Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1918 — GYPSY CARAVAN FORCED TO STOP AND WORK [ARTICLE]

GYPSY CARAVAN FORCED TO STOP AND WORK

Idaville Observer: e The slogan of “Fight or Work’ is bearing good fruits in spots these days and it is more than gratifying to be able to occasionlly report a case wherein some slacker or a gang of them have been rounded up and given the ultimatum to either go to the army or get busy on some good healthy job. We have just been informed of a case of this kind taking place Monday at White Oak. The ultimatum was passed to a bunch of gypsies who came along there traveling in elegant style in motor cars and exhibiting other evidences of leading an idle life. These nomads came along at a leisurely pace and when evening came proceeded to make camp and be comfortable. They were visited by a number of men in that neighborhood and told that they woujd either have to “fight or work” and after parleying over the question awhile and finding that they would not even be allowed to move on to some other camping spot, concluded that they would work. Now as circumstances seemed to play right into the hands of the men who were forcing the edict, it was found that the contractors of a new road now building in that neighborhood, were short on man power, they were furnished the opportunity to do some honest work. They were escorted to the job and the bosses see to it that they do a full day’s work each day.