1908Jan, 21
New York City passes the Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public, only to have the measure vetoed by the mayor.
The Sullivan Ordinance was a municipal law passed on January 21, 1908, in New York City by the board of aldermen, barring the management of a public place from allowing women to smoke within their venue. The ordinance did not bar women from smoking in general nor did the ordinance bar women from smoking in public, only public places. Right after the ordinance was enacted, on January 22, Katie Mulcahey, the only person cited for breaking this ordinance, was fined $5 for smoking in public and arrested for refusing to pay the fine; however, the ordinance itself did not mention fines nor does it ban women from smoking in public. She was released the next day. The mayor at the time, George B. McClellan Jr., vetoed the ordinance two weeks later.
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Events on 1908
- 17Sep
Orville Wright
The Wright Flyer flown by Orville Wright, with Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge as passenger, crashes, killing Selfridge, who becomes the first airplane fatality. - 27Sep
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
The first production of the Ford Model T automobile was built at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan. - 1Oct
Ford Model T
Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825. - 6Oct
Bosnian crisis
Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina, sparking a crisis. - 14Oct
Detroit Tigers
The Chicago Cubs defeat the Detroit Tigers, 2-0, clinching the World Series; this would be their last until clinching the 2016 World Series.