Today -100: January 9, 1924: Um, sure

Coolidge wants the tax-reduction bill passed before the veterans’ bonus bill. Also, he opposes the Democrats’ alternative tax bill, which he says favors the rich by taxing them the most when they have the power to pass on those taxes to consumers.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 8, 1924: Go out and get some

Coolidge puts an embargo on arms sales to the Huertaista rebels in Mexico.

Headline of the Day -100:  

This is the sort of authoritarianism you can expect when you put a US Marine general on a leave of absence, one Smedley Darlington Butler, in charge of a city’s cops (and firemen and elevator inspectors). Gen. Butler says “I have a free hand and will not be interfered with by the politicians.” He tells 2,000 cops at the Metropolitan Opera House, “I don’t believe there’s a single bandit notch on a policeman’s gun in this city. Go out and get some.” Spoken like a veteran of many imperial wars treating the mean streets of Philly like the Philippines.

Elsewhere in law enforcement, Birmingham, Alabama police have gotten 5 black men to confess to 8 axe murders through the use of “‘truth serum,’” the NYT’s quote marks presumably indicating they were falsely told they had been injected with truth serum.

The New York State Moving Picture Commission declines to ban the films of Mabel Normand or Edna Purviance as many other locales are doing because the infatuated chauffeur of the former shot a guy in the presence of the latter.

Michigan Agricultural College (Go Aggies!) is planning to broadcast a sort of running account of a basketball game on the radio. This will be a first.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 7, 1924: Of peace plans, bombs, and munitions

Edward Bok, former editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal, sponsored a $100,000 prize for the “best practicable plan for U.S. cooperation in world peace.” Of the 22,165 submissions, he chose:  join the World Court, cooperate with the League of Nations, which has to change the provisions of its Covenant (“substitute moral force and public opinion for military and economic force...”)... I’m gonna stop there, since this is just the Republican position from when they were torpedoing Wilson’s attempt to join the League. This is... nothing... justifying my ignoring all the stories about this contest until now.

Someone throws bombs at the Japanese Imperial Palace. The police leap into action and suppress a newspaper that reports the incident, which seems to have been more in the nature of a demonstration than an actual attack intended to hurt anyone. A Korean is arrested, as was the custom.

The State Dept warns against US arms dealers selling to the Mexican rebels, but it’s not a formal ban, at least not yet.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 6, 1924: Hail King Harry!

Eleftherios Venizelos, returning to Greece from exile, is elected president of the National Assembly almost unanimously and celebrates by having a heart attack. Before this, Venizelos said he intended to remain in office only until the possibility of a civil war passes.

Mexican rebel general Adolfo de la Huerta orders rifles & machine guns & ammo for both in New Orleans to test the US government’s claim when it sold arms to the Mexican government that there is no embargo on arms sales to Mexico.

The NYT says the British public is “resigned” to the possibility of a Labour government and thinks it might not even be a calamity. The possibilities of a fusion Tory-Liberal cabinet, or the king simply putting Asquith in office, are fading. Those “resigned” Britishers are reassuring themselves that Labour can’t do anything especially radical with a minority in Parliament and zero members in the House of Lords.

Albania keeps offering its crown to foreign princes & dukes, and keeps being turned down. Now they’re trying American oil guy Harry Sinclair, who just a few days ago testified very much against his will at the Senate Teapot Dome hearings. His connection with Albania is that he breeds horses there.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 5, 1924: Of arms sales and censorship

The US sells 5,000 rifles, 5 million rounds of ammunition, and 8 aeroplanes to Mexico to use in crushing the rebellion. Coolidge is ignoring Congress to make the sale, like a common Joe Biden.

As New Hampshire bans Mabel Normand’s movies, and Ohio and Kansas look to follow, Mabel appeals to Americans’ sense of fair play. Good luck with that.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 4, 1924: Chin out

40 or so people die in a starch explosion at the Corn Products Company in Pekin, Illinois.

There have been disturbances at the vault in Marion where Warren G. Harding’s body is entombed, possibly aimed more at the guards than Harding, possibly by children: bugles blown, stones thrown at the guard houses, etc. So Lt. Harriman, in command of the guard, sends for riot guards and says he’ll shoot at future people causing disturbances.

Rep. William Upshaw (D-KKKGeorgia) demands that Pres. Coolidge “begin a righteous crusade by breaking every jug and bottle in official Washington and by using the Executive guillotine on the neck of every drinking official including army, navy and Cabinet officers.” In other words, that Cal fire every government official who engages in “drinking devilment.” Upshaw also wants to deport aliens who break Prohibition (we’ve been hearing that idea frequently of late). And a lot more ideas along those lines.

Mabel Normand has an appendectomy in the same hospital in which Courtland Dines is staying after being shot by Normand’s chauffeur. Memphis censors say her films will be banned in the city forever. They haven’t decided about Edna Purviance yet. Kansas Attorney General Charles Griffith will ask the censor board to ban films featuring both women. Will Hays is rushing to California to look into the affair, “and I have my chin out,” whatever that means.

