100 years ago today in Spokane: I.W.W. accused of being tools of the Germans

The fear of the Wobblies — the Industrial Workers of the World – reached a fever pitch when H.J. Snively, a member of the state council of defense, accused them of being tools of the Germans.

He said that he believed that Germans were paying bribes of $100,000 a month to support labor agitation in the Northwest. Shadowy “enemy agents” were stirring up strikes in lumber camps and farm fields.

He promised “interesting developments” over the next few days.

From the health beat: Health officials were alarmed by a whooping cough outbreak in Spokane.

In fact, the city health office banned children from the city’s parks in an attempt to slow the outbreak.

As a result, the big Methodist picnic on July Fourth at Manito Park was canceled. Children from all of the Methodist Sunday schools had been scheduled to attend.

From the prohibition beat: The state was going “bone dry” within the week, meaning it was about to have an even stricter version of prohibition.

However, “bone dry” was not exactly the most accurate term, despite the fact that everybody used it.

People were already figuring out ways around the new law. Spokane’s drugstores could still get liquor permits for so-called medicinal liquor.

The Spokane Daily Chronicle reported a “rush for drug store permits,” totaling several thousands gallons during the week. The records showed permits granted for entire barrels of whisky, wine and beer.