100 years ago in Spokane: Banned from booze, saloons turn to tobacco sales

From our archives, 100 years ago

The head of a wholesale grocery firm said the new statewide prohibition law did not appear to be hurting business.

“Yesterday, we were visited by half a dozen proprietors of what were formerly saloons, who placed orders with us for cigars and tobacco,” he said. “They will continue in business, making a lounging place for their patrons.”

From the higher education beat: The faculty of the University of Washington voted 68-27 to retain compulsory military training for all freshman and sophomore men.

The college president expressed satisfaction with the vote, since he believed the university “owed it to the state and nation to cooperate in the movement for defense.”

Many faculty members opposed it for various reasons. Some said that this kind of drilling was “next to useless” as far as actually preparing men to be soldiers. Another said the students would be better off learning chemistry or engineering.

The university’s alumni publication took a decided stand against military training and made an effort to organize a student protest, but to no avail.

Quakers were exempt.