100 years ago in Spokane: GOP nominee ‘strong favorite’ to beat Wilson

From our archive, 100 years ago

On presidential election morning, The Spokesman-Review’s front page was full of good news for Republican candidate Charles E. Hughes.

“Hughes A Strong Favorite When Election Day Dawns,” said a front page headline. The story said New York betting markets closed with Hughes a 10-8 favorite. Betting markets, in those pre-telephone-poll days, were the only indicators of popular sentiment before an election.

The Spokane betting markets showed a tighter contest, in some cases, narrowly favoring Woodrow Wilson.

Meanwhile, Spokane’s final Republican rally took place in the Armory. A front page headline said it was “marked by old-time pep.”

From the voting beat: Tragedy struck when Margaret E. DeBella, 47, went to the Eldorado precinct polling place in central Spokane.

She had just reached the polling place – Kerr’s Grocery Store – when she collapsed onto the sidewalk. She had suffered a stroke.

Her husband was with her and called for help. By the time someone from the emergency hospital arrived, it was too late. She died at the polling place.

She and her husband had come to Spokane from New York 17 years earlier.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1916: Republican Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.