On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. We will also recount the events occurring in the war on that day. So, check back each day for new editions.
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TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – TUESDAY JUNE 6, 1916
Today’s forecast calls for showers this afternoon and tonight. The rain could turn to thundershowers as the evening progresses. The high will reach 76° with the overnight low near 57°. The chief fire marshal of this city, George W. Elliott, was married today. The bride is the former Miss Laura Thiess of 5305 Walton Avenue. The ceremony took place at the bride’s home with her father, Charles Thiess, giving her away. The new Mrs. Elliott wore a lovely blue taffeta traveling dress for the occasion. The couple will honeymoon in Florida.
In political news here, the Vare faction of the Republican Party has taken almost total control of the city wards. After elections last night for city committeemen the Vare camp now controls 32 wards while the Penrose-McNichol faction has 16. The Vares are aligned with Mayor Smith who can now proceed with a general house cleaning of Penrose-McNichol men from city and county departments. Mayor Smith was asked if he intends to have a shakeup at City Hall to which he replied “I mean to act as I see fit”.
In national political news, the Republican National Convention begins tomorrow in Chicago. The main focus of all involved is the attempt to heal the deep and bitter rift between the progressive forces of Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican establishment. Beside Mr. Roosevelt the other names mentioned for the nomination are Senator Elihu Root of New York, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, Senator Albert Cummins of Iowa and Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Our Governor, Martin Brumbaugh, has also been mentioned as a possible nominee.
The death toll from speeding and recklessly driven automobiles and trucks this year has now reached 54. The latest incidents involved 5 year old Abraham Snyder of 1810 South 10th Street who was struck by a touring car at 7th & Moore Streets yesterday. The boy is in serious condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Joseph Girard a chef at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel who was struck on May 17th after leaving work, died yesterday from his injuries.
WAR NEWS
Kitchener of Khartoum is dead. Earl Horatio Herbert Kitchener Minister of War of Great Britain was killed when the ship he was sailing on struck a mine and sank north of Scotland and west of the Orkneys last night.
Field Marshal Kitchener was on a diplomatic mission to Russia aboard the HMS Hampshire when the mine was hit. In this country Earl Kitchener is best known for his image which appears on British recruiting posters exhorting men to join the army.
In Britain he won fame for winning the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, securing the Sudan and also for his role in the Second Boer War. In 1902 he was appointed Commander in Chief of India. When the present hostilities began in 1914 he was appointed Secretary of State for War.
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