"NO ONE ALIVE TODAY HAS HEARD THE LIBERTY BELL RING"

LIBERTY BELL TOLLS FOR FIRST READING OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Philadelphia (JFK+50) On July 8, 1776, the citizens of Philadelphia were called to the Pennsylvania State House by the ringing of the Liberty Bell* signaling the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence which had been adopted there on July 4.

The Liberty Bell, 2000 pounds and made of copper, was built in 1751 to proclaim the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania's constitution. 

JFK+50 NOTE

The Liberty Bell cracked on its first test ringing.  An attempt was made to recast & repair the bell but a second crack appeared.  It is said that no one living today has heard the Liberty Bell ring.

*The Liberty Bell is inscribed with words from the King James version of the Holy Bible..."Proclaim Liberty Throughout All The Land Unto All Inhabitants Thereof"  

SOURCES

"Independence National Historical Park," National Park Service, www.nps.gov/

"Liberty Bell Rings For First Reading Of The Declaration of Independence," JFK+50, July 8, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

 

 

Liberty Bell On Display

Liberty Bell Center

Photo by Toadspike (2022)

"IN TOWN VIA FREIGHT TRAINS"

HOBOES CONVENTION OPENS IN PHILLY

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On July 3, 1926, Associated Press reports that the "City of Brotherly Love" is hosting a "hobo* convention."

The International Brotherhood Welfare Association and the Hoboes Union have arrived in town via freight trains.

AP says that only two individuals are "official delegates," but there are many others who are "without credentials."

The delegates, official or otherwise, will discuss old-age pensions, unemployment insurance and a shorter work day.

Unlike "tramps," the hoboes insist they are quite willing to take employment when offered.

*hobo is a migrant worker who travels from place to place seeking employment.  Hoboes originated in the United States after the Civil War & during the Great Depression.  They traveled by stowing away on freight cars & living in temporary camps called "hobo jungles."

JFK+50 NOTE

Hoboes, tramps & bums, oh my!  

Hoboes indeed do work and travel.  Tramps, as stated above, travel but do not work.  Bums, by contrast, do neither.

We sometimes hear someone say "throw the bums out" in reference to members of Congress.  Since bums do not travel, it would be more accurate to say "throw the tramps out" since members of Congress may not work but they certainly do travel.

SOURCE

"Hoboes Meet in Philadelphia to Study Old Age Pensions and Shorter Hours," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 3, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

Hobo's Bag

by Zahida2013

2023

"300 EXTRA OFFICERS PLACED ON 'BANDIT DUTY'"

'CRIME TRUST' ORGANIZED BY PHILADELPHIA'S CRIMINALS

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On April 24, 1923, Superintendent of Police William B. Mills said, "Banditry is becoming so lucrative in Philadelphia that a 'crime trust' for the protection of criminals has been organized."

The Superintendent added that "twelve bands of hold-up men, eight of them composed of New York and Baltimore crooks, are operating here.

In his view, the "criminal element has strengthened its position not only in Philadelphia but in almost every large city in the country."

Three hundred extra police officers have been placed on "bandit duty" here in the City of Brotherly Love*.

*Philadelphia is a combo of the Greek words phileo (love) & adelphos (brother).  It was named by founder William Penn who foresaw a city of religious toleration.

SOURCE

"Crooks Organize 'Crime Trust' in Philadelphia," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 24, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 www.publicdomainpictures.net/

"IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION"

U.S. CONSTITUTION ADOPTED IN PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was adopted and signed by 39 delegates at the State House here in Philadelphia.  55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states attended the Convention from May through September 1787.

Sessions were closed to the press and the public and when the delegates became deadlocked on the specifics of representation of the people in the government, they were able to compromise and settle on a two house legislature with the House of Representatives determined by population and the Senate determined by equal representation.

The delegates agreed to abandon the principle of a federation of states and put in place a centralized federal system.  It would be a novel form of federalism, however, with shared power and dual lawmaking by both state and national governments.

Unlike the Articles of Confederation which it replaced, the Constitution provides for an executive of the federal government, the President of the United States.The Constitution, consisting of a preamble and seven articles, was ratified on June 21, 1788 and went into effect on March 4, 1789.

The Preamble

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

SOURCE

Advanced Placement U.S. History Lecture Notes, by John White, Carter High School, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2009.

Signing of the US Constitution

Painting by Howard Chandler Christy

WHEN ANY BARRIER FALLS IT CLEARS THE WAY FOR EVERYONE

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2024

HISTORY MADE IN PHILADELPHIA ONCE AGAIN

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) Two centuries and forty years ago this month history was made here in Philadelphia when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence largely considered "the birth certificate of the United States of America."

Last night history was made once again here in "the cradle of liberty" when former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for President.  She became the first woman of any major party to be the presidential nominee.  The significance of the moment was not lost on Mrs. Clinton.  She said...

"When any barrier falls in America, it clears the way for everyone."

One night earlier, President Barack Obama gave Mrs. Clinton perhaps the greatest compliment she has ever received.  He said...

"I can say with confidence there has never been a man or woman...more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America."

In her acceptance speech last night, Secretary Clinton hit hard her Republican opponent on the issue of competence to be commander-in-chief.  She said...

"Imagine (Donald Trump) in the Oval Office facing a real crisis.  A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons."

Mrs. Clinton went on to illustrate her point with a reference to a statement made by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.  The Secretary said...

"I can't put it any better than Jackie Kennedy did after the Cuban Missile Crisis.  She said that what worried President Kennedy during that very dangerous time was that a war might be started, not by big men with self-control and restraint, but by little men, the ones moved by fear and pride."

She continued...

"America's strength doesn't come from lashing out.  Strength relies on smarts, judgment, cool resolve and the precise and strategic application of power. That's the kind of commander-in-chief I pledge to be."

*Hillary Diana Rodham Clinton was born in Chicago in 1947.  She graduated from Wellesley College in 1969 & Yale School of Law in 1973.  HDRC was the 1st woman partner in the Rose Law Firm.

Hillary was First Lady from 1993 to 2001  & served as U.S. Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009 & Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013.  

Hillary Clinton Sworn-In

as Secretary of State by

Associate Judge Kathryn Oberly

January 21, 2009

Photo by Michael Gross

US State Department Image