Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Mayor W.J. Hindley dropped a strong hint about who would replace him as mayor during an emotional farewell at First Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Actually, it was more than a hint.

He told a crowd of well-wishers that he believed he was “conveying no secret of state or exaggeration” when he announced that C.M. Fassett would become the next mayor of Spokane.

It may not have been a secret, but it was a bit premature.

Spokane operated under a city commission form of government, in which the mayor was chosen from among the five city commissioners. On the same page, another story noted that the four remaining commissioners planned to hold a “preliminary conference” to consider a mayoral successor, but not until after Hindley had formally filed his resignation notice – which he had not yet done. They also needed to appoint a new commissioner to fill the vacant seat. 

Commissioner Fassett was present when Hindley made his announcement, but he restricted his comments to praise of Hindley. Fassett said he often differed with the mayor on matters of public policy, “but when you got down to right and wrong, the mayor was always on the right side.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1949: Chinese communist troops captured Chongqing.