The following events occurred in July 1926:
July 1, 1926 (Thursday)
The two-day-old government of Canadian Prime Minister Arthur Meighen was defeated in Parliament by one vote, 96 to 95Meighen Government Defeated in Ottawa; New Administration Loses by One Vote -- Dissolution of Parliament Expected, The New York Times, July 2, 1926, p.21 on a motion challenging the legality of Meighen's attempt to circumvent normal Parliamentary procedure by assembling a Cabinet consisting exclusively of acting ministers without portfolio. The votes against Meighen's government included 14 of his fellow Conservatives. Though the vote was not strictly a motion of no confidence, Meighen accepted the result as such and asked the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament and schedule a new election. The Swedish Air Force (the Flygvapnet) was founded by a merger of the aviation units of Sweden's Army and Navy.Annerfalk, Anders. Flygvapnet: An Illustrated History of the Swedish Air Force (Ljungsbro: Aviatic Förlag, 1999) The largest chain of grocery stores in the western United States was created by merger of the 322 stores of the Safeway chain, and the 673 stores of the Skaggs Companies, all of which had been purchased by stockbroker Charles E. Merrill, with the 995 stores to be under the Safeway brand. The world's longest suspension bridge up to that time, the long Delaware River Bridge linking Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey, was opened three days before the celebration of the sesquicentennial of United States independence. At 1:00 in the afternoon, "three little girls" cut red, white and blue cords at the Philadelphia entrance and thousands of pedestrians began crossing the Delaware River from both sides."BRIDGE OPENS TO CROWDS— Public Crosses Over Delaware on Foot for First Time", Camden (NJ) Courier, July 1, 1926, p.1 Pedestrian traffic closed at 7:00 and the motor vehicle traffic was allowed at midnight."Two States Are Linked and Two Neighbor Cities United as Thousands Cheer at Opening of New Bridge— 250,000 March Across Bridge after Opening", by Richard J. Beamish, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 2, 1926, p.1 The bridge would be renamed for Benjamin Franklin in 1955."Benjamin Franklin Bridge" (Delaware River Port Authority) The Government of Canada returned to the gold standard, and allowed its bank notes to be redeemed for gold to back its currency, after having chosen to abandon the standard on August 22, 1914. After the Great Depression, Canada abandoned the gold standard again on October 31, 1931.38-42, A History of the Canadian Dollar, by James Powell (Bank of Canada, 2005) pp.38-42 The town of Venice, Florida, was incorporated after Dr. Fred H. Albee, an orthopedic surgeon, had purchased for development of the infrastructure and government buildings over a period of two years. Born: Robert Fogel, American economist and laureate of the 1993 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences; in New York City (d. 2013) Howard Sachs, American biochemist and pioneer in neuroendocrinology who discovered a means of biosynthesis of the hormone vasopressin; in Brooklyn (d. 2011) Carl Hahn, German auto executive who served as Chairman of Volkswagen AG from 1982 to 1998; in Chemnitz (d. 2023) Hans Werner Henze, German composer for opera and theatre (including König Hirsch, Elegy for Young Lovers, Venus und Adonis), and ballets, as well as 10 symphonies for orchestras; in Gütersloh, Westphalia (d. 2012) Died: Alexander del Mar, 89, the first Director of the Bureau of Statistics at the U.S. Treasury Department
July 2, 1926 (Friday)
President Plutarco Elías Calles of Mexico published the Calles Law, effective July 31, which banned religious education, foreign priests and political commentary in religious publications. Additionally, all church property was to become government property and worship could only be conducted inside of churches and under the supervision of local officials. At Prime Minister Meighen's request following the vote of no confidence, Canada's Governor General Julian Byng, dissolved Parliament.Governor Dissolves Ottawa Parliament; Acts on the Recommendation of Meighen, Whose Ministry Loses Vote of Confidence, The New York Times, July 3, 1926, p.15 and scheduled new elections for the House of Commons and the Canadian Senate to take place on September 14. The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), forerunner of the United States Air Force (USAF), was established as an expansion of the United States Army Air Service that had been created on May 24, 1918. Congress declined to give the U.S. Army's aerial warfare branch the same autonomy that applied to the United States Marine Corps.Lt. Col. John F. Shiner, "From Air Service to Air Corps: The Era of Billy Mitchell", in Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force Vol. I, pp.102-103 Jean Borotra of France defeated Howard Kinsey of the United States in straight sets (8–6, 6–1, 6–3) to win the men's championship at Wimbledon, one of the four "Grand Slam" events in tennis."Kinsey Bows to Borotra; American Keeps Rival Away From Net, but Loses in Final, 8-6, 6-1,6-3", The New York Times, July 3, 1926, p.8 The U.S. Congress created the Distinguished Flying Cross, modeled after the British honor created in 1918 for members of all U.S. armed services "single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Born: Yoshihisa Okumura, Japanese electronics engineer whose 1968 study of urban and rural environments determined the Okumura model, the international standards for placement and height of mobile phone cell towers, and set the 800 megahertz band as the most efficient frequency for mobile phones; in Kanazawa City, Isikawa Prefecture (d. 2023)"Yoshihisa Okumura, contributor to the practical application of mobile phones, passes away at age 96" (Japan Broadcasting Corporation, February 19, 2023) Lilly Kahil, Swiss-born French archaeologist who created the Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae encyclopedia of Etruscan, Greek and Roman mythology; in Zurich (d. 2002) Morag Beaton, Scottish-born Australian opera soprano; in Edinburgh (d. 2010)"Dream role launched diva Morag Beaton on world stage" by Peter Wyllie Joghnston, The Australian (Sydney), April 9, 2010 Died: Émile Coué, 79, French psychologist known for the "Coué Method" of self-improvement, and coiner of the mantra "Tous les jours à tous points de vue je vais de mieux en mieux", which has been translated in English-speaking nations as "Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better.""Dr. Coue of Day by Day Fame, Dies", Santa Barbara Daily News, July 2, 1926, p.1
