Between 1908 and 1912 Carl Sandburg lived in Wisconsin. His first job was as an organizer for the Social Democratic Party. A few months later, he worked for a department store creating its newspaper advertisements. Then he began writing for the Milwaukee Journal, an independent newspaper located in the state’s largest city.

Sandburg’s socialist leanings fitted with the job of investigative reporter. He liked to write about people and he sympathized with the problems of the working classes. As a reporter he had time to study current issues and gather information to support his views. As a socialist he wanted to find ways to solve social problems.

One of these problems was tuberculosis. The disease was killing 200,000 people a year in the United States. The bacteria is spread through the air. An individual with an active case can spread it by coughing or sneezing. Only ten percent of those infected with tuberculosis become active cases. If they are not treated, half of them will die. Others with inactive cases do no harm.

People in certain occupations seemed to be more susceptible to the disease. Sandburg found that seamstresses, cigar makers, boilermakers, bartenders and cabinetmakers were more prone to becoming sick with the disease. The cramped living conditions of many immigrant families as well as poor diets increased the incidence of TB.

In those days there were no antibiotics to treat lung disease. Fresh air, good food and plenty of rest were considered the best cure. Patients were often confined to special treatment facilities.

Late in September, 1909, Sandburg began working for the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association. By Christmas time he had visited 45 cities in the state. He traveled with several hundred illustrations, including posters, photographs and lantern slides. To communicate with immigrants who spoke little English, he asked that interpreters accompany his presentations.

Sandburg also sold Christmas Seals which were used to finance treatment programs. Denmark had created the idea of Christmas Seals in 1904. By 1908 Christmas Seals were being sold at post offices in the United States. The Seals cost a penny each and were applied to letters and packages.

Sandburg and many other people were stranded in the railroad station in West Bend, Wisconsin, just before the New Year. He decided to give his lecture about tuberculosis to those waiting for the train. There were a number of traveling salesmen in the audience. After the presentation, they bought Christmas Seals and told their associates about them. Many a letter or package was decorated with the little stamps sending out the word about the crusade against tuberculosis.

There are still millions of cases of tuberculosis in the world today. Most of them are in developing countries. There are drugs which treat the disease, but they must be used properly. Some strains have become drug-resistant because of improper use of antibiotics.

After the anti-tuberculosis tour, Sandburg went home to Milwaukee to be with his wife, Paula. The Social Democrats were campaigning to win more seats on the City Council as well as the position of mayor. The Sandburgs joined in and helped Emil Seidel to become the Mayor of Milwaukee. By April, 1910, Seidel had appointed Carl Sandburg as his private secretary.