Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The county prosecutor’s election was heating up, with one of the challengers promising to “blot out” the “deplorable” record of the past administration.

He was referring to the Della Olds case, which had recently been lost by incumbent Democrat John L. Wiley.

Republican challenger H.M. Dunphy said he believed that the county needs “a man who has some experience in the work of prosecuting those accused of crime.”

Wiley responded by saying he sent 42 criminals to the penitentiary and another 39 to the reformatory.

From the “sounds familiar” file: Congress passed an emergency appropriations bill to keep the federal government from going into bankruptcy.

This was necessary because all of the big appropriation bills were stalled due to partisan wrangling.

“Charges were made by members of each party that the other was responsible for delaying the appropriation bills,” wrote the congressional correspondent – and not for the last time.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1909: The original Lincoln “wheat” penny first went into circulation, replacing the “Indian Head” cent.