Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-02-28

They have less than a third OF the
rolling stock necessary 70 meet normal
requirements. The demand for trans
portation facilities will necessarily in
crease during the period of reconstruc-
ton ! have seen locomotives sneeZ-
ing. coughing. expiring every few
miles Ola. broken-down engines. the
KIND one expects 10 find in a museum.
/ was on de luxe train a diplomatic
express. I commented upon the con
dition Of the locomotive. which came
to full stop every once 7 while.
commented upon the condition of the
coaches. Tie chief of the tr2in looked
at me- smiled and said: IF you
think this one is bad you ought to see
some of the others
The war disarranged plants and fac
tories. The demand was for muni-
tons. Peace gave way to war and
plant equipment efficient for peace
production gave way TO plant construc-
ton necessary to manufacture the
weapons of war. Plants were COM
mandeered. Machinery was torn out,
new machinery put in. A complete re-
construction and reorganization was
effected. Now that the war is over and
the demand for everything is great, it
is necessary 10 change these plants
back and tit them for the production
needed 1t is expensive it takes time,
1t retards production.
It is strange that. while everyone
can see and understand the difficulties
ami delays incident to recognizing
and rearranging machinery and plants,
many people cannot see or understand
the problem OF rearranging mems
lives. who for tour years have been
living abnomaiiy. The effect of the
war upon plants and equipment is con
coded by the very man who refused to
see any effect of the war ON the men
who were in it.
Women in Labor World.
During the war women answered the
roll call. They left their homes and
went to work There is hardly kind
of work that can think of that l have
not seen women doing In Europe. l
have seen them loading boats, shovel
ing coal. washing windows. driving
wagons. cleaning streets, conductors ON
trans. Many of the women who went
into the Industries We're young women.
Now that the war is over and the men
have come back there is a demand on
the part of the men that the women re-
tire 10 their homes. This is impoSsI-
bile in many eases. for these women
have grown dependent upon their jobs
for their living Then. too. there is
shortage of marr.ageabie men. Some
employers OF labor have taken adj
vantage of this situation. They pay a
woman less money than they pay a
man for the same work. This makes
both dissatisfied The woman has the
sympathy Of the working man. He
doesn't want her 70 compete with him
to the extent that his wages will be
lowered. neither does he want the boss
TO discriminate against her.
Women have come into the world of
work to stay. IL there is amy meaning
in the phrase "cass conscious" they
are living examples Of it. They are
more outSpoken about their demands
thon men They sense a wrong long
beEoro man ran SEQ Il. They have
brought their intuition iuto the labor
world They are more radical than
men. and they stimulate men to action.
They have brought Ia the labor prob
lem a new and Interesting angle.
The key 10 the future is in the hands
of these men and women. production
is the door that must be opened. Men
aud women must work, or winter and
want viii make No Mans Land of
Europe before the sun Of 1920 thawS
the frost from the ground.
Children crying for bread, shivertng
In the cold these bleak winter nights.
are praying TINT men will work when
they pray to God for good and warmth.
Their help cries are smothered by a
great hlanket-unreSt. Will men hear
them?
So | sought 10 find the causes of I'M
rest. knowing it would bring me close
10 the heart Of the trouble.
,Copyrtght 1890. Western Newspaper Cnion)