Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Secretary of War Henry Stimson shocked Spokane by proposing the closure of 16 Army posts, including Fort George Wright. He said he wanted to “put an end to extravagance and inefficiency” and concentrate the Army in a few larger posts.

Spokane was united in opposing this proposal. The base commander said Fort George Wright occupied a “good strategic point” and Spokane’s mayor said it was an “asset to the city and the soldiers have been well behaved.”

It was home to about 600 troops, most of them African Americans.

 As it turned out, Fort George Wright survived and was not declared surplus until 1957.

From the theater beat: The Spokesman-Review’s theater critic went to Molnar’s “The Devil” – and liked what he saw. The play, which the Spokane mayor had attempted to ban, was “creditable from an artistic viewpoint.” The critic did not weigh in on its morality or lack of it.

The controversy did nothing to hurt the box office. The play was obviously “much to the liking” of the big crowd.

The critic noted that “the fact that five city and county officials occupied boxes did not place any damper upon the audience.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1861: Kansas became the 34th state of the United States.