DailyTimeCapsule brief
June 5, 1939
On June 5, 1939, a heated dispute emerged at the fair regarding the placement of Bartlett's Franklin Stature, a bronze sculpture intended as a gift to the nation. Smythe, the leader of the Sons of the Revolution, demanded immediate action from the exposition organizers, insisting that the fair was incomplete without the statue and urging them to cover the $500 cost for its erection. This call to action occurred amidst a tense atmosphere as food strikers anticipated a protracted battle, while legal counsel for warehouses expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, ensuring that hospitals would continue receiving necessary supplies. In the labor realm, Martin's men overwhelmingly voted 20 to 1 to reaffiliate with the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.), signaling a significant shift in labor relations as the head of the independent United Auto Workers (U.A.W.) sought to confer with A.F.L. President William Green.
Key developments
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On June 5, 1939, J.H. Smythe Jr. called for the inclusion of a bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin at the New York World's Fair, insisting it was essential for a complete exposition. Smythe demanded the fair's organizers pay the $500 cost of erecting the statue as a significant gift to the nation. The controversy highlighted differing views on cultural presentation at the fair.
Wikimedia Current Events -
FOOD STRIKERS SEE LONG-DRAWN FIGHT; But Counsel for Warehouses is Hopeful of Peace Today-- Hospitals to Get Supplies
Wikimedia Current Events -
MARTIN'S MEN VOTE 20 TO 1 FOR A.F.L.; Reaffiliation Ballots In, Head of Independent U.A.W. Now Will Confer With Green
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