September 25: ON THIS DAY in 1947, Truman urges nation stop food waste to aid Europe

September 25, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A total of 118 cases of influenza and forty-one of pneumonia were reported to the local Health Department for the twenty-four hours ending at 10 o’clock this morning, according to Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Health Commissioner. These figures show a decrease in the influenza and pneumonia cases as compared to the preceding twenty-four hours when there were 150 cases of influenza and eighty-one cases of pneumonia … Dr. Copeland said that at the present time the department had no intention of ordering the closing of schools because of the disease. Every teacher, he said, had been supplied with pamphlets prepared by the Health Department and giving instructions in preventing the disease. These will be given to the pupils and the teachers have been requested to send home any pupil they find sneezing and coughing, and who shows signs of a heavy cold.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1920, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO — Indictments based on charges of conspiracy to defraud may be the result of the Cook County Grand Jury’s investigation of alleged crookedness by the players in last fall’s World Series, it was indicated today by Henry H. Brigham, foreman of the jury. ‘There seems to be more than sufficient evidence to support such charges,’ Mr. Brigham declared. In connection with Brigham’s announcement that Arnold Rothstein, New York turf man and chief owner of the Havre de Grace race track, had been subpoenaed, it was learned that President B.B. Johnson of the American League has been in New York for two days investigating reports involving New York men in the alleged plan to ‘fix’ the 1919 World Series so Cincinnati would win and enable the gamblers on the ‘inside’ to win large sums.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1936, the Eagle reported, “Greatly encouraged by the fine showing of Bobby Wilson, Dick Crayne and Warren Barrett in their first professional start, Coach Paul Schissler of the Brooklyn Dodgers looked forward with optimism to the game with the Boston Redskins Sunday at Ebbets Field. The entire squad emerged in good condition from its clash with the Pirates. Boston, conqueror of the Philadelphia Eagles, which had scored over the New York Giants, comes here with Ed and Reily Smith as its stars. Ed Smith is the forward passing star of N.Y.U.’s team last year, while Reily earned All-American honors at Alabama.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (AP) — Politicians — particularly those who think President Roosevelt may seek a third term — are watching closely for official word on Postmaster General [James] Farley’s future plans. Some of them would regard his retirement from the Cabinet, even though he retained the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, as a tip-off that the Chief Executive had made up his mind not to run again despite any amount of possible urging. If Mr. Roosevelt has any third-term ideas, these men argue, he would not permit withdrawal from Washington of the man who directed his political campaigns so successfully through two Democratic National Conventions and two Presidential elections.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — President Truman set in motion today a wasteless food campaign and said he will seek immediate stop-gap aid for hungry Europe without a special session of Congress, if possible. He revealed at a 27-minute press conference that his chief reason for summoning Congressional leaders to a White House conference Monday was to determine what immediate steps could be taken to provide prompt aid to Europe. As a starter, he set up a citizens food conservation program so more food will be available to hungry Europe without forcing prices up higher at home. ‘I am confident that the American people, realizing the extreme seriousness of the situation, will cooperate fully,’ the President said. Mr. Truman emphasized that he is not asking Americans to eat less — as Senator Robert A. Taft (R., Ohio) proposed recently — but to waste less. As an example, he said the bread thrown away in this country is equivalent to about 70,000,000 bushels of grain a year.”