Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-01-11

places in this flnc town OF Gary;
very terrible, really, with no rela-
ton to any American standard of
living" Well, these men, working
under such pressure, confused and
divided, could not organize, had no
way Of expressing themselves. But
they could get drunk. Before In
diana went dry, Gary had probably
the largest number of saloons to the
population of any city in the United
States; solid blocks Of them.
A population of young unmarried
men, away from home, working un-
der high strain in an unfamiliar and
dangerous industry. without amusc-
ment or diversion-this was the nat
ural outlet. There may be those
who think prohibition discourages
economic unrest. do not. / be-
lieve it is one of the causes of it;
for it has removed the great dead
ener OF human trouble--and human
ambition-alcohol; and has left time
to the workers to talk and meet and
read, and money to buy publications
and support organizations.
Consider also what the war did
when it came. In the first place it
brought the entire working forces
at Gary under the iron regime.
Workmen could not go and come
freely between Europe and America
as they had always done, and they
were worked harder and longer than
ever; but on the other hand they got
more money and had steadier work
than ever before in their lives, for
the steel trust raised wages eight
times during the war,
Dreams During War.
This, however, was only a minor
result of the war Consider what
they were taught day after day dur
ing the struggle. 1t was not what
was pitt into their heads that count.
ed. They were told that this was
war for democracy, and that when
it was over everything would be diff
ferent and better. The war labor
board at Washington laid down the
broadest and most advanced charter
OF the rights of labor ever laid down
in America. President Wilson said
that after the war there must be
a genuine democra tization of in
dustry based upon a full recognition
of the right of those who work. in
whatever rank, to participate in
some organic way in every decision
which. directly affects their welfare
or the part they are to play in in
dustry." ..
Never before were workmen in the
steel towns SO courted; so distinctly
made to feel that they were a part,
and really an essential part, of this
great American movement For
moment kind of thrill Of partner
ship, cooperation, reached even the
lowest labor groups They all
bought Liberty bondslor war stamps;
they all subscribed to the Y. NJ. c.
A. and Red Cross almost to
the lowest man. l have heard over
and again in these industrial towns
OF the extraordinary feeling aroused
during the war. The echo of it
reached Europe and was commented
on there with kind of envy as be-
ing something better than other ma
tons could achieve. This, the work
men felt, was a taste of true Ameri-
canism
For one glorious moment they
were accepted as men working in
great common cause, side by side
with the employers, all equally nee
essary. Hundreds of them, indeed,
had actually gone into the army and
fought in France. Some had lost
their lives. The soldiers who re-
turned to The mills had new and free
ideas; in the first great parade of
strikers at Gary some 800 of them
marched in uniform at the head of
the line.
Then Comes Disillusionment.
A new era of democracy and good
will seemed dawning in the world
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