Forum Flashbacks: Feb. 13-19
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, FEB. 21, 1955
70 YEARS AGO: Truman Dedicates New Armory – Former President Harry S. Truman reads the bronze plaque honoring Capt. Harold R. Martin (left picture) and M/Sgt. Cleo H. Pedersen (right picture) during the dedication ceremonies for the Martin-Pedersen Armory yesterday afternoon. Truman’s dedication address praised the National Guard as the “bulwark of our liberties.”
70 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Feb. 21, 1955
The United States must be able at all times to exercise leadership in the world or there will be no peace, Former President Harry Truman grimly warned the nation here yesterday afternoon when he dedicated the Martin-Pedersen National Guard Armory. “We shirked our duty in 1920 and World War II was the result,” the former chief executive told an overflow crowd in the main drill room of Maryville’s new military building.
Underscoring the need for military might, Mr. Truman, who was accompanied by Mrs. Truman and their daughter Margaret, said “we must build up a strong defense force if we want to make our freedom secure.”
Mr. Truman, a solemn picture of the former chief executive, maintained “we need a strong fighting force, not for war or conquest, but for peace.”
“We must work for peace and support it by force if necessary,” he told an agreeing audience. …
Mr. Truman asserted this country should use the same riches and skills that had brought victory to secure the good things in life for all people. He said no other nation had ever taken the position of this country, asking for no territory that belongs to any other power, but using its armed might to enforce the terms of peace, fulfill its obligations to the United Nations, and provide for the common defense.
“We must be certain no possible aggressor will be tempted by a weakness of the United States. We must see to it that law rather than force is the arbiter among nations,” he emphasized. …
Turning to the United Nations, Mr. Truman said, “the United Nations is our only hope for peace in the world today.” The United States “shirked its duty” in 1920, he declared, “when we went back to isolationism.”
Apparently referring to the United States’ refusal to join the League of Nations, he charged that “we let the world go to pot in 1920 and it brought on World War II.” We can’t return to that position now, he said. “In the last World War, we shot away $400 billion and millions of lives — because we ran out on our responsibility in 1920. Let’s not do it again.”
100 years ago
The Maryville Tribune, Feb. 16, 1925
EUGENE N. YEHLE IS AN INVENTOR
Maryville home owners are to be given the first chance to secure a Maryville invention, according to an announcement made today by Eugene Yehle, who has perfected an idea calculated to do away with all worry due to window shades. …
It isn’t named — it’s just a little hickey whose use means no more tearing of fabric, no more trouble with shades coming loose, and the cost will be so small that every home will have no reason for not adopting them.
Instead of the material in the window shade being fastened by tacks to the roller, the new way will see it clamped in a strip of metal, with the burden of weight and “pull” distributed evenly over its entire width. The metal holder is detachable — when the cloth is worn out, it will not be necessary to buy a new roller. The shades will be transferable from one roller to another, permitting several sets for different rooms at different times.
The improved shade holders will be manufactured on a small scale in Maryville until arrangements now in process of completion with Columbia Mills Company at Kansas City are completed, when they will take over the producing end on a large scale.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 70- and 100-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, FEB. 14, 1975
50 YEARS AGO: Today is an important day for Mrs. Dick Buckridge’s class of kindergarten students at Eugene Field Elementary School. Brian Huff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Huff, and Jerrilynne Myrtue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Myrtrue, Maryville, are anxiously anticipating finding out who their valentines may be as they pose in front of a display made by classmates.
