100 years ago in The Record
Saturday, June 16, 1917
Trojans have just given more than $3,000,000 to the national Liberty Loan campaign for the U.S. war effort, but they’ll be asked to give more next week.
Fortunately, the American Red Cross isn’t asking nearly as much from Collar City residents. Troy has been assigned a $150,000 goal as part of next week’s $100,000,000 nationwide campaign.
The campaign kicks off tomorrow with special speakers at local churches, while active fundraising begins next Monday. The church speakers get their marching orders tonight at the Chamber of Commerce rooms.
“What we must impress upon the people of Troy is that this money is ultimately to relieve the suffering of many of their own boys,” explains Red Cross field secretary Thomas R. Jordan, “It is to be hoped that every American will realize the seriousness of the situation in time as that is the most important thing.”
“We would urge the people to receive the canvassers next week in good spirit,” says Rev. Joseph H. Odell, “on the ground that this is a war for humanity, the perpetuation of the principles of democracy and for the very existence of America.”
SUFFRAGE RALLY
Many Trojans are probably willing to give Margaret Foley a warm reception tonight because she isn’t asking them for money. Foley addresses an open-air meeting at the corner of Third and State streets in support of women’s right to vote.
The men of New York State will have their second chance in three years this November to approve women’s suffrage, after a similar referendum was defeated in 1915.
Foley “is a very forceful speaker and had a strong support of facts and figures for what she said,” the Sunday Budget reports. She also knows how to deal with hecklers.
“You can’t kid me, and [you] only show that you are kids yourself in knowledge, or want of knowledge of the principles of a great cause,” Foley says, “You should be wearing a uniform in the service of your country, or aiding it tonight in some one of the many ways open for service, instead of trying to guy me.”
A local Socialist uses the occasion to promote his party’s meeting tomorrow at Rand’s Hall, but Foley rejects the invitation.
“I’m going to be at a meeting to help increase the food supply for the people to-morrow, and that’s more to the purpose than Socialistic talk to embarrass the government,” she says.
The Budget reports that the Socialist meeting “will be attended by members of the police force instructed to keep an ear open for what is said and an eye open for what is done.”