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. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – TUESDAY MAY 21, 1918
The rain from last night and early this morning has passed and the city will have fair skies for the rest of the day. Today’s high will be near 81° with the low tonight about 65°. R. W. Cronecker, Mayor of Sea Isle City, N.J. is missing. The Mayor hasn’t been seen since May 4th and family and friends are worried. They say it is unlike the Mayor to neglect his duties for so long and fear some injury or mental disability may have befallen him. Inquiries have been made at this home and law office in Camden to no avail. The Mayor is one of the youngest in the state and very popular. He is 5’4” tall, about 130 lbs. and has a slight twitch on the left side of the neck. He was last seen wearing a brown suit. If you have seen the Mayor please contact local police.
Today is primary election day in Pennsylvania. The Committee of Seventy has issued 100 warrants against election watchers and division workers for violating election laws. Additional warrants have been issued against Vare men for obstructing and intimidating Town Meeting Party and independent voters. Even Senator Boies Penrose was challenged by a Vare man when he attempted to vote at 244 South 12th Street this morning. The Senator replied he had been voting there for years and it was rather late to challenge him now. The Senator was allowed to vote.
Boies Penrose
The warrants will be included in a bill of equity and presented to Common Pleas Court this afternoon. The bill will charge that ballots were refused to independent voters unless they signed a pledge to vote for specific Republican candidates in the general election in November. Thankfully, there were few reports of violence related to the election and even those were from minor fist fights. This is in stark contrast to last year’s election when Policeman Eppley was shot to death in the 5th Ward. Even the “Bloody Fifth” was relatively quiet today with only one reported fist fight.
On the high school sports scene Roman Catholic High will host the 11th annual parochial school athletic league track and field meet. The event will be held at Roman Catholic’s field, 29th & Indiana Avenue, on June 8. Athletes from all the schools in the diocese are invited to compete. The events will be divided into two classes, one for boys over 5 feet tall and the other for those under 5 feet.
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