100 years ago in The Record
Tuesday, March 18, 1919
Troy’s political parties hope to recruit candidates for this year’s citywide elections from the ranks of soldiers returning from the world war, on an assumption that “military men must be recognized by both parties.” While Republicans hope to convince Major Charles A. Mac Arthur of the city’s 105th U.S. Infantry regiment to run for mayor, Democrats are reportedly courting Lieutenant Edward L. Ryan of the 106th Infantry to run for John F. Shannon’s seat on the state assembly. Shannon, currently serving his fifth year in legislature, reportedly wants to run for city comptroller this fall. “There is no desire on his part to return to Albany,” The Record reports. Ryan “is considered one of the most popular Troy officers that have returned from overseas duty” as well as “most popular among the younger element of the Democratic party.” Originally attached to the 105th, he was transferred to the 106th at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. Badly wounded during the fall 1918 offensive against the Hindenburg line, he came home as a convalescent shortly after the November armistice ended the fighting. “So far as is known he has not considered the matter,” our writer notes, “but his friends are more than anxious for him to accept some place on the ticket. Should Ryan decline to run, Democrats believe that “there is plenty of material among the members of the 105th regiment. Persons familiar with conditions would not be surprised to see a member or members of the regiment represented as candidates in various wards of the city.”
Senator Calder Speaks to Trojans
U.S. Senator William M. Calder expresses “absolute sympathy for the aims of the Watervliet arsenal officials in making the gun-plant the greatest in this country, if not the world, and also with the provisions of the waterpower bill” during an address to a joint meeting of the Troy Chamber of Commerce and the Troy Rotary Club.
Calder, a first-term Republican, supports the idea of shipping freight from the Great Lakes via the barge canal to Troy, and from there down the Hudson. He opposes efforts to make the St. Lawrence River the link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
“If a waterway is to be provided for ocean going vessels connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic seaboard, I insist it must be through the territory of the United States,” Calder says.
Calder opposes the league of nations proposed at the Paris peace conference. “Anxious as I am for the peace of the world, I am more anxious for the peace of America,” he tells the Trojans.