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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

William Jennings Bryan, three-time presidential candidate and one of the most famous orators in the U.S., held a huge crowd in thrall at Natatorium Park.

His speech centered on the overriding foreign policy issue of the day, the Great War in Europe. 

He said the war was “one that this nation does not want to be sucked into,” and the crowd responded with cheers and applause. He also criticized “jingo” newspaper editors, who had been agitating for war, and said they should be put into the front lines if there was a war.

“Nobody – I mean, of course, almost nobody – now regards war as a good thing,” said Bryan. “Just occasionally you will find a relic of the past who still believes that if you do not drink raw blood before breakfast and threaten to kill somebody before dinner, you’ll be a mollycoddle before supper.”

His anti-war stance had recently led to Bryan’s resignation as President Woodrow Wilson’s secretary of state.

The crowd was estimated at “maybe 10,000, maybe more.” It was as many people as could be packed into listening distance.

From the music beat: The great bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa gave an interview to the Spokane Daily Chronicle and said, “Money spent for municipal bands will be saved in the penitentiaries, because music has a refining, uplifting influence on a community.”

Sousa and his large band were performing at Natatorium Park to sellout crowds.