Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 75 years ago

About 65 officers from Spokane’s Veterans of Foreign Wars posts gathered together to vote on a series of resolutions in 1936.

Here’s what they resolved:

• Strict neutrality for the U.S.

• A universal draft law.

• A hands-off policy on all foreign entanglements.

Most of the officers were veterans of a previous foreign entanglement called, at the time, the World War.

Another story, buried a few pages back, hinted at why these resolutions would prove exceptionally hard to keep. The Germans, under Hitler, were preparing to launch the Gneisinau, its second 26,000-ton battleship.

From the holiday music beat: The Gonzaga University Glee Club was beamed into homes all over the West Coast. They were the featured act on the “Male Chorus Parade” on the Columbia radio network.

The broadcast originated out of Spokane’s KFPY studios and went out to all Columbia stations in California, Oregon and Washington. They sang tunes ranging from “Ave Maria” to something titled “Gonzaga Glorious.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1941: The United States entered World War II, as Congress declared war against Japan a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.