John D. Rockefeller, 84, likes to play golf, and to be praised for how he plays golf. He keeps dimes in his pocket to hand out to anyone who applauds one of his shots.

For weeks before he was exiled, King George of Greece wouldn’t have his hair cut because he was afraid Greek barbers would do a Sweeney Todd on him, I guess. The first thing he did when he arrived in Bucharest was to get a haircut.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 3, 1924: Of scofflaws, pernicious non-Communist influences, and worried mustaches

A banker in Quincy, Massachusetts who glories in the name Delcevare King, is sponsoring a contest with a $200 prize to come up with an epithet for people who drink in violation of Prohibition laws which will be so harsh, so cutting that it will “stab awake the conscience of the drinker,” like “scab” or “slacker.” Entries received so far include bootocrat, boozshevik, law-jacker, sliquor and wetocrat. The winner, which will be announced in a couple of weeks: “scofflaw,” a new coinage sent in separately by two people. The obituary of Mr King in the ‘60s says the term was mostly used at that time for parking and other automobile-related offenses. How is it used today?

Russia extends its ban on religious schools to all private schools in order to combat “pernicious non-Communist influences.” It also bans corporal punishment in all schools.

Greece’s coup regime turns power back to the National Assembly, calling for a republic. Still, “No Parliament ever exhibited more worried mustaches.”

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 2, 1924: Of referenda, actresses & shootings, orderly procedures, hand-shaking, and corsets

Former Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos suggests a referendum to decide whether Greece will become a republic, or, if it stays a monarchy, whether a different ruling family shall reign.

Denver oil man Courtland Dines is shot by actress Mabel Normand’s chauffeur (with her gun) because, he says, Dines was bothering Normand. Edna Purviance, Charlie Chaplin’s leading lady, also witnesses the shooting. The story implies that there was drinking involved. Dines was in a dressing gown, more proof that silent movies were documentaries.

Although there’s a movement in Congress to express opposition to arming the Obregón regime in Mexico, Coolidge intends to go right ahead regardless under authority the administration claims he has, “in the interest of orderly procedure,” whatever that means. These opponents have coined “the Harding doctrine,” for a policy of not selling arms to foreigners (Harding refused to allow an earlier proposed arms sale to Mexico).

Mussolini’s dictatorial powers expire.

 

President Coolidge and First Lady Grace hold the traditional New Year’s Day reception and both shake hands with 3,891 people.

King Albert of Belgium says his country’s financial future depends on 1) reparations from Germany, 2) exploiting the Belgian Congo.

Maternity corset, for fuck’s sake.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: January 1, 1924: Of arms and ashes

There’s a movement in the Senate to stop the proposed arms sales to the Mexican government for use against rebels. Some senators think it would break international law.

A thief is caught stealing the ashes of some saint in Avezzano, Italy. The crowd beat him up and set him on fire, as was the custom.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 31, 1923: I got nuthin’

Nuthin’

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 30, 1923: Of tax cuts & arms sales

Bankers, railroad presidents, lawyers, real estate operators and industrialists are just some of the diverse range of people expressing support for Treasury Sec. Andrew Mellon’s tax-cut plans, the details of which were (finally) released yesterday. They say the cost of living will go down and a dollar will again be worth... wait for it... a dollar.

The US will sell the Obregón government in Mexico military supplies to defeat the Huerta uprising, including millions of rounds of ammunition, but not the cruisers Obregón wanted. Or airplanes.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 29, 1923: Of pardons, names, and microphones

Chicago bootlegger Philip Grossman, the guy Calvin Coolidge pardoned who turned out not to be in prison but a fugitive, admits having paid thousands to a Republican politician for that pardon. His commutation may now not come through. Update: okay, I’ve now checked Wikipedia. The district court will send him back to prison, saying the president doesn’t have the power to pardon in contempt of court cases (the contempt consisting of selling booze when a court had told him not to), because that would violate separation of powers. The Supreme Court in 1925 will rule that presidents do have that power.

The New York Nursery and Child’s Hospital picks the names that will be foisted on foundlings in 1924. These are chosen “at random,” but assigned by sex. Annnnd race, although I don’t see anything especially racial in the names chosen. For example, white Protestant boys (are there no Catholics or Jews? do they get surrendered somewhere else?) will get names like Frederick Olmstead, Alexander Halliday, and Stephen Oliver. White Protestant girls will be Elizabeth Kemberley, Anne Draper, Margaret Dryden, etc. While black boys will be William Clinton, George Getty, Ralph Phime, etc. 

Dr Phillips Thomas has invented a microphone that can record insect noises too high for the human ear, so we can find out what they're saying about us.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 28, 1923: Of cane-guns, private business transactions, bombs, prohibition courts, and hypnotized cops

The Japanese Cabinet resigns, taking responsibility for the attempted assassination of Prince Regent Hirohito. Immediately, on the same day. A young Communist, I guess, used a cane-gun, which is cool, right? Hirohito continues on to the Diet, which he opens “with customary ceremonies” without members of the Diet (dieticians?) knowing what had happened until later.

Spain foils a Communist plot, which may or may not be real, against the dictator Gen. Primo Rivera, whose name I’ve run out of puns for. Many arrests are made.

