Today -100: December 24, 1924: Of dirigibles, technical treason, and balls

Plans to have the large Navy dirigible Los Angeles fly over New York City and play Christmas carols have been called off. The Navy decided to give airship-operators the usual Xmas leave instead. (And no, there’s no explanation how the carols could have been played so as to be heard at ground level).

Erwin Rorthardt, the editor of the German monarchist Mitteldeutsche Presse, is convicted in a Magdeburg court of libel for claiming that Pres. Friedrich Ebert was guilty of treason for being part of the 1918 munitions strike (he evidently tried to bring it to an end) and is sentenced to 3 months, but the judge also says that Ebert is technically guilty of treason no matter his intention. Ebert had wanted to sue another editor earlier, but that case would have been tried in a court in hostile Bavaria so he didn’t.

Coolidge gives in and will allow inaugural balls, but he won’t go to any of them because he might have to dance and he can’t dance and won’t dance and you can’t make him.

Coolidge plans to keep the Cabinet he inherited from Harding, who was such a great judge of character, except for AgSec Gore, who wants to retire.

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