Looking Back January 20, 2006
100 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
In New York, Sam Abelman’s First Street Saloon became the scene of a wild brawl after Abelman and his barkeep demanded payment of 10 cents from a group of about a dozen men who were playing billiards there. Abelman’s request for the dime was met with a barrage of bottles, billiard balls and anything else they could get their hands on. Evidently unhappy with their response, he took out a revolver and shot three of them. All were wounded grievously. His saloon in shambles, Abelman and his bartender were both arrested.
75 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
Bulgaria has declared an open invitation to the Jews of Eastern Europe to come and settle there. The announcement, made by former parliament member Stoyan Amadshevski to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, said, “Although the Bulgarian people are currently suffering economic troubles from having to pay war reparations, we are prepared to take in the oppressed Jews of Romania and Poland in order to help build industry in our country. There is no antisemitism in Bulgaria like that which dominates the rest of Europe…We will guarantee them protection and complete religious and cultural freedom.”
50 YEARS AGO IN THE FORWARD
The Arab Information Center, funded by a $700,0000 grant from the Arab League, has initiated an anti-Israel campaign directed at the American people. The center’s propaganda is not only anti-Israel, but also Nazi propaganda that is antisemitic and similar to anti-Jewish material. This propaganda, which is being distributed in weekly reports to more than 50,000 people, includes anti-Israel and antisemitic material in speeches from nearly all Arab countries.
C O R R E C T I O N
Due to an editing error, the November 25, 2005, opinion article by Martin van Creveld, “Costly Withdrawal Is the Price To Be Paid for a Foolish War,” gave an incorrect date for the Teutoburger Wald Battle. The battle took place in 9 C.E.
The December 23 article, “Experts Debate ‘Ticking-bomb’ Torture” incorrectly referred to Patrick Finnegan as dean of the West Point law school. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point does not have a law school. Finnegan previously served as head of the academy’s law department and recently was promoted to the post of dean of the school’s academic board.
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