{"id":1349,"date":"2018-09-30T19:08:42","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T00:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adamshistory.com\/?page_id=1349"},"modified":"2018-10-23T17:09:01","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T22:09:01","slug":"adams-county-enters-the-depression","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/?page_id=1349","title":{"rendered":"Adams County Enters the Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adams<\/strong> County<\/strong> Enters the\u00a0<\/strong>Great Depression<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Friendship Reporter <\/em>Chronicles the Depression\u2019s Beginnings: 1929-1932<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edited by Harry Davis<\/h4>\n

1929<\/u><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On Black Friday, October 25, 1929 the Stock Market crashed in New York City; 1,000 miles away from Adams County.\u00a0 The next issue of the Friendship Reporter<\/em> mentioned not a word about the event.\u00a0 In fact, for the rest of the year 1929, if economic hardships were being experienced in Adams County, you couldn\u2019t tell it from the local newspaper.<\/h4>\n

1930<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The new year could not put a damper on the good times reporting in the Friendship Reporter.<\/em>\u00a0 Not until May, when Jackson County publisher and legislator Merlin Hull started a weekly column was there any indication in the paper that bad times had arrived.\u00a0 Even then, the economy was other peoples\u2019 concern.\u00a0 By the fall of the year however, the Depression was starting to affect the local economy enough to bring about local concern…<\/p>\n

Bank\u2019s New Owner<\/h3>\n

January 9, 1930:\u00a0 <\/strong>Optimism is heightened by the news that prominent Adams County native son G.W. Bingham had purchased controlling interest in the Friendship State Bank.<\/p>\n

First Word on the Economy<\/h3>\n

May 15, 1930:\u00a0 <\/strong>Merlin Hull\u2019s first column in the Friendship Reporter<\/em> voiced his concern about the proposal for the government to operate the Muscle Shoals, Alabama power plant.\u00a0 He said, \u201cOne of the loudest howls heard in Washington \u2026 is that demanding that the government \u2018keep out of business\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rail workers Cut-back<\/h3>\n

October 1, 1930:\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cAll of the 21 brotherhoods are agreed \u2026 that shorter hours and a shorter work week are the only means by which the unemployed railroad men can be put back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Labor\/Management Conflicts<\/h3>\n

October 8, 1930:\u00a0 <\/strong>Merlin Hull\u2019s column reported that large industrial companies were taking credit for maintaining their wage schedules during the depression while \u201c<\/strong>shifting employees from one classification to another\u201d to lower the overall labor cost.\u00a0 Hull claimed that \u201cSeveral very profitable enterprises \u2026 have been making even more money during the depression than formerly\u201d.\u00a0 Once labor realized what was happening, the unions threatened united action.<\/p>\n

Hull went on to state that farmers\u2019 loss of buying power affected the business world as he said, \u201cBut, blind to that immense loss of buying power, business pinned its faith to industries maintaining their wage scale until better times came.\u00a0 Now the faith is crumbling.\u201d<\/p>\n

1931<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cynicism and blame placing increases in 1931.\u00a0 Since the Depression has definitely come home to Adams County people begin to wonder how it happened.\u00a0 Articles on the economy become numerous.<\/p>\n

Cynicism<\/h3>\n

September 10, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>Merlin Hull scorns the inaction of the government to bring back prosperity.\u00a0 His column this week speaks of a new federal commission to provide a plan of federal relief.\u00a0 The commission, he says, is to be made up of \u201cprominent millionaires and labor leaders from the industrial centers.\u201d\u00a0 Hull cynically adds, \u201cSome way, small towns and farming districts are not supposed to know much about the question.\u00a0 We are not among the experts of finance and industry who can speak out with authority and tell everybody else what to do to feed the hungry and warm the freezing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farm Prices\/Production Troubling<\/h3>\n

September 17, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>Friendship Reporter\u2019s <\/em>front page headline was hopeful with \u201cMilk Prices Make Strong Advance\u201d but elsewhere on the page, readers learned that \u201cFeed crops are particularly short this year and with the large livestock population on hand this year [livestock feed shortage is] a serious problem in some counties.\u201d\u00a0 Further on: \u201cNearly all cash crops produced in Wisconsin are decidedly short this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blame Game<\/h3>\n

September 17, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>Unsigned column in same issue quotes an un-named \u201cexpert\u201d who claims, \u201cIf the people would go to buying, would go to spending and put the money into circulation, good times would come again in a few days \u2026\u201d The columnist (probably Merlin Hull again) goes on to dispel the theory that buying prosperity wasn\u2019t going to work.\u00a0 (Probably obvious to the readers who didn\u2019t have any money to spend) The columnist instead, blames the eastern financiers who sold fraudulent bonds to investors before the crash.<\/p>\n

