Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Today in the Sobel Timeline: April 30

On April 30, 1920, two pivotal meetings took place in Mexico City. In the morning, newly-elected President Emiliano Calles met with Kramer Associates President Douglas Benedict to discuss the issue of slavery in the United States of Mexico. Speaking indirectly, Calles agreed that his government would not attempt to regulate K.A., and Benedict agreed to use his financial control of the Mexican Congress to push for the abolition of slavery. Hours later, Senator Rodrigo de la Casa, a leading proponent of slavery, met with Secretary of State Albert Ullman. De la Casa indicated that if Calles introduced a simple manumission bill to Congress, it would be quietly passed by a voice vote in both chambers, and sent on to the President for his signature.

On April 30, 1957, Jeffrey Martin, the editor of the New York Herald, published an editorial mocking North American Governor-General Richard Mason's calls for greater simplicity and spirituality in the C.N.A. "The Governor-General has not yet told us how rustic souls can increase wheat production ten percent and provide the amount of earthmovers for China that are needed. Perhaps on his next trip up the mountain he can ask his Friend for the answers, and then communicate them to the poor mortals below."

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