100 Years Ago December 1919 — Miss the Good Old Days
Selected from the pages of the Middletown Press and lightly annotated by Sally Haase
Heatless Days Again? Washington, Dec. 02, 1919: The coal situation is becoming serious with fewer miners at work today since the strike was called. It is believed there will be a gradual closing down of unessential industries and even “heatless” days may be put it force again.
Ignores Peace Treaty. Washington, Dec. 02, 1919: Completely ignoring the peace treaty and featuring the nationwide unrest as the big issue now before the country, President Wilson’s anxiously awaited message to the sixty sixth congress was read before both houses today [as the President was still too ill to attend.] Declaring the absolute need of a program to bring about an improvement in the conditions of labor and that the government must recognize the right of collective bargaining and the right to strike, the president urges the United States to put its house in order by considering the difference between capital and labor.
Senate Inquires Into Wilson’s Health. Washington, Dec. 04, 1919: Desire of some members of the senate to inquire into the condition of the president has met with disapproval from the leaders. One plan was to have the naval affairs committee call upon the president’s physician for information. Another was for the appointment of a committee to wait upon the president.
Visit Sets Fears At Rest. Washington, Dec. 06, 1919: The republican leaders who forced the issue and demanded the appointment of a committee called upon the president today. The impression was undoubtedly growing in the country that a clique about the president was running the country, a sick room coup; that he was a very sick man, much sicker than his entourage dared even intimate, and that while he reposed on his sick bed, protected against visits of even his cabinet, a coterie was “governing” in his name. The statesmen, after their visit, admitted with utter confidence in the ability of president to handle any situation which might be brought to his attention.
Alsace-Lorraine Returned To France. Paris, Dec. 08, 1919: When in 1871 M. Gambetta read to the national assembly the news that Alsace and Lorraine had been torn from France by Germany [and yet] affirming the unalterable determination of the provinces to remain loyal to the motherland despite German annexation there was born a movement and spirit which inspired Frenchmen for two generations in the heroic struggle for redemption of the lost territory.
The long tragedy ended today with the return of the provinces to France when Parliament formally announced they had been reconquered by France with the help of the allies and the United States.
Senate Passes Immigration Bill. Washington, Dec. 10, 1919: The senate foreign relations committee laid down a policy of restricted immigration which was passed by the senate without a roll call immediately after it was reported from the committee. The sentiment was that congress should co-operate to aid the government in barring “reds” from this country, as well as deporting those identified with bolshevistic, I.W.W. and similar movements. Criticism of the administration’s policy in dealing with “undesirables” accused the department of labor of “inactivity.” “We provide the money and pass laws to regulate immigration and deportations but the administration will not enforce them,” Senator Ones said. “I hope the department of justice will proceed faster than the department of labor,” he added, [suggesting the transfer of jurisdiction.]
Next President Must Be Ladies’ Man. Washington, Dec. 12, 1919: To pick the next president of the United States, look for the candidate who appeals most to the imagination of the women. This is advice straight from Mrs. George Bass, chairman of the woman’s bureau of the National Democratic committee.
President Walks About His Room. Washington, Dec. 13, 1919: President Wilson has sufficiently regained his strength so that he is now able to walk about his room and the White House. When he takes his daily airing in the White House grounds, however, he is in a rolling chair.
President Issues Call For Census. Washington, Dec. 15, 1919: President Wilson issued a proclamation calling upon citizens of the United States to answer fully and truthfully all questions in connection with the fourteenth decennial census beginning January 2. [The proclamation reads in part:] The census has nothing to do with taxation, with military or jury service, with the compulsion of school attendance, with the regulation of immigration or with the enforcement of any national, state, or law ordinance. There need be no fear that any disclosure will be made regarding any individual person or his affairs.
Schools of Bolshevism Here. Washington, Dec. 16, 1919: Discovery of schools of bolshevism in the United States modeled closely after those established by Lenin in Russia have been made by agents of the department of justice. In these schools the principles of bolshevism and anarchy are taught to children of Russian and other immigrants with prizes awarded for proficiency. Classes are held in some secret meeting hall or house, where the young are taught that all organized government is tyrannical and oppressive.
Drugs Not Alcohol Fill Jails. New York, Dec. 18, 1919: Since the beginning of the Great Drought – July 1 – crime in New York City had increased alarmingly and the number of drug addicts arrested has almost quadrupled more than offsetting the drop in the number of arrests for intoxication. The only way to check the increasing consumption of drugs is to bring about the international control of the drug situation.
Next President Must Be A Business Man. Washington, Dec. 22, 1919: A business man for president and the price of bread and meat as the one great issue of the 1920 campaign will be the winning admit both parties. The entire country is yearning for “the good old days.”
Reds On Their Way To Russia. New York, Dec. 22, 1919: Somewhere at sea today the sealed orders under which the United States transport sailed with 249 deported anarchists on board were opened. The orders directed Captain Geo. Hitchcock where to land the undesirables. Friends and sympathizers were under the impression that they would not sail until today and were preparing to go to Ellis Island with food and gifts when they received news that the transport had slipped quietly out of port on Sunday.
Unburied Recovered From War Fields. Paris, Dec. 24, 1919: More than a year has elapsed since the last gun boomed on the western front yet the ghastly skeletons of allied and German soldiers are still being removed from the rusted maze of barbed wire in northern France. Both British and Australian burial squads are continuing their work in the region that is full of live grenades.
100 years ago, much has changed and, then again, nothing has changed.
Photo from Google Advanced Images.
