Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Chinese New Year celebration in Spokane came to a tasty close with a banquet at the Noodle Grill, 320  1/2 Main Ave., in celebration of the new republic in China.

The menu included Chicken a la Lotus, Chicken with Bird Nest, Shark Fin a la Mandaim, Roast Duck a la Canton and Extra Chicken Chop Soy. The banquet was given by the Oriental Young Men’s Association.

During the dinner, the master of ceremonies announced that Dr. Sun Yat Sen was planning to spend a week to 10 days in Spokane while touring the United States.

From the gambling beat: In a separate story, the city’s police commissioner announced an agreement with Chinese merchants in Trent Alley. The merchants said they would remove all bars from the doors of their establishments and allow police to visit the buildings at will in search of gambling dens and opium dens.

The merchants said they “would not countenance gambling in any form.”

This agreement was apparently prompted by a lawsuit brought by the Oriental Young Men’s Association, enjoining police from “battering down their doors or otherwise molesting them.”

The police commissioner assured the merchants that playing dominoes would be allowed.