Saturday, March 24, 1917

In spite of rumors spread by his own countrymen, one of Troy’s Austro-American community promises that his people will rally to the Stars and Stripes should the U.S. go to war with Germany and Austria. The U.S. stands at the brink of war with Germany over the sinking of U.S. merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean by German submarines. President Woodrow Wilson has called on Congress to meet in special session on April 2, and is expected to ask legislators for a declaration of war. It is unclear whether the U.S. will go to war with the Hapsburg empire of Austria-Hungary, Germany’s ally. Michael Lamto of 348 Second Street tells The Record this morning that “in the event of war between the United States and Germany and Austria, the Austrians in this country could be relied upon to stand firmly behind the action of President Wilson and even to bear arms in the support of the stars and stripes.” Lamto flatly contradicts “talk circulated by some of his countrymen claiming that in the event of a state of war existing between the countries that the majority of the Austrians would hold allegiance to their mother country.” To the contrary, Lamto claims that “the people making such absurd statements would be the first to rush to the aid of the United States.” ANTI-VAXX. James B. Emerick of Syracuse is in Troy this weekend to launch a Troy chapter of his statewide Anti-Vaccination League, The Record reports. Emerick, the League founder, tells our paper that “Leagues are being formed in the important cities throughout the state … in an endeavor to secure legislation to prevent compulsory vaccination.” He claims that “there is absolutely no reason for the indiscriminate vaccination of school children.” A mandatory smallpox vaccination is more dangerous than the disease itself, Emerick contends. He notes that only three people died of smallpox throughout New York State in 1914, while a pamphlet compiled by James A. Loyster traces at least 28 deaths that year to vaccinations.