Atwood Hammond High School - Post Yearbook (Atwood, IL)

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THE POST dress a while and you needn’t none of you come to my funeral when I do die, becuuse you won’t none of you be in my will.” So we all got in the covered wagon and we all went home. Elizabeth Edmondson (Elic present fcrmunnir Unrest in JXnterira The American people are now facing a stupendous problem, the solution of which will form an economic basis for generations to come. In discussing the problem of the present economic unrest in America, we must consider the conditions prior to and during the Great World War. The tremendous increase in both domestic and foreign trade was a mark of great prosperity. This advancement was indicative of the people’s industrial progress along agricultural, mechanical, and manufacturing lines. There was, in fact a great expansion of ideas in all phases of work. Progress continued until after the declaration of war in Europe, when our commerce on the seas was disturbed. and our independence, both economically and socially,wasinsulted. This seemingly harmful influence abroad had a decidedly different effect at home. All forces united to create a great national prosperity. Prices soared, and our annual output was greatly increased. Although there was splendid co-operation in the industrial world, socially our interests clashed. We harbored two distinct classes of people, the militarists and pacifists. But the inevitable welded all classes in a common cause, when on April 6, 1917, the United States suddenly broke off all diplomatic relationship with Gemany. Events ran rapidly. We saw that in order to supply our army, we must increase the production of manufactured articles and the supply of food. Wages advanced because of the scarcity of workers, and the cost of living was relatively increased. To meet this deficiency of workers, women willingly assumed all phases of responsibility. This stringency in the field of labor served as a media for the amalgamation of all classes of people. The economic conditions at the close of the war made it hard for the returned soldier to adapt himself to any special line of work, consequently, the demands of the laboring class were greater. ‘ More money, less hours or we strike, was the cry heard all over the land. During the war the government, through its various organizations, produced for the soldiers an improved social and intellectual atmosphere. Now we find the average working man trying in vain to satisfy his desire for recreation in attending cheap melodramas, or, worst of all loafing on the streets, and discussing conditions of unrest with those intellectually unfit to do so. The time has come when everyone is anxious for a “normalcy” to be reached in trade methods and cost of basic production. A co-operation of business and government will be necessary to still this unrest. On the other hand, Capital is making just as great demands of Labor, in that it is requiring increased produ'-

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THE POST i t i unt Sarah’s 3Fnneral There were sister Mav and her husband,and brother Fred and his wife, and Mamie, who never got married and never would, and Walker and I. We took the old covered wagon and went to Aunt Sarah's funeral, because Aunt Sarah was dead, and ’twas our duty. We hitched up the old gray team to the covered wagon and went to the funeral We hadn't been very sociable with her, hadn’t even seen her for five years, but it wasn’t our fault, for when we did call she would send us word that she did not care for company. We went to the funeral to hear the will, because we were all the relation she had, and 'twas likely she had left us something. We went rumbling over the roads and at last we came to the door, and there we stopped. There was that crusty hired help, Mollie, standing at the door, and we went up and said to her. We heard that our poor, dear aunt Sarah is dead.” And said she, Have you?” Said we, What did the poor, dear deceased die of?” Said she Want of breath, like most of the folks, I reckon.” Said we, We’ve come to the poor creature’s funeral.” Said she, Well as you’ve come, you’ll have to come in.” So we out with our pocket hand-chiefs, and we said, Boo, hoo!” and we put them to our eyes, and we walked in. Mollie sent us up stairs to the front bedroom. We all went up the room and there was nothing in the room only a table, chairs and a large ward- robe. We all sat down to the table and said everything we could think ol about aunt Sarah. Her eyes were crossed.” said Fred’s wife. One of them was crossed, and of them was cast,” said Mamie; that’s the way of it; one looked at her nose, and one looked at her ear.” Twasn’t no wonder she didn’t never get married,” said Fred’s wife. We just ate and fussed about her things all the time we were seated at the table. Said I, Think what a sad occasion this is, and don’t have no words till we know what’s left us.” Perhaps we won’t be left nothing,” said May. Maybe she will leave it all to that hired help.” said Fred's wife. “If she does, she is just as mean as dirt.” said Mamie. Anyway, the oldest ought to have the most,” said I. “I’ll have the chairs and sofy, if I have to fight for them,” said May. “I must and will have the parlor carpet,” said I, Mine’s just worn out and her black satin dress will do for mourning.” Just then the awful thing happened. The door of the wardrobe burst open, and out walked aunt Sarah. She came right straight up to the table in her long white gown, and we shrieked and fled. Down the stairs we went, some on our feet, and some on our heads. When we got down in the garden and picked ourselves up, we saw the window raise, and aunt Sarah’s head stick out of it. I ain’t quite dead yet, you see, said she. I shall wear the black satin

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THE POST tion and improved products In order to meet these demands, increased educational standards are required. Formerly a high school graduate could hold a paying position, but now in many cases the requirements have been raised to the college basis. Socially, the demands have kept pace with tlie educational conditions. To attain these, an individual must indulge in wholesome amusements, have some religious profession, and on the whole a higher mentality. As a result of the increased demands with which people are unable to cope, they are thrown out of work, and the present uncertainty follows. Not only are people out of work in the city, but on the farm as well. The slogan, Food will help win the War, ’ was truly realized during the war, and now we should bend our energies to help supply the starving countries of Europe. To do this wc must use all kinds of improved machinery which makes it possible to accomplish more in a given time, and also to have a better grade of production. But this has its disturbing influence in that the machinery is taking the place of the farm hand; consequently many people are out of work and are aggregating in a great throng of idlers who sit around on goods boxes and whittle away their opportunities. Another problem of the agriculturist along scientific lines is, “How are we to maintain the fertility of the soil and guarantee the yield per acre? Even though a solution to these problems of production should be found, where lies the profit of the Illinois farmer when he receives only forty-seven cents for a bushel of corn, forty- two cents of which must go for transportation? Is the plan advocated by the new farm organizations to pool one-third of all grain for the sake of enforcing a certain price better than the long time contracts formerly used by grain dealers? The problem of organization among the farmers seem to be the leading question, and until they can organize along the same basic as other industries, this agricultural disturbance will continue. Certainly no discussion of the present economic unrest would be complete without due consideration of our great sociological complexities. No longer can we frighten our American negro with strange sounds and white-robed figures. He has had his part in saving the world for democracy and must have his share in that great govermental policy. Does democracy mean an open door to all, or does it mean a more careful selection of basic material for our future generations? Sometimes we of the East feel that our California friends are too prejudiced against the Oriental, and still when we read of the craftiness with which he is stealthily gaining control of American industry, we feel that some more rigid restriction must be made. The questions of immigration and assimilation seem based in the fact that The Peace of Versailles, ’ has been only a vision. The attitude of theUnited States toward this treaty has much to do with the present political and economical dissatisfaction. Its failure lies in its inability to meet the demands of the social, political and economic world. The war has caused a great up-