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Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 3 |
| 1858 | 2 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 7 |
| 1862 | 8 |
| 1863 | 4 |
| 1864 | 2 |
| 1865 | 1 |
| 1872 | 13 |
| 1876 | 30 |
| 1877 | 29 |
| 1878 | 20 |
| 1879 | 3 |
| 1880 | 11 |
| 1882 | 7 |
| 1883 | 48 |
| 1884 | 39 |
| 1885 | 60 |
| 1886 | 35 |
| 1887 | 43 |
| 1888 | 49 |
| 1889 | 99 |
| 1890 | 14 |
| 1891 | 69 |
| 1892 | 263 |
| 1893 | 245 |
| 1894 | 250 |
| 1895 | 220 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1898 | 12 |
| 1899 | 37 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1903 | 94 |
| 1904 | 104 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1908 | 14 |
| 1909 | 109 |
| 1910 | 29 |
| 1911 | 12 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1916 | 25 |
| 1917 | 14 |
| 1918 | 3 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 4 |
| 1924 | 4 |
| 1925 | 1 |
| 1928 | 1 |
| 1929 | 2 |
2,090 stories matching refus
- The Tragedy of the Parks Children
An Auburn father faces arrest after his children succumb to starvation while he allegedly schemed to remarry.
- The Siege of the City Engineer’s Office
When an incoming engineer faced a stubborn incumbent, it took a locksmith, a drill, and a policeman to settle the power struggle.
- The University Mutiny: A Student Protest Over Compulsory Drill
When the University of Washington faculty mandated weekly military training for all students, a group of undergraduates went on strike, claiming the time—and their dignity—was their own.
- The End of Reservation Saloons
Tacoma’s county commissioners move to systematically shutter all liquor outlets on the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
- Spokane’s Populist Pay Fight Turns to Death Threats
Mayor Helt and Comptroller Weed refuse a salary cut while Sheriff Charles F. Glorystein is threatened and placards appear across Spokane.
- Seattle Teamsters’ Wage Dispute Halts City Commerce
A labor standoff over union recognition leaves freight stranded across the city.
- Two Spokane Chiefs Sign a Reservation Agreement After Years of Refusal
Enoch and Louis, leaders of the Upper and Middle Spokane, agree to move to reservations set by the 1887 treaty after years of living in the canyons.
- Supreme Court Judges Refuse to Pay Road Taxes They Helped Build
Two justices owning land along Whatcom roads balk at assessments under the new law, hinting at a constitutional fight.
- The Switchmen's Dilemma: A Fight for the Eight-Hour Day
Mayor D.W. Lawler details why railroad workers are rejecting mandatory arbitration under the Erdman Act, arguing it strips them of their power to strike while leaving them trapped in unfair conditions.
- The Price of Seattle Real Estate
A speculative look at the rapid inflation of downtown land values on Front Street.
- Tacoma Refuses to Pay Water Contractors—and Keeps Building
The city council rejects more than $22,000 in damages from contractors cut out of the Maplewood Springs project, then votes for a new South Tacoma-to-West End pipeline, reservoir and pumping station.
- A Sick Man's Plight in Seattle
A desperate resident pleads for public assistance for a destitute, dying stranger denied care by the county.
- The Nine Men Who Refused to Work: Seattle’s First Labor Standoff
In December 1876, nine coal miners at the Seattle bunkers defied orders on the ship *War Hawk*, leading Commissioner Smith to commit them to jail until the vessel sailed.
- The Baker’s War: Seattle’s Sweet Tooth Goes on Strike
As the city's bakers walk out for better wages, only four stubborn shops remain open, turning a labor dispute into a daily crisis for hungry locals.
- The Instructor Who Knocked His Man Down Three Times — Then Refused the Win
A Saturday-night bout at Ballard's Twin City Athletic Club turned into a lesson in prizefight ethics: James W. Barbour put Seattle's George Linz on the floor, picked him back up, and turned down the decision because the house had paid to see a fight.
- Mutiny at Port Townsend
A newly arrived crew refuses duty and fights for their freedom aboard a bark in the harbor.
- An Immigrant Stranded in Port
A Japanese nurse is left in limbo after Canadian immigration officials refuse her entry, leaving her with no resources in Tacoma.
- Defeated King County Clerk Refuses to Step Down
A political standoff ensues at the King County Courthouse after the incumbent clerk refuses to vacate his office for his successor.
- Transit Boss Rejects City's Big German Festival
A committee of German community leaders was rebuffed by the local streetcar manager, who refused to provide enough transit to handle the thousands of expected visitors.
- The Parkland College Sewage Standoff
Despite pressure from the Public Works Commissioner, the president of Parkland College refuses to move a cesspool, claiming it poses no threat to city water.
- Armed Attack at Local Restaurant
A man fired a revolver through the glass of a French restaurant after being refused service late at night.
- The Mayor and the Judge Clash Over Profanity
A power struggle in Seattle’s municipal court erupted when the mayor and city prosecutor refused to follow a judge's orders to prosecute a case involving a 'cursing' boat captain.
- The Governor Would Not Send Loy Sen Back
Washington's governor refused California's requisition for a Chinese woman accused of a $1,000 swindle, a case her friends called persecution.
- The Unscripted Tragedy at Yesler's Hall
A young child’s refusal to follow the script during a dramatic performance forces the lead actor to lower the curtain on the show.
- The Husband Who Sued for Peace
A local man seeks divorce, claiming his wife's constant 'jawing' and refusal to mend his clothes made his life unendurable.