January 17: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

January 17, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “ALBANY — Overnight, Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt of Dutchess County, a first-term Democrat, has jumped into prominence as the leader of the Independent Democrats who are fighting the Sheehan-Murphy combination. Senator Roosevelt is a fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, and he gives promise, from the way in which he is making his debut, of being a prominent factor in Democratic party politics. He is a tall, slender, athletic looking young man, [28] years of age, with a thin, intellectual face, and a pleasant, although quick, nervous manner. By common consent, as the brains of the Insurgent ranks, he has been accepted as their leader, and even such experienced legislators as Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, former Lieutenant Governor, and one time candidate for Governor, advises with him frequently on the rapidly developing shifts of the great contest which is now under way. Roosevelt is reported to be a millionaire, but he dresses simply, in light clothes that look as though they were cut by the village tailor … The machine Republicans are watching young Roosevelt with a great deal of interest. They are gleeful at the prospect in store for Democrats, who already find themselves at a standstill, owing to a Roosevelt. They say that the shoe is now on the other foot, and quote with unction Senator ‘Big Tim’ Sullivan’s groan of this morning: ‘Lord, are we to be afflicted with a Roosevelt, too?’”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “Colonel [Theodore] Roosevelt will accept the nomination for President if the Republican Convention demands that he shall run. Colonel Roosevelt will not be ‘smoked out’ or otherwise forced to declare that he will not accept the nomination. Colonel Roosevelt will do nothing to discourage his boom for President, whether his boomers be Wall Street men, insurgents or just plain Republicans. The foregoing statements were made to the Eagle today by a prominent New York State Republican, who is in a position to know just what Colonel Roosevelt thinks about the nomination.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “AUSTIN, TEX. (AP) — The Texas Rangers, heroes of fact and fiction for the last 90 years of the history of the southwest, are threatened with elimination. Under a District Court ruling that the Ranger Law, dating from 1835, with recognition by State constitutions in 1845 and 1861, and amendments in 1901 and 1919, is unconstitutional, the rangers yesterday were enjoined permanently from officiating as State policemen. The decision was appealed to the Supreme Court, but meantime the rangers are idle for the first time since a doughty little band was organized to mold from the wilderness of the southwest a peaceful, protected place for the Republic of Texas. Through the various vicissitudes through which the Lone Star State has passed as Mexican dependency, rebel nation, republic and State, the rangers have kept pace with progress, always as fearless, untiring, straight-shooting men devoted to their task of preserving order. The rangers originally numbered 150 and never exceeded 1,000. They now muster but 50 men.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1932, the Eagle reported, “Installation of officers and induction of all the members into the newly organized Floyd Bennett Post, 1060, American Legion, will be held at the Bill Brown Post Memorial Hall, 3041 Ocean Ave., next Thursday night, according to Commander Louis Karstendiek. Bennett post, organized less than two months ago by Karstendiek, James Closhessy and Herman Moldow, and a group of Mill Basin, Flatbush, Flatlands and Bergen Beach veterans, has a membership well over 100 and is steadily increasing. County Commander Frank P. Dunphy will officiate at the installation. He will be assisted by a degree team of the Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Cheveaux. Mrs. Floyd Bennett, widow of the flier in whose memory the post has been named, will be the guest of honor, as will be County Adjutant Paul Howard, Surrogate George A. Wingate, Gertrude Gleason of the County Auxiliary and Commander F.H. Morton of the First District. The organization of a women’s auxiliary to the post is under way and it is expected that by Feb. 1, there will be more than 300 women enrolled.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “The development of television, when it is introduced at the close of the war, will be far in advance of radio when it was introduced at the close of World War I, according to Dr. W.R.G. Baker, General Electric vice president in charge of electronics.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Congress resounded with enthusiastic acclaim today for the Administration’s compromise plan for unifying the armed forces under a single Secretary of National Defense. Even bitter foes of past proposals gave it their blessings, chiefly because it provided for money-saving co-ordination of the army, navy and air forces without actually merging them into a single department. The new blueprint was drafted by the army and navy after more than a year of bickering. It was unfolded by President Truman last night with the statement that it was an ‘admirable compromise’ that would ‘contribute greatly’ to the efficiency of national defense. He said he would send Congress suggested legislation to put it into effect. Briefly, the compromise proposed division of the armed forces into three coequal and separate departments of army, navy and air forces, each under its own secretary, but all under the overall direction of a new Secretary of National Defense … The plan also proposed a Council of National Defense, a National Security Resources Board, a central intelligence agency, and a war council to consider matters of ‘broad policy.’ The latter would be headed by the defense secretary, who would hold the power of decision, and the Secretaries of War, Navy and Air and the military heads of the three services.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The District of Columbia commissioners have decided to ask Congress to approve a bill making standup drinking legal at Washington bars. At the present time Washingtonians have to do their drinking while seated.”

***

James Earl Jones
Michael Zorn/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Oscar-winning actor James Earl Jones, who was born in 1931; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Mick Taylor (the Rolling Stones), who was born in 1949; singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who was born in 1955; “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey, who was born in 1957; Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs, who was born in 1959; former N.Y. Yankees DH Chili Davis, who was born in 1960; “42” director Brian Helgeland, who was born in 1961; “The Mask” star Jim Carrey, who was born in 1962; “The Perfect Storm” author Sebastian Junger, who was born in 1962; former First Lady Michelle Obama, who was born in 1964; “Lost” star Naveen Andrews, who was born in 1969; singer-songwriter Kid Rock, who was born in 1971; “Bull” star Freddy Rodriguez, who was born in 1975; Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, who was born in 1982; and “The Last Jedi” star Kelly Marie Tran, who was born in 1989.