Today -100: April 5, 1917: Freedom is the messiah

Headline of the Day -100: 

Count Michael Borzatovsky, recently arrived from Russia, in his room in Baltimore. Was he shot by a German spy? Did he accidentally shoot himself getting undressed?

The latter.

Russia repeals all laws that discriminate on the basis of religion. Rabbi David Philipson of Cincinnati says this solves the Jewish problem and eliminates the need for Zionism. “Freedom is the messiah,” he says.

The US Senate continues to debate going to war, increasingly testily. George Norris (R-Nebraska) says declaring war would “put the dollar mark on the American flag.”  Sen. James Reed (D-Missouri) accuses him of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Sen. James Vardaman (D-Mississippi), who opposes entry, complains about the atmosphere in the Capitol, “supercharged with the spirit of prejudice, hate and love. ... Self-assumed superiority of mind, intolerance and bigotry are attributes of little minds”. That’s James Fucking Vardaman, possibly the biggest racist in the Senate.

The New York Legislature creates a state police force. Its purpose seems to be to break strikes so the National Guard doesn’t have to and more people will be willing to join the Guard.

Fog of War (Rumors, Propaganda and Just Plain Bullshit) of the Day -100: The Morning Post (London) reports that it’s heard from German bankers that Kaiser Wilhelm is sick and will totally die soon.

Two countries with very different approaches to rationing:

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