100 years ago in The Record
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 1918.
Now that the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign is over, The Record reports that Trojans are turning their fundraising efforts toward helping victims of the Spanish flu epidemic. More than 100 Troy residents have died of the flu this month out of more than 3,000 cases reported. Among the latest casualties is veteran fireman Edward J. Burns, who was on medical leave due to injuries when he fell ill. Overall, the Collar City has seen “a marked decrease in the number of new cases of influenza,” according to health officer Dr. Melville D. Dickinson. Thanks in part to “excellent weather conditions,” Dickinson believes that “Troy has passed the worst phases of the epidemic.” A new relief fund is accepting contributions of any size, in the form of money or supplies, to help poor families of flu sufferers. The fund is the idea of public school commissioner Kate Mahoney, head of the local Red Cross canteen committee, which provides “soups, broths and other delicacies” to patients, doctors and nurses. “Although this effort is not to be taken to indicate that the situation is growing worse in this city – for it is growing better, the health officer says – the matter is still serious enough for any aid which would serve to check the epidemic and lessen the mortality,” our reporter writes. Approximately $1,000 has been contributed on the first day of fundraising. Contributions “will be used strictly in aiding families who otherwise would not be properly cared for,” our writer explains.
Republican Party’s Campaign in County
The first and possibly the only Republican campaign rally of the fall in rural Rensselaer County takes place tonight at Grange Hall in East Greenbush.
“Owing to the epidemic there will be few indoor political meetings,” state senator George B. Wellington explains, “It is doubtful whether such gatherings this year would be of much use.” With a war on as well, “It seems almost sacrilegious to discuss partisan politics.”
Wellington tells the gathering that for all intents and purposes the legislative elections will be a referendum on the federal constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages nationwide. He led an unsuccessful effort to ratify the amendment last spring, while opponents want the people of each state to decide the prohibition question by referendum.
“The question is asked, why should not the people be allowed to vote upon the question,” Wellington says, “My answer is that they are permitted to vote upon it. They may vote upon it at this very election, provided only that rival candidates for the Legislature shall make known their positions.”
—Kevin Gilbert