Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A crowd of nearly 950 at Spokane’s First Presbyterian Church heard the leader of its Men’s Brotherhood Bible Class speak on behalf of the proposed city charter, which would give Spokane a commission form of government.

“Smash the old machine!” he said. “And make Spokane the pride of the Inland Empire and the great northwest.”

Meanwhile, during an anti-charter meeting, a number of “remarks detrimental to ministers” were bandied about, which prompted one woman to shout, “Why are the saloons afraid of the new charter?”

From the animal control beat: An Okanogan man announced that he would travel to Pennsylvania and round up as many stray cats as possible – up to 1,000 – and bring them back home for gopher control. He said several area farmers were backing this plan.

From the entertainment beat: The Five Cycling Auroras wowed the crowd at the Orpheum. They performed bicycle stunts, including a stunt called “the human roulette wheel.” Four cyclists used their bikes to spin a giant roulette wheel, on which another cyclist “performed spectacular feats.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1998: President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House for perjury and obstruction of justice. (He was later acquitted by the Senate.)