The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-10-19
AFTER THE War,
WHAT?"--THE GREAT
QUESTION IN OHIO
Review Of Conditions a Vivid
Contrast
Under Normal Conditions Of the vii.
son Administrations, Thousands of
Idle Men Filled Every ohio City.
The War Must End Before Long.

son Administrations, Thousands o.
Idle Men Filled Every ohio City
The War Must End Before Long.
Columbus, O., Oct. 1O.-"After the
War, What?"
This has become the great political
question in Ohio this year.
With the realization that the great
war in Europe, upon which the pres
ent business and temporary prosperity
are founded, can not last, at the long
est, but a few months, people are
thinking backwards to conditions un
der the Wilson administration Just
before the war began, and trying to
figure out what better they may ex
pact when the war is over.
The news items of a few months
ago are discouraging to the man who
contemplates Wilson prosperity" a
few months hence. It is vividly recall
ed tnat every county in the state was
affected, that the legislature was TAX
ing special action (early in 1879 to
provide special free employment bu,
reaus, and that all the large cities Of
the state were issuing bonds and
otherwise providing funds to keep
their working people from starving to
death. This was the normal condition
under the non-protective policies Of
the Wilson free trade administration.
Then came the war, and after several
months its orders for supplies for the
gigantic armies of Europe. How sig
nifcant this is upon present condi-
tions Is SHOWN by the great losses
when a few submarines In one day
caused almost a panic this week. And
the war must close long before the
next administration, everyone con-
cedes.
Looking back few months to the
newspapers of 1914 and early in 1915,
here are some examples that are typi-
cal:
Cleveland was constrained to raise
the sum of $16O,0OO to provide work
for the unemployed, and thus prevent
soup kitchens" and other relief for
the thousands of industrious, thrifty
workingmen who were walking t1e
streets-thrown out Of employment
through no fault of theirs, by the Dem.
ocratic tariff.
In February, 1914, In Cincinnati,
there were 22,S51 experienced maehin.
lists out of employment; there we're
II, 200 mechanics and helpers out of
Soup kitchens were es-
tablished.
or the Sc manufacturing industries
80 were entirely closed down, 10 were
working only 25 per cent of full time,
90 were working only Ga per cent of
Full time 8 were working 80 per cent
Df fu!! time, and not single one Of
The entire sc was working full time.
An army of unemployed walked the
streets and the free employment bu-
'eau was overwhelmed with thou |
sands OF appeals for work. Mayor
Speigel found it necessary to form a
'elief committee, and the city issued |
100000 of bonds to provide work for
he unemployed. Councilman Mullen,
lided by prominent citizens, opened
free soup house. and free bundles
II clothing were given to the Door. A
great many factories were closed and
were running on short time.
On March 2, 1914, the Ohio State
Journal (Cox and Wilson supporter)
lad this item: at is estimated that
It least 5000 men are out Of work
within the city (CoIumbus) and their
antilles are in many cases in need CT
help in the way of food.
lothing and fuel" Why? Wilson
vas president, and the Underwood
ariff was in full play.
In May, 1914, the average of opera
Ions in the Youngstown district mills
'as 90 per cent Of capacity. A mum.
er of furnaces and mills shut down.
The Youngstown CO., Telegram re-
orted early in June, 1914: "Never in
ne history Of the charities organiza.
on have there been so many men
lie at this time of the year." What
as true of Youngstown was true of
II the cities of the state.
s. P. Bush. head of the Buckeye
teel Castings company (coIumbus),
sued a statement in July, 1914, that
Is company was running at only 30 [
er cent of annual capacity-with lit. 1
g business booked ahead.
In the middle of June, 1914, the |
kron (O) Central Labor Union re-
orted tnat within recent period t
600 men had been laid off by the J
lbber works, and that Akron was full 1
idle men. 4
Out of a score of potteries in the 4
of RoseviEIe and Crooks. r
lie CO., they were all closed in july. q
IA, with the exception of one. There h
as an accumulation of 600 carloads h
unsold products, while usually there G
q only about 80. p
Industrial conditions in BeIIaire a
sre deplorable just before the war "
the middle of April, 1914, the glass n
anuIacturers were working half a
ne, and that continued until Janu.
y 1918. The steel mills were work v
g only three or four days a week a.
YER half the working people of the q
untry were out of employment. n
lese conditions prevailed until late n
the fall Of 1914, when war orders o
to come in. ~
CleveIand-The report filed by W. r
Hennessey, superintendent of tho W
Labor Exchange, shows h,
at At one time during the period be. n