March 5: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

March 5, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1861, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The character of Mr. Lincoln’s inaugural address is such as to forestall criticism. It is so perfectly in accordance with the intimations thrown out in his speeches delivered on his circuitous route to Washington that it creates no new impression. It is what everybody seemed to expect, and nobody is disappointed, while no agreeable surprise was held in reserve for those who hoped he would announce sentiments different from those he promulgated. In reviewing this enunciation of the principles that are to guide his administration in the most important matters that are likely to engage his attention, we must remember the influences which must necessarily surround him, and make those allowances for the circumstances by which he is environed which he seems incapable of making in the case of his southern fellow countrymen. He had to guard against the appearance of yielding to secession, while he has also acknowledged that he is but an agent in the hands of the people, and only the instrument for carrying their will into effect.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1887, the Eagle reported, “The March number of the New Princeton has a very inviting table of contents … E.L. Godkin writes of the tariff in its political and social aspect, W.M. Taylor on the essentials of eloquence, and Woodrow Wilson on ‘The Study of Politics.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — With the beginning of his second term, President Wilson has precipitated a fight in Congress that will become historic. The Senate today is faced with the prospect of having its ancient privilege of unlimited debate destroyed. The movement for a change in the rules is powerful. The President has made the issue one of patriotism and support of the Administration in a world crisis. Already thirty-three Democratic Senators have signed a document pledging themselves to a change in Senate procedure that will make impossible again such a filibuster as blocked the armed ship bill in the Upper House. Seven more who have not signed have announced their intention to support such a movement. There will be some Republican support, it seems certain. The battle is opening today and there is evidence that the President will be able to bring tremendous public pressure to put an end to a parliamentary system which makes the Senate the creature of its own rules, and which enables a handful of members to thwart the will of the majority. Opposition, of course, will be intense in many quarters. It is likely to come chiefly from the minority, which regards the filibuster as its only method of protection against the majority.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Eagle reported, “How to Americanize the foreigners, especially the women, is being taken up by the Board of Superintendents of the Department of Education and the Americanization Committee of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party. The chairman of this committee is Miss Mary E. Dreier. The committee proffered to the Board of Education a definite request for 100 ‘home teachers’ with social service as well as academic experience, to be employed by the board to organize classes of adult immigrants in the public schools.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — All clocks will have to be turned ahead one hour at 2 a.m., Sunday, March 30, to conform with the Daylight Saving law, because the agricultural appropriation bill which contained provision for the repeal of the Daylight Saving bill failed to pass the Senate. Protest against retention of the law came from farmers, dairymen and truck gardeners, who, under its provisions, would be compelled to arise at 2 a.m. to get their goods to market by legal 6 a.m. On the basis of the strong protest from the rural communities, the Agricultural Committee amended their appropriation bill to include provision for repeal of the law.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (U.P.) — Senator Harry S. Truman (D., Mo.) announced his support of President Roosevelt’s Court reorganization program at the Missouri victory dinner celebration last night. He previously had not committed himself. ‘I have studied the question and am inclined to go along with the President,’ he said. ‘When they talk of a packed court, my answer is that the court has been packed against the people for 30 years.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “The final round for the city championship 135-pound basketball tournament will be held on the stage of the Brooklyn Paramount Theater Saturday night with C.Y.C. Vincentians meeting Boys Welcome Hall.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO (U.P.) — Gutzon Borglum, 73-year-old sculptor of Mount Rushmore, S.D., was in serious condition at Henrotin Hospital today after suffering two heart attacks. His physician said he had suffered a light attack last week and was brought to the hospital, where he suffered a more serious attack Sunday. The doctor said Borglum’s condition had improved for the first time last night. The physician said the attacks apparently had been caused by overwork. Borglum had been lecturing during the Winter and was anxious to return to the Black Hills to resume work on the Mount Rushmore Memorial. He has been working 12 years, carving the heads of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt on the mountain side.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Brooklyn Record reported, “Bay Ridge residents want no part or parcel of the proposed Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island. ‘Take it away. Put it in another section,’ is the general answer when the matter is broached to the irate people of the area. For many years there has been talk about constructing a suspension bridge to connect Staten Island with the mainland in Brooklyn. The thought has been that inasmuch as the point between Bay Ridge and Staten Island is the shortest that the feasible thing to do would be to place the bridge there with one approach located in Bay Ridge and the other across the Narrows in Staten Island. Alarmed homeowners at once objected on the ground that the land needed for the approach would have to be taken in condemnation proceedings; that many of the owners would lose their homes and that the values of all properties in the area for more than a half mile square would be greatly depreciated. One of the organizations which has consistently fought the proposal is the Bay Ridge Community Council of which Roy V. Amendola is president. ‘We do not propose to sit idly by and see the Triborough Bridge Authority and the Port of New York Authority take over our homes just to ease the traffic conditions in the metropolitan area,’ he said.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include actor and comedian Paul Sand, who was born in 1932; football player and actor Fred Williamson, who was born in 1938; “Doctor Dolittle” star Samantha Eggar, who was born in 1939; former Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Kent Tekulve, who was born in 1947; “Night Court” star Marsha Warfield, who was born in 1954; magician Penn Jillette, who was born in 1955; journalist and author Ray Suarez, who was born in Brooklyn in 1957; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), who was born in 1970; “2 Fast 2 Furious” star Eva Mendes, who was born in 1974; former N.Y. Knicks point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who was born in 1996; singer-songwriter Madison Beer, who was born in 1999; and “Jojo Rabbit” star Roman Griffin Davis, who was born in 2007.