May 1: ON THIS DAY in 1943, F.D.R. takes over struck coal mines

May 1, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “President [William] McKinley paid an official visit to the Brooklyn Navy Yard this morning. This is the first time since the administration of the late President Chester A. Arthur that a presidential visit has been made to the local yard, and the occasion was attended with all the ceremony that its distinction demanded … The short sail down the East River was marked by a continuous blowing of whistles and salutes to the president.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1916, the Eagle reported, “Official announcement was made this afternoon that all the rebel leaders in Dublin had surrendered … Reports from the provincial districts show that the greatest number of disturbances outside of the city occurred in County Meath, where armed rebels in parties were still terrorizing the country side yesterday … Many of the prisoners were captured red handed with weapons. One man was caught in a chimney from which he had been sniping for four days and nights.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1931, the Eagle reported, “A governor and a former governor today formally opened the Empire State Building, tallest in the world, and they were aided by the president of the United States in Washington … Governor [Franklin] Roosevelt was one of a long list of celebrities who attended the opening of the tall tower of steel and stone at 5th Avenue and 34th Street, Manhattan, on the site of the historic old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. With him was former Governor Alfred E. Smith, head of the Empire State Building Corporation … At 11:15 a.m., Smith placed a red, white and blue ribbon on the 33rd Street entrance, and a few minutes later the parade started. At 11:30, President [Herbert] Hoover, in the White House, pressed a button, and throughout the 102 stories electric lights flashed on, in competition with the light of a brilliant sun.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1935, Eagle reporter Art Arthur wrote, “The lonesomest man in Union Square today was Angelo Guspanti, a simple citizen who made the mistake of trying to sell tiny American flags to Communists marching in the May Day parade. To Angelo, a parade is a parade. He has always managed to pick up a few pennies in the past peddling his flags. Today Angelo invested his limited capital of some 35 cents in an assortment of small-size Old Glories and set out, as usual, to vend his wares. But no takers.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1943, the Eagle reported, “Washington, May 1 (UP) – President [Franklin] Roosevelt today directed Secretary of Interior Harold L. Ickes to take immediate possession of all coal mines where strikes are in progress or are threatened. Mr. Roosevelt also directed Ickes to provide protection for all employees resuming work at the mines. He authorized him to request the army to provide this protection … After this morning’s 10 o’clock deadline for the resumption of work had passed with the miners still on strike, White House Press Secretary Stephen T. Early told newspapermen, ‘The president at 10 o’clock tomorrow night will make a brief but very important statement. It will be carried by all of the networks. It is safe to surmise that it will deal bluntly with the question of the need of coal to win the war.’”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “For more than four hours today the people marched in Brooklyn’s second annual Loyalty Day parade in an impressive demonstration against the May Day parade being held in Manhattan at about the same time … The weather — blue sky and a mild spring sun — was ideal … And as it wound its way toward Borough Hall it developed into a great show of color and sound, of fluttering flags and colorful uniforms and picturesque floats and many bands playing — all adding up to a rededication to unswerving loyalty to the nation.”