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

100 years ago in Spokane: Mayor wavers on hiring first female police officer

Spokane leaders were considering abandoning their effort to hire the city’s first female police officer, The Spokesman-Review reported on March 9, 1916. (The Spokesman-Review)
Jim Kershner Correspondent

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s attempt to hire its first woman police officer hit a second snag.

Eight applicants were given the medical examination. All eight failed.

In the first round, a few weeks earlier, all 11 applicants failed the medical examinations.

The newspaper reported that the mayor has “about given up on the idea of being able to get a woman police officer.”

The mayor said he might try to get around the medical requirements by hiring a woman for a “clerkship” in the department of public safety and then assigning her to “protective work among women or girls, as originally intended.”

From the art beat: A monumental French painting titled “Peace,” by Albert Besnard, was supposed to go on exhibit in the Marie Antoinette Room at the Davenport Hotel. The problem was, it was too monumental.

Kirtland Cutter, who was in charge of hanging the painting, discovered it was too tall and “could not be hung under any circumstances in the hotel.” Hurried arrangements were being made to hang it on the stage of the Auditorium Theater.

The painting was commissioned by the French government to be hung at The Hague, yet ironically, considering its theme, the war prevented its delivery. It was being exhibited in the U.S. to raise money for families of French artists at the front.