100 Years Ago Today - January 2023

Look at these statements from headline articles in the La Porte Argus in January 1923. Terminology, capitalization, and what makes headline news can be different. Yet accidents, business, crime, and war still make headlines. Want to read the whole article? It’s on microfilm in the Indiana Room at the Main Library. Staff will be glad to help you access it. 

 

January 2 

Efforts to organize a Junior Naval Reserve Unit in La Porte are being made. Mayor Sallwasser is asked to nominate 16 young men between the ages of 14 and 21 for the charter membership. 

  

January 3 

The state allots 5,000 passenger car plates to this territory and 500 truck plates. Earl Rowley, prosecuting attorney, will prosecute every motorist operating machines without new licenses. 

  

January 4 

War between Kan and anti-Klan sympathies in Michigan City threatened to break out today. 

  

January 5 

A La Porte wounded vet and father of three small children is charged with stealing from Mr. St. John’s Shoe hospital where he has been employed. 

  

January 6 

The overseer of the White house says the executive mansion is a firetrap. A committee includes $25,000 to cover repair work in a bill. 

  

January 8 

Protesting a cut in wages of 10 cents an hour, 250 workers in the Studebaker assembling plant at South Bend, walk out today. The strike completely ties up the trimming department. 

  

January 9 

The Lion Drug Store in La Porte pleases many new and regular customers with their Inventory Sale. This sale closes next Saturday night. 

  

January 10 

London police break into the house of a tailor to which they had laid siege for four days lacking a search warrant and find the body of a woman missing since August 15. The tailor suicides. 

  

January 11 

In compliance with a law declaring children failing to support their parents when they reach an advanced age are subject to arrest and fine, affidavits are prepared for 5 Michigan City children. 

  

January 12 

The Miller-Wohl Co. in La Porte will put a shipment of wonderful dresses on sale at $10 and $15 on Saturday. They are expected to be sold in a few hours and are even better than before. 

  

January 13 

The fireman and watchman and the porter at the Rumely hotel stage a battle. They men have been at “dagger points” with each other for some time. 

  

January 15 

The Washington naval agreement gives Britain and Japan greater sea power than the United States because those nations have guns of heavier caliber. 

  

January 16 

A bill asking for the building of a state normal school in the county will be re-introduced in the state general assembly. Michigan City wishes to locate the school in that city. 

  

January 17 

The La Porte Choral society is without a director following the acceptance of the director’s second resignation. The services of the former director is being attempted. 

  

January 18 

Representatives from La Porte county favor imposition of a gasoline tax of 2 cents a gallon. The money will be used for better roads. 

  

January 19 

The life of screen star Wally Reid closes after a heroic fight to “come back” from the shadowland of drugs. Congestion of the lungs and kidneys caused by a nervous breakdown was the cause. 

  

January 20 

A consolidated school to replace Buck school which was destroyed by fire and four other grade schools in Center township is being discussed. 

  

January 22 

The pastor of the Presbyterian church of South Bend calls the Klu Klux Klan un-American at the biggest noon day luncheon the La Porte Kiwanis has conducted. 

  

January 23 

A woman is fined $35 for keeping a house of ill fame on Monroe Street in La Porte and a man who frequented the house is fined $25. 

  

January 24 

The La Porte fire department answered six calls yesterday. One of the calls was the most serious this month. 

  

January 25 

A real prince from South Africa who was visiting La Porte while on the way to Chicago fell in a faint on Jefferson avenue and stayed the night at Holy Family hospital. 

  

January 26 

Sixteen Oak Park, Illinois high school students are expelled because dope and bootleg booze were featured in their “petting parties.” 

  

January 27 

“The Fiery Cross,” alleged official organ for the Ku Klux Klan, makes its initial appearance in La Porte. 

  

January 29 

In line with local organizations taking action in the national fight against the drug habit, the La Porte lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose adopts a resolution to awaken the public to the danger. 

  

January 30 

There will be a “closed” meeting of the Ku Klux Klan in Richter hall, over the La Porte Gas & Electric company office, 428 Lincoln Way, at 8 o’clock tonight. 

  

January 31 

Eleven principals of rural schools and six township trustees visit the Rolling Prairie school looking at the building and listening to pupils recite. Two grades are seated in each room.