More Bad Farming News<\/h3>\n

October 15, 1931:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe gross income of Wisconsin agriculture [for 1930] was nearly 20 percent below\u00a01929 \u2026\u201d That says it all, except to note that these statistics brought the Depression to rural Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Making Depression Fun<\/h3>\n

October 29, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cA-F High School Had Hard Time Party\u201d read the headline.\u00a0 Miss Stoecker, a high school teacher, put on a party in the gym (now the AFMS studio).\u00a0 Students dressed in \u201cHick\u201d costumes, and performed skits, songs and plays within the theme.\u00a0 Costume prizes went to Robert Kunkel and Bill Rowland.<\/p>\n

Tide Starts to Turn in Washington<\/h3>\n

November 12, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>The paper reported that a special election in some congressional districts resulted in a Democratic majority in the US House of Representatives.\u00a0 President Hoover was to be facing one house of Congress dominated by the other party.<\/p>\n

Disease<\/h3>\n

November 25, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>Secondary effects of the economic downturn are brought home by doctors\u2019 warnings: \u201cThe present economic situation may result in increased tuberculosis in Wisconsin because it has brought about crowded living conditions, undernourishment and added strain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unemployment Bill<\/h3>\n

December 24, 1931:\u00a0 <\/strong>The unemployment bill contained provisions for and emergency income tax, a gift tax and a chain store tax.\u00a0 Money raised would be used to pay for the \u201cpoor relief\u201d while reducing the property taxes.\u00a0 \u201cFarmers and home owners in Adams County would thus save in this year\u2019s taxes $8,139.86.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rise of Crime<\/h3>\n

December 24, 1931: <\/strong>In the same issue containing an explanation of an unemployment bill before the legislature are several articles reporting robberies and burglaries. Nearly every succeeding issue of the paper contained reports of robbery related crimes and court cases.<\/p>\n

1932<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

By the winter of 1931-32 it is apparent that outside economic help will not be forthcoming and local people will have to help each other through the Depression. Citizens begin to work together.<\/p>\n

Poor Commission<\/h3>\n

January 14, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>A commission was formed and met to plan for relief measures to help needy residents for the winter.\u00a0 Commissioners John Phillips of Jackson, Emmett Marsh of Adams, and Ben Graves of Leola agreed to seek out people in need who may be too proud to ask for help.<\/p>\n

January 21, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Poor Commission set up a store in the courthouse basement.\u00a0 County Clerk Smedbron and Sheriff Stone managed the store stocked with flour, corn meal, oat meal, rice, tea, coffee, sugar, beans, peas, cocoa, lard, salt, pepper, soap and matches.\u00a0 Supplies were distributed to families by order of the Poor Commissioners or by weekly allotments.\u00a0 No cash sales.<\/p>\n

February 4, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>Poor Commissioners reported that 36 families were receiving aid from the basement store. Not included were families receiving aid from other sources.\u00a0 Also, while more families than normal were receiving aid, it was fewer than had been anticipated.<\/p>\n

Prison Jobs<\/h3>\n

February 4, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Warden at the Waupun State Prison asked for help in solving a prison labor problem.\u00a0 Waupun had more prisoners than ever before.<\/p>\n

Tax Time Extended<\/h3>\n

February 11, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>The Friendship village board extended the time to pay property taxes without penalty from March 1st<\/sup> to June 1st<\/sup> as allowed by a new state law.\u00a0 (At the same meeting the board did away with parking in the middle of the street in favor of parallel curb parking)<\/p>\n

Rail Stations Close<\/h3>\n

April 7, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>The C&NW Railroad applied to the State Public Service Commission to downgrade the stations at Brooks and Dellwood from agency stations to caretaker stations.\"\"<\/p>\n

Foremen Become Laborers<\/h3>\n

Same Issue: <\/strong>The paper announced that a Commonwealth Telephone Co. crew was moving the telephone lines from Belfast St. (now Main St.) to the back streets.\u00a0 The paper said, \u201cThe crew \u2026 is made up completely of men, who in more prosperous times were all foremen of crews themselves.\u201d\u00a0 What happened to former crewmen we can guess.<\/p>\n

