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 often for new updates.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1915
The forecast for this St. Swithin’s day is for partly cloudy skies with the high reaching around 88° and the low tonight only about 74°. For those familiar with the legend of St. Swithin that could make for an uncomfortably hot next 40 days.
The Court of Common Pleas has issued an injunction prohibiting city officials from implementing the recently passed Jitney Law. Many jitney owners have argued the law is confiscatory and will put them out of business. The injunction will remain in effect till at least September 20 when a trial on the matter will be held. This also puts the jitney issue squarely into the upcoming Mayoralty campaign.
In politics, the forces of Senator Boies Penrose have been summoned to Atlantic City to receive instructions for a campaign to stop the movement to secure Governor Brumbaugh the nomination of the Republican Party for President of the United States. Although Governor Brumbaugh is a fellow Republican, Senator Penrose has promised the Pennsylvania delegation at the upcoming convention to Elihu Root.
In national news, the list of eminent scientists and businessmen to serve on the National military advisory board under the direction of Secretary of the Navy Daniels is growing. As was reported yesterday, Thomas Edison and Orville Wright have already promised their participation. Today a number of prominent Philadelphians also promised support. They include: Edgar F. Smith (shown below), Provost of the University of Pennsylvania and renowned Chemist; W.W. Atterbury, Vice President of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Alba Johnson, President of Baldwin Locomotive; Walton Clark, President of the Franklin Institute and Harry Hand, Vice President of William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company.
Edgar F. Smith
In baseball at National League Park this afternoon the 1st place Phillies beat the Cardinals 4 to 3 before a crowd of 3,500. Out in Chicago the A’s finally broke their 4 game losing streak by topping the White Sox 5 to 2. Rube Bressler got his 3rd win of the season for the Mackmen.
WAR NEWS
On the Alpine front, the Italians have captured 2 miles of Austrian trench works in the Carnic Alps. Also, the battle of the Isonzo River continues and is undoubtedly the greatest engagement fought on the Italian front. It is reported that the River banks are strewn with the bodies of Austrian and Italian dead. In the Dardanelles, the Allies are conducting another determined assault by land and sea on the Turks north of Krithia. The British and French admit to great losses in the fight but insist that victory will soon be theirs. In Eastern Europe, The Russian fortress city of Przasnysz, 50 miles north of Warsaw has fallen to the Germans.
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