 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 converted into a fine barracks. They were fed at the South Works restaurant, on regular civilian chow. While here the men studied the ti'actor as it was constructed in the shops, and also did practical work of plowing and preparing the seed bed on surrounding farms. Lectures and classes were also conducted by the Case Research Engineering and Educational Departments.

Another phase of the v.-ar work in the Case plant, which while it did not assume to be anything tremendously great, yet it illustrated the splendid feeling of fellowship that existed between 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, shaving soap, tooth brushes, and other toilet articles, 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

There is published at the J. I. Case Threshing 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 department was given over entirely to the doings of Case boys in service. Letters were published, 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 president of the company, served as Racine County Chairman of the War Savings Stamp Committee. 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. Milton H. Pettit, vice-president in charge of plants and production, was an enthusiastic worker in the Racine County Council of Defense. Other 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 wei-e rapidly being enrolled 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.

These Boy Scouts were veteran scout troops. They were active in war garden work, liberty loan drives (capturin;^ 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 : lands lying north of the city, neai' 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 inquiries regarding railroad facilities, labor market, water supply, and other matters. They presented credentials to Secretary Walter H. Reed of the Commercial club. Postmaster Herzog, and other prominent citizens, showing that they ^yere representing some governmental department. They kept their mission a secret, and asked that they be given such information as they needed but that their operations be not talked about.

Officers of the Commercial club were informed that the government had in view some important construction work. As was customary, 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 Commei'cial 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 fi'om the Chicago & Northwestern right of way to Lake Michigan was needed.

Rumors began flying thick and fast. Some said an aeroplane factory was to be established. Others decided a big base hospital was contemplated. One man claimed to know that a factory 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 feai^ed 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 patriotic 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 government. 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 Division of the Department of Labor came here and obtained the assistance of prominent citizens 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 connection with the establishment of a huge industry.

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 government reservation. Railroad sideti'acks were built into the tract. Trainloads of supplies began 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 ovmers to remove lest they interfere with the work at hand.

Expense seemed to be no object. On the contrary, no bill ever seemed to be questioned. Laborers and clerks were hired at wages higher 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 thi'eatened in Racine due to the enticing of help from the local plants. Office girls who had been getting $40 to $75 a month in town were given jobs at $125 to $175 a month without any attempt being made to test their ability. Skilled mechanics could double their income by taking a job at the TNT plant.

Saving Paris From The Biggest Berthas

The railway artillery guns moved up to the rail heads and from that point, with aid of aeroplane observation, were able to drop sufficient material upon the long-distance German pieces to nullify their operations against Paris.

Shell Dropped In A German Machine Gun Nest

The results are apparent to anyone and pay tribute to the excellent aim of American gunners. The M. G. crew is scattered about the landscape together with the equipment. Scenes of this kind were common to the advancing Yanks in the late days of the war as they followed the advancing barrages of their own artillery.

So many men were working, that often there would be a line of 1,000 men waiting to check in at the timekeeper's gate at 8 o'clock, and the last man would not be at work for an hour or two later. But his pay went right on.

It was stated that the Dupont company was to build the plant without profit, but it was the general belief that the contractors received cost plus 10% profit on the work. It seems reasonable, inasmuch as no eff'ort seemed to be made to reduce costs and there were indications that high costs were preferred. Of course on a "cost plus" basis, the contractor would make more money if the cost was high.

From 8,000 to 12,000 people were working on the munitions plant, and money was flowing like water, when the armistice was signed. With the suspension of hostilities, the great powers vested in the War department were suspended automatically. Construction was ordered stopped. No money was obtainable to pay for the land occupied under the options, and there was no way to get it. The government no longer wanted the land. That much was understandable by all.

But what of the property o\vTiers ? When their land was seized they were informed verbally that the options were to be exercised and the property purchased. They were actually evicted from their premises. Some had borrowed money and made payments on new farms. Others moved into Racine and sought employment while awaiting reimbursement. Their farms were ruined, in many cases. Concrete roads, frame buildings, I'ailroads and other "improvements" of this natui'e do not serve any good use on a farm. Much of the fertile top soil had been hauled away. Buildings had been torn down ruthlessly. Guards still patrolled the borders of the tract to prevent even the owners from entering.

For a time, the owners waited patiently for word from Washington. Then they began to worry. Finally they started to hire lawyers. The public sympathized with them. The manner in which the nation's money had been wasted caused much bitter comment, and resulted in some grumbling during the last two Libei'ty Loan drives. Purchasers of bonds saw that any amount they could give would be wasted in a few minutes at the Ives plant alone.

As the winter passed, and spring came, every possible effort was made to learn the government's intentions. The men who had planned the munitions works had left the federal service. Others answered letters addressed to their departments, and often the successors would be gone before explanations could be completed. The owners could not get the land. There was no sign that they would be reimbursed for their sacrifices. The land was not being used, yet the government seemed unable to relinquish possession because of the large quantities of material stored there.

Agents came to investigate and nothing was heard of their reports. Real estate men from Racine were asked to estimate the damages sustained by property owners. They made reports which disappeared into pigeon-holes at Washington, and even their pay for the appraisal was not forthcoming.

