Trivia clue: He was a New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner who acted as “spokesman,” so to speak, for the state’s $1.15 billion environmental bond act in 1972.
Correct response: Who is Henry Diamond? Diamond and three others representing the Environmental Bond Coalition, a coalition of 41 statewide organizations, were set to embark on a 500-mile bicycle trek to campaign in support of the bond act, with stops in 23 cities to hold rallies, The Post-Star of Glens Falls reported on October 2nd, 1972.
“With our limited funds, it’s impossible to carry out a traditional advertising campaign to inform the public about this issue,” Diamond told the Associated Press. “Right now, I’m not confident I can ride 50 miles or more a day, but it’s going to be a lot of fun trying,” said the 40-year-old Diamond. The bond act passed.
In other news of the lighter side of politics collected from northern New York historic newspapers:
With the change in presidential administrations came a change in hand-shaking techniques. “President Cleveland gives you a shake like a Montana entertainer. He never spared his big right member, and continued practice has made him dexterous in going through the courtesy with great rapidity,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on March 19th, 1889. “The Harrison act is quite different. The long-bodied man stands squarely planted on his short legs and his head is bent slightly forward on the hinge formed by his rudimentary neck.”
At the White House there was no beer, when this First Lady was in charge of entertaining. “At Raceville, a Prohibition flag will be flung to the breeze net Sunday in memory of Mrs. R. B. Hayes who is credited with banishing all drinks of intoxicating character from the White House during her occupancy,” The Morning Star reported on July 26th, 1889.
Lake George officials hoped that the rumor of a presidential visit in summer 1889 would be true. “Some remarkably big guns are expected at the Fort William Henry early in August. Chief among them are President Harrison,” The Morning Star reported July 9th, 1889, quoting a report in the Albany Journal. “The party will visit the lake unostentatiously and remain for some days quietly at the hotel.” The rumor turned out to be unfounded.
Even a former U.S. president needed to book early to enjoy the music of Frederick Barclay, “the well-known tenor from Argyle.” Professor Mietzke was hastily organizing two concerts to present at Upper Saranac where Grover Cleveland and his wife were set to stay for “a sojourn of a week or so,” The Morning Star reported on August 12th, 1889. Mietzke invited Barclay to perform, but the vocalist had other previously scheduled appearances.
Editorial wit
“Although the presidential election is a year and some months away, the political broth is beginning to boil, not in the sense of who is going to lead the Republicans against Mr. Truman as to what party is going to march triumphantly into the White House.” – The Post-Star, June 2nd, 1947
“Good looks and graceful carriage are not Joe Canon’s strong points, but no congressman is liked more than he.” – The Morning Star, August 17th, 1889.
Photo: A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942.
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