100 years ago in The Record

Sunday, April 22, 1917

Support for the American Red Cross is the theme of sermons in many Troy churches today, from which The Record takes Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Sprague’s sermon at First Baptist Church as an example. “With the entering of our own nation into the great world conflict, the opportunity of co- operating with and advancing the work of the American Red Cross should appeal to one and all,” Sprague says. The U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6, joining a conflict that has raged through Europe since the summer of 1914. The Rensselaer County chapter of the Red Cross hopes to increase its membership to 10,000 people this year. Americans can’t rule out the possibility that the war will be fought in part on their own soil. “Let us pray God that the horrors of war, as portrayed on European battlefields may be averted from our land,” Sprague preaches, “But we must be prepared for any emergency. “Let us put our American Red Cross on such a basis that it will be prepared to render the most efficient service under any circumstances in our own land and at the same time to follow our brave soldiers and sailors even though it be across the seas. “We all as true patriots want to be of use to our country and feel that we have a part in sustaining the honor and integrity of our land. And as we do our bit let us be unceasingly praying to the God of the nations that the day may be not far distant when the spirit of the Red Cross shall prevail everywhere and in everything, when war and all of its tragedies shall be banished from the face of the earth, and when man the wide world o’er shall clasp hands in brotherhood and in love.”

Ed Wachter

Today’s Sunday Budget prints a speech delivered in Syracuse yesterday by Ed Wachter, the Troy man regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of the early 20th century. Wachter feels that basketball has been held back from mass popularity by a lack of uniformity in rules across the country.

When Wachter’s Troy team represented the New York State League against Reading of the Eastern League, Reading enjoyed a twofold advantage in Wachter’s opinion. Eastern League referees called fouls far more often, and their teams used designated free-throw shooters instead of forcing the player fouled to shoot. Reading beat Troy in a best- of-five series with each team playing two games under home rules, and one half of the rubber match played under each team’s rules.