In the slow-moving Senate investigation of Tea Pot Dome led by Robert La Follette, Harry Sinclair of the eponymous oil company refuses to answer questions about his “private business transactions.”

A bomb is thrown at a Jewish women’s society ball in Vienna, with one killed & 43 wounded. The cops think the perps are from the Society of Awakening Hungarians.

Federal judges rule that the IRS’s “Prohibition Court,” created to collect taxes from bootleggers, is unconstitutional. It notes some of the people “taxed” had not been convicted of bootlegging.

Headline of the Day -100:  

In Sebenico, Croatia. The cop was told to “shoot” a piece of wood at the audience. Finding that it wouldn’t fire, he switched to his service revolver, which did, then arrested three audience members. When brought out of the trance, he went insane and was committed. I don’t think I believe this story.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 27, 1923: Of anti-Semitism

Romanian police and troops are standing guard at the universities in Bucharest, Jassy & Klousenburg to protect Jewish students from violence. Some professors are refusing to lecture in the presence of soldiers.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 26, 1923: A normal course

Former Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos will return to Greece, as requested by 270 members of the Constituent Assembly, but says he won’t take over his old job and will just be mediator and adviser to his country (yeah, sure) to get it back to “a normal course,” whatever that means.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 25, 1923: Of pardons, assassinations, and raids

Pres. Coolidge issues 11 pardons, including for an 18-year old Mexican woman 14 months into a drugs sentence, a guy who was blinded by an accident in prison, and a black man (several of the pardonees are black) who, as a minor, killed his stepfather to stop him beating his sister 21 years ago. One pardoned Chicago bootlegger, Philip Grossman, was probably put on the list accidentally, or because of bribes, but he’s not actually in prison and has been a fugitive from justice for the last year. He’ll surrender now to get his commutation.

After 25 minutes, a Paris jury acquits Germaine Berton, the 20-year-old anarchist who assassinated Marius Plateau, leader of the far-right monarchist Camelots du Roi, in January. Her lawyers described it as a political act and essentially put the Camelots on trial, correctly pointing out that they preach and practice violence against radicals. Thanks to France’s weird judicial system, that means the Camelots’ lawyer can participate in the trial.

The federal Prohibition cops conduct a raid in Williamson County, Illinois of supposed moonshiners and bootleggers, taking in 75 people. The feds operated without the knowledge of local cops, using volunteers. You know, Klansmen.

The Irish Free State releases Countess Markievicz.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 24, 1923: Of propaganda, dazed Greeks, and illnesses the require vibratory stimulation

Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes shows his “evidence” that Soviet Russia is conducting propaganda in the US: an article from last year in Izvestia about the close relationship between Russia and the Third International, whose president, Grigory Zinoviev, hopes that the Workers Party of America “will now more successfully conduct its work among the millions of American proletarians.”

Headline of the Day -100:

A republic? A new king (evidently Britain is ready and willing to supply one)? The return of Eleftherios Venizelos as prime minister for the 4th time?

Although the Irish Free State is releasing many interned political prisoners, Éamon de Valera is still in his cell, reading Einstein.

For her (ahem) Christmas stocking:

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 23, 1923: Vive l’anarchie

Anarchist Marcelian del Val is executed in Toulon for killing 3 cops. He refuses a mass, saying “I mock religion.” His last words: Vive l’anarchie.

Russia is adopting the metric system, phasing it in by 1927.

Chief Deskaheh is trying to get the League of Nations to recognize the Iroquois as an independent state.

Germany has been slow in developing radio, and the government is hampering it with strict, indeed ridiculous, rules. To even purchase a radio, one must get a license after proving oneself a citizen of Germany of good moral character. No one is allowed build their own radios, and the models they’re permitted to buy can receive only certain stations and not transmit. Chancellor Wilhelm Marx will soon make the first broadcast by a prominent German person.

Canada will soon hang its first Eskimos. Ottawa says this is necessary to stop Eskimos committing murders, so many murders.

The French navy airship Dixmude (originally a German zeppelin seized as reparations) is feared lost in the Sahara, caught in a gale. It did, in fact, blow up off the coast of Sicily, killing 52 passengers and crew, the largest air disaster to date. Only 2 bodies were ever recovered.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 22, 1923: Of reeds

William Randolph Hearst is throwing his weight behind Sen. James Reed of Missouri to be the Democratic nominee for president, although Reed hasn’t shown much interest in the job. If that fails, Hearst may just let his papers support Coolidge.

Russia says the papers US Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes is citing as proving Russia encouraged US Communists to prepare for revolution are forgeries.

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.

Today -100: December 21, 1923: Not taking no for an answer

The South Dakota Ford-for-President Club ignores Henry Ford’s refusal to run for president and will go ahead working to put his name on the ballot.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will investigate Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes’ accusation that Russia conducts propaganda in the US for the overthrow of the government. Some congresscritters think Hughes is just making shit up. Hughes cites an alleged instruction from Grigory Zinoviev to US Communists to prepare for revolution. 

Don't see comments? Click on the post title to view or post comments.