Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE WAR. The effects of the World War on the United States were many and varied. In some fields it has put us in a posi- tion to dictate to the world and in oth- ers it has caused us to fall below pre- war standards. In a financial way America is the most powerful of the na- tions of the world. Politically we have added to our international prestige and at the same time we have taken impor- tant steps at home. Industry in the United States has been in a depressed condition since the war but is beginning to get back to a normal basis. Social conditions have been worse than for many years but society should follow the upward trend of industry for one depends on the other to a great extent. During the war enormous loans were floated in the United States by foreign nations, France and England in particu- lar. France borrowed $2,750,000,000 and England $4,860,000,000. At pres- ent there is a great deal of comment in these nations concerning these debts, and some people in the United States think that they should be canceled. But if we cancel these debts I am looking at it from a purely selfish standpoint, these nations free from debt will be able to compete with American manufacturers and America ' s merchant marine. We cannot afford to allow the foreign na- tions to do this, for our industries, as I shall show you are in no condition to compete with foreign cheaply manufac- tured goods. Besides this we should be giving up our world-wide financial supe- riority without a struggle and very like- ly be throwing the nation into a business panic. It seems very unlikely that these debts will be canceled but the govern- ment may do something to lighten the burden. Politically we have added to our pres- tige abroad, everything considered. The Versailles Treaty and the Controversy over the League of Nations directly after the war had the effect of making the foreign nations distrust America and her policy. This sentiment has, however, been generally nullified by the Disarmament Conference at Washing- ton. This conference showed that the United States is working for the best interests of the world in general. It made plain that while the United States did not join the League of Nations and refused to ratify the Versailles Pact, she does not mean to hold aloof from international affairs. Woman suffrage while not exactly an out-growth of any war conditions, de- notes a great step forward in national politics. It puts the woman on the same plane as the man politically and they undoubtedly deserve to be there for the average woman of to-day is as com- petent to vote as the average man; if she thinks before she votes. During the war the industries of the United Stat es were running full blast; time was an important factor; money was not. When the war was over and factories and mines were coming back to a normal basis, men were turned off by the thousands. A large proportion of these had flocked to the city to reap the advantages of high wages and they were extremely reluctant to work any- where except at inflated wages. This was the cause of much of the unemploy- ment during the past winter. During the war time the farms of the United States were called upon to sup- ply a large part of the world with food. The farmers, those of the Middle West in particular, hired expensive help, bought expensive machinery, raised bumper crops and then were obliged to sell their crop for less than cost to men 17

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who made millions i n this business of profiteering. The end of the war found the farmers in debt and each raising just what he could handle himself. However, the situation seems to be brightening, the debts are being paid off and the farm laborers are coming back from the city, to which they had been attracted by high wages during the war. The reports point to good crops and gccd markets which mean renewed pros- perity not only for the farmer but for other industries. When one industry picks up it has an e: livening affect on the others either directly or indirectly. Already this is beginning to show for stock market re- ports mention a noticeable advance in business. Unemployment is becoming less every day. These things show the industries will soon be running on a normal basis if the average laborer will fo get his extraordinary wages of the past and do a fair day ' s work for a fair day’s pay. This war has increased the friction between capital and labor for it has made new millionaries at the people’s expense and the people resent it. More- over the business depression following the war has caused many hardships among the poorer classes in the city and they look with hatred upon the rich men. That is one reason why they are fighting the wage cuts so savagely. When busi- ness gets back to a normal basis this feeling will become less, for the work- -g classes will be more comfortable and satisfied. Since Europe is in a state of destruc- tion, disorder, and debt, many immi- grants are coming to this country to es- cape their post-war troubles. Such im- migrants should not be allowed to enter the country, for they are needed at home to rebuild their nation, and we have too much unskilled labor already as is shown by the unemployment statis- tics. Moreover their presence here means an added burden on every com- munity at a time when the community is least able to bear that burden. Con- cerning the Reds, Socialists, or Bolshe- vists little need be said, for any think- ing person can see that their claims and promises contradict themselves. Their reforms are so radical that the nation would be thrown into anarchy. Little need be feared from them, however, for they poll but a very small percentage of the votes and those votes are cast as a rule by the uneducated and the unthink- ing. America has a promising future be- fore her. Financially she is supreme, politically she has added to her prestige abroad, her industries at home, which were dealt a hard blow, are fast re- cuperating, and socially she is still sound for a majority of her population are educated and think for themselves. The United States should be a leader of the world for the next twenty-five years and it is up to everyone of us as citizens to do our best to keep her in the lead. Wilfred Dunn THE RADIO ERA All down through the ages of man- kind, history has taught us that with he passing of time there came about innumerable changes in the manners, methods, and general workings of the world. During this last half century we have witnessed a rapid and very remarkable progress in the realms of science. It has been a scientific age, devoted to eag°r and earnest research which in turn has been rewarded by the attain- ment of extremely valuable and prac- ticable results. During this busy period the radio has had its birth, and of all 18