100 years ago in Redlands: Daily Facts dabbles in time travel as a Redlands Democrat has fun at national convention

June 20, 1924

Oh, these keen people

Canyon Ranch, Live Oak Canyon, Redlands, California

June 18, 1924.

Dear Sir:

We have just received with great interest your number of June 17, 1824.

Congratulations on the Centenary of the Redlands Daily Facts!

Times do not seem to alter much after all, for the news items of that long ago date seem much like those of the present date.

Yours truly,

ROSE SAUNDERS.

The Facts just cannot get away with anything like dating its paper back a mere hundred years and not have some keen sighted and keen minded people see it and comment upon it. The errors which creep into all printed pages, find in less observant communities no watchful eye like this one.

But the printed page of The Facts must be not only as pure as the driven snow (oh, for a little driven snow these June days) from the standpoint of ethics and morality, but even our peccadilloes in grammatical construction, our errors in proof reading like that which gave us an issue dated 1824 instead of 1924, and all those little things which go to vex the “front office” and get the “back office” in wrong — these are visited upon our devoted heads, to our large embarrassment and great confusion.

Life is not all a dream, not altogether one uninterrupted round of pleasure and satisfaction, even in a newspaper shop.

Editor’s note: All 12 pages of the June 17, 1924, edition of the Redlands Daily Facts carried the date TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1824.

June 24, 1924

Brown’s in town — attending on the great convention

Charles M. Brown, well known Redlands politician — yes, a Democrat even though he does live here — was the center of a little episode at the New York convention yesterday. A correspondent writing says:

Southern Californians appear to be a degree or two more enthusiastic for McAdoo than a few northern delegates, notable among his most ardent admirers being John B. Elliot, J. Harvey McCarthy, John P. Carter, R.T. Burger, Irwin J. Muma and J.B. Coulston, of Los Angeles County, and the indefatigable Charles M. Brown of Redlands.

Mr. Brown, by the way, who is something of a wag, drew down the ire of a serious-minded Smith advocate who appeared to suspect the Redlands Democrat of anti-prohibition leanings.

“Why should a man like you,” said the Smith supporter, “favor a man like McAdoo when a man like Smith is in the race?”

“What Smith?” inquired Brown.

“Why, Al Smith.”

“Who’s Al Smith?”

“The Governor.”

“What Governor?”

“Why Good Heavens, Gov. Smith of New York,”

“I never heard of him,” said Brown.

What the New York man said is not for publication.

Editor’s note: Charles M. Brown, who in the 1920s was manager of Redlands’ Gold Banner citrus packing and shipping association, was described in Redlands’ 1938 “Golden Jubilee” book as a “dynamic Democrat, confidant of Senators and Presidents.” The presidents who sought Brown’s advice, according to the “Golden Jubilee” book, were Woodrow Wilson (president from 1913 to 1921) and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was not elected president until eight years after the 1924 election.

The “Golden Jubilee” book also says Brown was “a fast friend of Senator William Gibbs McAdoo dating from the Wilson regime.” Neither McAdoo nor Al Smith won the Democratic nomination for president in 1924, though Al Smith won the 1928 nomination. Both Smith and the 1924 Democratic nominee, John W. Davis, lost to Republicans — Calvin Coolidge in 1924 and Herbert Hoover in 1928.

June 25, 1924

Chamber of Commerce activities

Chamber of Commerce directors this morning concerned themselves greatly over the financing of the institution for the remainder of the present year and finally decided that the members of the directorate will call upon those who have not yet paid and ask their continued cooperation in carrying on this necessary institution.

H.J. Moulton, district manager of the Edison Company, was present and told of the water shortage and the absolute necessity for large cooperation on the part of Redlands, if we are not to have a very serious situation in the matter of power shortage this summer. He said the company must shut off certain circuits at given times, in order to accomplish the local part of the cutting down in the use of power ordered by the State Railroad Commission.

Editor’s note: Redlands and other areas faced an electric power shortage in 1924 because rainfall was down that season and much of the electric power at the time was generated by water.

June 25, 1924

Howl owner has fun with Moulton over lighted sign

There is some fun connected with the power saving program although it is as a whole a very serious proposition.

For instance Jack Moulton received a violent protest on the use of light for the ball games at the Y.M.C.A. This protest comes largely from folks opposed to the noise of the rooters.

There has also been a protest from folks who stay at home at night against the use of current for illuminating the clock in the Congregational tower.

But the big joke is on Mr. Moulton. He asked the Hotel Elton to cease illuminating the hotel sign. The proprietor flatly refused. Mr. Moulton was just about to get his “mad” up when the proprietor laughingly took him outside and showed him where gas lights were being used to illuminate the sign.