Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A crowd of 100 Wobblies – members of the Industrial Workers of the World – stormed Spokane’s Christian Institution for Men on North Bernard Street and shouted, “Let us in!”

The irate crowd said they had heard that the city had appropriated money to the institute to provide food and shelter for the unemployed, and they wanted to avail themselves of it.

However, the institute – somewhat like a YMCA – was already full with about 174 residents. So the staff locked the door against the crowd. One staff member guarded the door with a revolver.

“Bring that out and I’ll make you eat it!” shouted one of the Wobblies.

So they rushed around to a side door, but it had been barricaded by the residents.

One of the Wobblies pulled himself up to a window and saw one of the residents, a “Montana cowboy,” sitting on a box next to the barricade, “smoking and holding a rifle.” 

“He’s got a gat, he’s got a gat, he’s got a gat!” shouted the Wobbly, who hastily retreated.

The newspaper called it an “attack” on the home, yet it took only “a solitary policeman” to disperse the crowd and defuse the situation.

The Wobblies grumbled and threatened to return later but did not do so.