Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s bonding companies announced that they had been taking heavy losses – all because of the horses.

The bonding firms announced that they were planning to cancel the bonds of every person playing the ponies at the Alan racetrack over the border in Idaho, which had become wildly popular among Spokane gamblers. 

This edict would “affect employees of railroad companies, banks, trust companies and wholesale firms,” as well as the city’s bookkeepers and cashiers.

The bond companies planned to post a man at the track to watch for any bonded person placing bets.

From the sports beat: Spokane’s Northwestern League baseball team was in jeopardy because of poor attendance. The Spokane team drew 136,000 fans in 1910, but only half that number in 1911. So far in 1912, it was drawing only half of 1911’s numbers. On the most recent Saturday, only 500 fans showed up.

And what was to blame? The Alan racetrack again. It was luring away the city’s sporting crowd.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1924: Congress passed a measure that was then signed by President Calvin Coolidge guaranteeing full American citizenship for all Native Americans born within U.S. territorial limits.