State Delays Payments<\/h3>\n

April 7, 1932: <\/strong>\u201cState Capitol Newsletter\u201d feature announced that the state equalization fund was distributing payments to school districts in small amounts.\u00a0 Reason given: \u201cstate officials hesitate to make abrupt demands for large sums from banks in which state funds are on deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local Employment on State Road Building<\/h3>\n

April 7, 1932: <\/strong>Edw. Blomquist and Robt. Matthews of Adams met with the State Highway Commission regarding the surfacing of State Highway 13 through Adams County to be done that summer.\u00a0 They requested and received assurances that 75% of the labor force would be local unemployed men. The paper declared, \u201cThis means considerable to Adams and Friendship, where a large number of railroad men have been laid off during the past fall and winter, and are still out of employment, with little prospects of getting their railroad work back for some time to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spring Election Reflects Changing Mood<\/h3>\n

April 14, 1932: <\/strong>\u201cOld Adams County rock-ribbed republican since the days of the Civil War \u2026 upset all records at the presidential preference and delegate election, and cast a democratic vote of 521; republican, 485; prohibition, 18; and socialist, 1.<\/p>\n

Fight Railroad Station Closings<\/h3>\n

April 14, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cDellwood and Brooks citizens protest the closing of railroad stations.\u201d\u00a0 The State Public Service Commission held a public hearing that drew a large crowd.\u00a0 The paper editorialized, \u201dWe believe that with the return to anything like normal times and conditions, both points provide enough business to warrant regular station service, and in the meantime the railroad company should not further hamper the activities of these communities by curtailing their railroad and shipping facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Railroad Cutbacks<\/h3>\n

May 19, 1932:\u00a0 <\/strong>In the largest cut in the history of the Adams railyards, the C&NW announced that 39 men were being laid off, leaving a force of 27 at the yards.\u00a0 The railroad said the cutback was necessary due to \u201cthe lack of transportation owing to the depression, and by the active competition of the private automobile, the buses and the trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

(NOT)Hired Hands<\/h3>\n

July 14, 1932<\/strong>:\u00a0 Wisconsin Agriculture Department reported that, \u201cWisconsin farmers are employing fewer hired men and paying the lowest wages in years.\u201d\u00a0 The report said that farm wages at about a-dollar-a-day were 32% lower in 1932 than in 1931. Even with cheap labor available, farmers were not hiring.<\/p>\n

Governor Campaigns on Lower Taxes<\/h3>\n

July 21, 1932: <\/strong>Progressive Republican Governor Phillip F. LaFollette gave a campaign speech to about 400 people in Railroad Park in Adams (now site of MSA Engineering office).\u00a0 The paper reported that the governor said he had lowered farm taxes 23% in a single year.\u00a0 He charged the Stalwarts[1]<\/a> with the economic ills of the country.<\/p>\n

Democratic \u201cNew Deal\u201d Ushered In<\/h3>\n

November 10, 1932: <\/strong>A huge headline proclaimed \u2018ROOSEVELT NAMED PRESIDENT\u201d.\u00a0 Adams County, along with the rest of the country, went Democratic in a big way in 1932.\u00a0 FDR won in every Adams County precinct.<\/p>\n

The Vote in Adams County<\/p>\n

President:<\/p>\n

(D) F.D.Roosevelt\u00a0 2,117 <\/u>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (R) H.Hoover\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 780<\/p>\n

Governor:<\/p>\n

(D) A.Schmedmann1,607<\/u>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (R) W.Kohler\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1,212<\/p>\n

U.S. Senate<\/p>\n

(D) F.R.Duffy,\u00a0 1,440<\/u>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (R) Chappie\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1,141<\/p>\n

U.S. Congress<\/p>\n

(D) Chapman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1,028\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (R) G.F.Boileau \u00a01,255<\/u><\/p>\n

(Republican Gerald F. Boileau had the endorsement of the Adams\u00a0County LaFollette Progressive Asso.)<\/p>\n

_____________<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Stalwarts: conservative wing of Republican Party.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the Winter 2002 edition of the Quatrefoil <\/em>\u00a0Adams County Historical Society newsletter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adams County Enters the\u00a0Great Depression Friendship Reporter Chronicles the Depression\u2019s Beginnings: 1929-1932   Edited by Harry Davis 1929 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On Black Friday, October 25, 1929 the Stock Market crashed in New York City; 1,000 miles away from Adams County.\u00a0 The next issue of the Friendship Reporter mentioned not a word about the event.\u00a0 In fact, … Continue reading »<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":809,"featured_media":0,"parent":1323,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1349","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/809"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1349"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1445,"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1349\/revisions\/1445"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamshistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}