Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A Chautauqua – a summer festival of the arts and of the intellect – was in full swing at Spirit Lake, Idaho.

Hundreds of people were gathered to listen to classical music concerts, attend plays and listen to provocative lectures.

The most provocative lecture on the first day was delivered by the Rev. J.M. Cleary, of Minnesota. His subject was “American Citizenship,” but he used it to launch into a criticism of socialism. He said that the socialists’ “stock in trade is discontent” and that they arouse “class hatred” and they are “generally the most unsocial creatures.”

From the socialism beat: Meanwhile, over in Spokane, Anna Agnes Maley, the Socialist candidate for governor, delivered a campaign speech full of provocative statements of her own.

She said that ministers and their votaries “pray for heaven and vote for hell,” meaning they vote for policies that result in poverty and starvation.

She said that if you don’t provide a way out for the unemployed and hungry, “they will cut a way out.”

And she said that being governor was just a “glorified form of housekeeping,” and a woman could do it at least as well as a man.

She ended up getting more than 37,000 votes that year – but not nearly enough to win.