100 years ago in Spokane: allegations of voter fraud arose ahead of 1916 election

From our archive, 100 years ago

A familiar brand of pre-election frenzy filled the paper, just a few days before the 1916 presidential election. Here are just a few items:

• A Republican “yellmaster” whipped up an enthusiastic crowd at Spokane’s Masonic Temple with gibes at Woodrow Wilson. The yellmaster performed parody songs making fun of Wilson’s timidity. Then he imitated a Democrat by saying in a falsetto voice, “He (Wilson) kept us out of war.” Then he followed that with, “Yes, he kept us out of war at the cost of our national honor, pride and prestige.”
• A wire story alleged that “some 60,000 Negroes have been transported from certain Southern states” to Midwestern states with the express intention of voting in those states.
• The Spokesman-Review formally endorsed Republican Charles Evans Hughes and said the nation needed him in the White House “to keep us out of war.”
• The Spokane Daily Chronicle went one better, and devoted the entire top of the front page to a letter to the editor from candidate Hughes. “Hughes Sends Message to Washington Voters,” said the headline.
• A headline on a wire story likened Wilson to “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
• The betting market on Wall Street showed that Hughes was a 10-7 favorite to win. Betting agents in Spokane reported at least $10,000 had been bet on Hughes in this city. That Hughes money would, in a few days, be lost.