February 5, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hank Aaron and Don Cherry!

150 years ago
1867

Born on this date
James Douglas. Canadian politician. Mr. Douglas, a native of Middleville, Ontario, grew up in Winnipeg and moved to Strathcona, Alberta in 1894, and served on the Strathcona city council. He entered federal politics in 1909 as a Liberal, and represented Strathcona in the House of Commons (1909-1921); he was one of the Liberals who joined the Unionist Party with Conservatives prior to the 1917 federal election. Mr. Douglas lost his seat in the 1921 election, and moved back to municipal politics, as a member of Edmonton City Council (1923-1926, 1941-1949) and Mayor (1929-1931). He died on March 16, 1950 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
W.G. Morrow. Canadian lawyer and judge. Mr. Morrow, the son of an Edmonton lawyer, graduated from the University of Alberta Law School in 1939, served as a lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II, and was on a minesweeper in the D-Day invasion. As a lawyer, he argued the last Canadian case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council at 3 Downing Street in London in 1959. As Judge of the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories (1966-1976) he ruled in Regina v. Drybones (1967) that the Canadian Bill of Rights superseded a portion of the Indian Act of Canada. This ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1969, and remains the only case in which the Bill of Rights was held to take precedence over another act of Parliament. In 1973 he stood his ground when Prime Minister (and former law professor) Pierre Trudeau and "Justice" Minister (and former University of Saskatchewan Dean of Law) Otto Lang, along with Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (and thug) Jean Chretien illegally attempted to fire him by challenging his jurisdiction in the case of Indians attempting to file a caveat concerning Crown land in the Mackenzie River Valley that would be affected by a proposed oil pipeline. Justice Morrow died in Edmonton of a heart attack on August 13, 1980 at the age of 63; as the father of this blogger, he’s greatly missed. His autobiography, Northern Justice, was published in 1995.

Isuzu Yamada. Japanese actress. Miss Yemada was a stage and screen actress whose career spanned eight decades. She died on July 9, 2012 at the age of 95.

Died on this date
Jaber II, 57 (?). Sheikh of Kuwait, 1915-1917. Jaber II, of the House of Sabah, succeeded his father Mubarak, and was succeeded in turn by his brother Salim.

Politics and government
The current Constitution of Mexico was adopted, establishing a federal republic with powers separated into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Law
The United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, greatly restricting immigration from Asian countries.

80 years ago
1937

Law
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court of the United States in order to overcome resistance to his New deal legislation. Mr. Roosevelt's detractors referred to this as a plan for "packing" the Court.

50 years ago
1967

Died on this date
L.L. Bean, 94. U.S. businessman. Leon Leonwood Bean founded the outdoor clothing company L.L. Bean, Inc. in 1912.

Violeta Parra, 49. Chilean musician. Miss Parra was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and folklorist who became known as "The Mother of Latin American Folk Music" in a career spanning almost 30 years from the late 1930s until she shot herself to death.

Economics and finance
The Tanzanian government of President Julius Nyerere announced new socialist policies, resulting from a political conference in Arusha from January 26-29. The Arusha Declaration provided for the end of "feudalism and capitalism" by government control of banks, food factories, insurance companies, and several export-import companies, and other means of production. The policies were implemented on February 11.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Anita--Costa Cordalis (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie

#1 single in Ireland: Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
2 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
3 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
4 Hot Line--Sylvers
5 New Kid in Town--Eagles
6 Enjoy Yourself--The Jacksons
7 Dazz--Brick
8 Fly Like an Eagle--Steve Miller Band
9 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
10 Weekend in New England--Barry Manilow

Singles entering the chart were Winter Melody by Donna Summer (#73); I've Got Love on My Mind by Natalie Cole (#78); Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra (#80); At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (#85); You + Me = Love by the Undisputed Truth (#93); Right Time of the Night by Jennifer Warnes (#98); and I'll Always Call Your Name by Little River Band (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
2 Hot Line--Sylvers
3 Car Wash--Rose Royce
4 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
5 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
6 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
7 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
8 Somebody to Love--Queen
9 New Kid in Town--Eagles
10 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

Singles entering the chart were Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas (#93); Don't Give Up on Us by David Soul (#95); Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison (#96); I'm Ready by Hometown Band (#97); Here Come Those Tears Again by Jackson Browne (#98); Sam by Olivia Newton-John (#99); and No Hurt by Charity Brown (#100).

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 14 (CHED)
1 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
2 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
3 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
4 Land of Confusion--Genesis
5 Open Your Heart--Madonna
6 Control--Janet Jackson
7 Kiss You (When it's Dangerous)--Eight Seconds
8 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
9 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
10 You're What I Look For--Glass Tiger
11 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
12 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
13 Jacob's Ladder--Huey Lewis and the News
14 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Winds of Change: Winter 1968



Died on this date
William Collier, Jr., 84. U.S. actor. Mr. Collier, born Charles Gall, Jr., appeared in 89 movies from the 1910s through the 1930s. He died a week before his 85th birthday.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate in January had declined 0.3%, to 8.5%.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Private Butthead

20 years ago
1997

Died on this date
Pamela Harriman, 76. U.K.-born socialite and diplomat. Mrs. Harriman, born Pamela Digby, was known for her many affairs with rich and famous men, and was married to British journalist Randolph Churchill from 1939-1946; to American theatrical producer Leland Hayward from 1960-1971; and to American politician and diplomat Averell Harriman from 1971 until his death in 1986. She was U.S. Ambassador to France from 1993 until her death from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Business
U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley announced a $10 billion merger with Dean Witter.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Leo McCarthy, 76. N.Z.-born U.S. politician. Mr. McCarthy moved with his family to the United States at the age of 4. A Democrat, he served in the California State Assembly from 1969-1983, serving as Speaker from 1974-1980. He was Lieutenant Governor of California from 1983-1995.