Up to January, 1920, the only progress made was the announcement that the buildings on the premises would be sold to the lowest bidder, and a Chicago firm obtained them at the auction. In the meantime it had developed that in other parts of the country land owners had been deprived of their property in a similar manner for other government projects, and a congressional investigation of the methods used was decided upon.

Other industries in Racine did not suffer greatly as a result of the sudden ending of the war. All of them had plenty of private contracts in sight as soon as the government business could be disposed of, and the transformation of the factories from a war to a peace basis was accomplished with hai'dly a ripple of excitement. In fact, the year 1919 was by all odds the most prosperous ever experienced in the history of the city and only the scarcity of material with which to construct new buildings prevented a tremendous growth in population in that year. There was a great shortage of houses and it was also difficult for manufacturing plants to obtain material and sufficient labor for enlarging their plants, as they desired.

The federal government was determined that no former soldier or sailor who desired to work should enter upon a period of enforced idleness upon return from the camps, after being mustered out. Elaborate plans wei'e made to furnish the agencies whei'eby men could be transported from one city or state to another, if necessary, in order to place them in jobs. Fortunately, the prosperous condition of the country kept the service from being absolutely necessai-y. Almost all service men were able to obtain lucrative employment immediately and be earning high wages while seeking some particular position which they desired.

Some Things That The Gobs Saw

use, the employment service organized during the war as the basis for the scheme. Reference is made elsewhere to the Racine U. S. employment office, which was designed to regulate the labor supply for war work. It had engaged some 1,400 men for the government TNT plant at Ives and about 500 men for construction work at Camp Grant and the Manitowoc Shipbuilding project. H. G. Presser was superintendent of the office.

For the purpose of placing men who were being mustered out, the Bureau for Returning Soldiers, Sailors and Marines was organized on December .30th, 1918, at the Council Chambers; a special conference having been called for this purpose. The following is a list of names of those present at this conference and the organization which each one repi'esented :

The purpose of this Bureau was chiefly that the soldier, sailor or marine returning to his town or to a strange town could have some certain place to go to to find out information as to what kind of employment was open for him. At the time this Bureau was organized, many soldiers, sailors and marines and war workers were being demobilized; many going to cities where they were relatively unknown. Wherever they went, it was the duty of the community to see that every possible opportunity was given to them to get jobs - to get the best jobs for which they are qualified. These men gave up their work at the country's call, without hesitation. To some of them, their old positions remained open, with others, such was not the case. Still others had acquired new purpose and strength and in many cases new skill, which fitted them for better work than they had formerly. It was both a national and a community duty to see that as they came back everything was done to enable them to return to positions wherethey could do most effective work.

The co-operating agencies registered at this office all opportunities for employment which came to their attention. Employers were urged as a patriotic duty to register their opportunities for employment with specifications as to types and kinds of men wanted and other necessary details. They kept the Bureau in-

The series shows the head of a draft procession, accompanying ofTtcials, the line of the marchers and sidewalk spectators, crowds in the streets accompanyinff the boys. Home Guards and officials waiting for the train that was to carry the men away, sorrowing friends and relatives (note serious faces and woman with handkerchief pressed to eyes in next to bottom picture), and, finally, the contingent on its way, waving flags an dshouting farewells through the car windows.

formed as such positions were filled or as new jobs were open. The full resources of the Bureau were open without charge to any returning soldiers, sailors, marines and war workers, regardless of where he or she first made application. The Bureau used all means at its disposal to furnish them with correct information on the various questions that confronted them, or directed them to places where such information couid be obtained. This was the general method of operating the Bureau.

In charge of each Bureau was a Bureau Manager, who was selected by the Board of Management. H. G. Presser was selected as Bureau Manager for this Bureau. He was sworn into the Federal Service as a Special Agent of the U. S. Employment Service of the Department of Labor, and was entitled to the franking privileges of such Department, and subject in the e.xecutive details, to the instructions of the Director General of the Employment Service, and of the Federal Director of such Service for this city.

The U. S. Employment Service appointed an agent to be stationed in every demobilization camp who was there assisted by the camp representatives of the affiliated organization. Each such agent so far as possible, was to telegraph the Federal State Director the probable time of arrival of discharged soldiers as soon as definite information was available. The Federal State Director in turn informed the Bureaus affected. As far as possible, this information contained the number of men who signified their intention to call on the local Bureau for assistance, and a general statement of the predominating kinds of woi'k desired. He mailed a cai'd for each man who had signified a desii'e for assistance, stating the kind of work desired. These cards were classified and filed by the Manager of the Bureau, and where possible, matched up with available opportunities before the man called at the Bureau, so that on arrival he could be at once referred to a definite opening.

In Racine there was an average of about 150 registrations per month, and an average of about 120 placed in employment. Of this amount thirty per cent were outsiders, that is. men coming here from different cities who had never before been in this city. A great many of these applied several times for the reason that their position was not available, while others took temporary positions until they could obtain their pre-war position.

The office was maintained by the Government paying the salaries of the employes therein and the city paid all other expenses, such as rent, fuel, heat, light and telephone charges.