Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

“King Labor” ruled Spokane on Labor Day 1911, said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

“Business was practically at a standstill” as thousands of people took part in a parade featuring bands, floats and thousands of marching union workers.

Everything was “orderly and good-natured,” said the Chronicle. The celebration ended with a grand ball at Natatorium Park.

From the fair beat: Spokane’s ministers “threw down the gauntlet” regarding a question that they clearly regarded of the utmost gravity: Should Spokane’s Interstate Fair be open on Sunday, the Sabbath day?

The ministers had previously asked the fair organizers to honor the Sabbath, but received no response. So now the ministers, “showing their displeasure of the slight,” issued an ultimatum.

They said that either the fair close on Sunday or else it would “suffer the loss of patronage through the influence of all of the pastors in the Inland Empire.”

In other words, the pastors were threatening to take to their pulpits and call for a boycott of the fair.

Also on this date

From the Associated Press

1888: George Eastman received a patent for his roll-film box camera and registered his trademark: “Kodak.”