At the next monthly meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union, the
executive had little difficulty in finally shelving the report of its
committee appointed to deal with the resignation of Captain Maitland,
and as little difficulty in passing by unanimous vote their resolution
held up at the last meeting. The allied unions had meantime been
extended to include the building trades. Their organization had been
perfected and their discipline immensely strengthened. Many causes
contributed to this result. A month's time had elapsed and the high
emotional tides due to athletic enthusiasm, especially the hockey
victory, had had space to subside. The dead season for all outdoor games
was upon them and the men, losing touch with each other and with their
captain, who was engrossed in studying his new duties, began to spend
their leisure hours in loafing about the streets or lounging in the pool
rooms.

All over the country the groundswell of unrest was steadily and rapidly
rising. The returned soldiers who had failed to readjust themselves to
the changed conditions of life and to the changes wrought in themselves
by the war, embittered, disillusioned and disappointed, fell an easy
prey to unscrupulous leaders and were being exploited in the interests
of all sorts of fads and foolish movements. Their government bonuses
were long since spent and many of them, through no fault of their own,
found themselves facing a situation full of difficulty, hardship, and
often of humiliation.

Under the influence of financial inflation and deceived by the abundant
flow of currency in every department of business, industries by the
score started up all over the land. Few could foresee the approach of
dark and stern days. It was in vain that financial leaders began to
sound a note of warning, calling for retrenchment and thrift. And now
the inevitable results were beginning to appear. The great steel and
coal industries began to curtail their operations, while desperately
striving to maintain war prices for their products. Other industries
followed their example. All the time the cost of living continued
to mount. Foodstuffs reached unheard-of prices, which, under the
manipulations of unscrupulous dealers, continued to climb.

Small wonder that working men with high wages and plenty of money in
their hands cherished exaggerated ideas of their wealth and developed
extravagant tastes in dress, amusements and in standard of living. Wit