Trivia clue: Who introduced American corn bread to England? Correct response: Jeremiah Rusk of Wisconsin, U.S. Secretary of State from 1889-1893.
“It must never be forgotten of Hon. Jeremiah Rusk that when he was secretary of agriculture, he made a market for American pork that was shut off for many years,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls editorialized on December 19, 1893.
“Secretary Rusk also introduced the use of American corn bread and meal into Europe, as far east as the sultan’s domain. For this
substantial service his countrymen should keep his memory green,” the paper reported.
In other news of the lighter side of politics collected from Northern New York historic newspapers:
John Wheeler hosted an oyster supper to celebrate his election as district attorney, the Indian Lake correspondent reported in
The Morning Star on November 25, 1893.
“George Graves, assistant secretary to the governor [Al Smith], caught a four-pound pikeperch in Friends Lake,” The Post-Star reported on
November 20, 1923. “This is a large specimen of the species as the average pikeperch taken will run from two to three pounds in weight.”
“Governor Hill has been enjoying several days in the Adirondacks,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 3, 1889. “He was
accompanied by his private secretary and the Hon. Galen Hilt, member of Assembly from Albany.”
A child was born to this apparently prominent Washington County Republican. “A little stranger without a name but supposed to be a good straight Republican arrived at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gillis last Thursday, who proposes to stay with them this
winter,” the Salem correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on January 12, 1894.
“Congratulations are the order of the day. Bring on the cigars, Theo, for we Republicans all smoke.”
“There are two men in Congress who never carry an umbrella. These are Congressman [Constantine Butler] Kilgore of Texas and Senator [John William] Cockrell of Missouri,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 7, 1894. “Last year there were three anti-umbrella statesmen, for [Rep. Benjamin] Tillman, of South Carolina, was there to swell the ranks.”
“Senator [William F.] Vilas [of Wisconsin] has started a new phrase. It is ‘inextricable intertwinement.’ See if you can speak it quickly and correctly the first time,” The Morning Star reported on February 19, 1894.
President Warren Harding and the First Lady remained in the viewing box in front of the White House for 3.5 hours as some 20,000 marchers passed by in the opening parade of the 49th annual Shriners convention, The Post-Star reported on June 6, 1923.
Also, during the convention, “Woodrow Wilson was serenaded at his S Street home today by a Shriners’ patrol from Greenville, S.C. When the singing was over the former president waved his acclamation and one member of the patrol shouted, ‘We’re 100 percent for you in South Carolina.’ He then led the other Shriners in ‘Three cheers for Wilson,’” The Post-Star reported on June 7.
Editorial wit
“As a rule, men who are sent to Washington are either good speakers or good story-tellers. Few men come to Congress without
possessing one or the other of these qualifications. Most successful congressman possess both.” – The Granville Sentinel, January 19, 1894.
“Mr. [Josiah William] Bailey [of North Carolina] has introduced a bill into Congress making it unlawful for Senators and Representatives to recommend to the President and heads of departments any person for public office. That bill has about as much chance of passing as some politicians have of going to heaven.” – The Morning Star, March 19, 1894.
Photo: A New York Times pressman checking a newspaper for defects in 1942.
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