e issuance of
bonds with which to buy gold to maintain the reserve. Day followed day
before the tension was relieved by a bond issue, which was succeeded by
other bond issues. The harm had been done. Financial institutions
bridged the torrent at one place only to succumb and plunge into the
yawning abyss at another. Stagnation followed disaster. Had the new
administration declined to give gold for the "coin" notes and tendered
silver, could any greater ruin have overtaken American commerce?

Following in the wake of the ghastly spectre of commercial ruin, that
cruel, remorseless and vindictive vulture, discontent, swooped down upon
a far reaching industry, shrieked its defiant and soul curdling edict
"_Strike_," and to the consternation of the world, labor
organizations refused to temporize. The steam pulses ceased to beat,
machinery came to a standstill, the great factory doors closed against
wage earners and the stupendous battle between iron handed men of toil
and iron gloved employer was on.

Aided by sympathetic city and state officials the wage earners grew
insolent and arbitrary. Pitying the unfortunate, misguided mechanic,
artisan and laborer, the iron gloved employer awaited until the
devouring flame of jealousy and strife consumed itself. It was under a
broiling July sun that Chiquita and Jack visited the scene to see for
themselves the effects of newsboys' hoarse cries, "_Extra! Extra!_
All about the bloody strike! The Stock Yards in danger!"

Regiments of soldiers were bivouacked about the postoffice, on the lake
front, and at the yards. Dismantled, untrucked, costly palace cars
blocked railroad tracks from Van Buren street to the city limits. In the
vicinity of Thirty-ninth street turbulent masses of muttering, riotous,
eye-inflamed sympathizers congregated to watch the incoming United
States troops from Fort Sheridan.

Women, carrying babies, mingled with the angry, unruly, drink-maddened
throng, urging, aye, even commanding more devastation, more wrecking of
property. As the snail moving train of army equipment was pulled along
the siding, coupling pins were drawn by the lawless, and as one car was
recoupled another was detached. Soldiers, in United States uniform,
endured insults of every nature.

A woman, acting as bodyguard to a crowd of jeering, taunting idlers,
stepped up to a guard and spat in his face, then slapped him and in
vulgar language derided him for wearing the uniform of liberty. The