July 3, 1926 (Saturday) Nine days after an attempted coup d'état against the government of Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera, King Alfonso XIII of Spain issued a royal decree giving Primo de Rivera discretionary powers to impose "sanctions that are within his powers", including banishments and deportations that the premier deemed necessary, "whatever their number and the quality of the persons who deserve it", based on the good of the country. The King also provided that, to the extent that an act was not within Primo de Rivera's powers, the premier could ask King Alfonso XIII for an exception. Kitty McKane Godfree of Britain defeated Lili de Alvarez of Spain, 6–3 in the tiebreaking set (after she won the first 6–2, and Alvarez the second, 6–4) to win the women's championship at Wimbledon."Mrs. Godfree Is a Victor— Conquers Senorita de Alvarez in Wimbledon Final", The New York Times, July 4, 1926, p.S-1 Sammy Mandell won the world lightweight boxing championship, outpointing defending champion Rocky Kansas in 10 rounds at an outdoor bout at Chicago's Comiskey Park. The match was fought before a crowd of 15,000 boxing fans during a drizzling rain."Mandell Crowned Champion in Rain; Lifts Lightweight Title From Rocky Kansas in Ten-Round Battle at Chicago", The New York Times, July 4, 1926, p.S-1 Born: Gregory Freiman, Russian-born Israeli mathematician known for Freiman's theorem; in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (d.2024) Evelyn Anthony (pen name for Evelyn Ward-Thomas), British novelist known for The Tamarind Seed; in Lambeth, London (d.2018)
July 4, 1926 (Sunday) Torrential rains began falling in Germany at noon, flooding the town of Woltersdorf (where 14 people, almost all women, drowned) and killing 17 others in other parts of the nation."31 Lives Are Lost in German Storm; Torrential Rains, Greatest on Record There, Also Cause Property Damage of $3,000,000", The New York Times, July 6, 1926, p.9 The Nazi Party staged its 2nd Party Congress in Weimar. The Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung (Greater German Youth Movement) was rebranded Hitler Jugend Bund der deutschen Arbeiterjugend (Hitler Youth League of German Worker Youth), commonly referred to as the Hitler Youth. The Sesquicentennial of the United States was celebrated to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. A violent storm struck the city during and damaged the Sesquicentennial Exposition, particularly the Palace of Agriculture, where water accumulated on the building roof and workmen cut holes directly over the exhibit for the U.S. state of Maryland, damaging it with a rush of water."Philadelphia Fair Is Damaged by Rain; Buildings Leak During Storm, Wrecking Some of the Sesquicentennial Exhibits", The New York Times, July 5, 1926, p.13 Poland chose to honour this sesquicentennial by collecting signatures for the Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States. This collection of 111 volumes of signatures and greetings would be presented eight months later to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to acknowledge American participation and aid to Poland during World War I, with submissions from nearly one-sixth of the population of Poland as it then existed, including those of approximately 5.5 million school children. Knoebels Amusement Resort, the largest amusement park in the U.S. to have no admission fee (with rides paid for individually) opened in Elysburg, Pennsylvania on the U.S. sesquicentennial day with a large swimming pool and its first mechanical ride (a steam-powered carousel)Knoebels: The Beginnings A group of 21 Mexican prisoners at the Blue Ridge State Prison Farm, in Blue Ridge, Texas in Fort Bend County, near Houston, escaped by sawing their way through the main building of the facility. The remaining 32 chose to remain in the prison."21 Mexicans Cut Way Out; Many Convicts in Texas Prison Refuse to Join in Escape", The New York Times, July 6, 1926, p.111 Born: Alfredo Di Stéfano, Argentine-born Spanish footballer and star of Real Madrid FC, as well as having 39 caps for the Spain national team, as well as 6 for Argentina and 4 for Colombia; in Buenos Aires (d. 2014) Mary Stuart (stage name for Mary Stuart Houchins; American TV actress known for her uninterrupted 35 years on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow (as "Joanne Gardner") for its entire run, from 1951 to 1986; in Miami (d. 2002) Amos Elon, Austrian-born Israeli journalist and author; as Heinrich Sternbach in Vienna (d. 2009) Veena Kumari (stage name for Tajour Sultana), Indian film actress and co-star with Ashok Kumar in Humayun, Najma and Afsana; in Balochistan Agency, British India; in Quetta (now part of Pakistan) (d.2024) Katherine Bowes Lyon, British special needs cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, institutionalized at Royal Earlswood Hospital from 1941 (with her sister Nerissa) until her death in 2014; in Chelsea, London Died: Amy Ella Blanchard, 72, American writer of children's literature, known for the Four Corners six-book series (from 1907 to 1914) and the four-book A Dear Little Girl series from 1910 to 1913), died of a stroke (apoplexy) at her desk while writing a poem."Author of Stories for Girls Forecast Her Death in Verse", The Baltimore Sun. July 9, 1926, p.28