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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1889 | 4 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1893 | 21 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1895 | 11 |
55 stories matching ban
- The City Moves to Banish Explosives
Seattle officials push for a safer downtown by banning the central storage of dangerous blasting powder.
- When Tacoma Protestants Told the Pope to Stay Out of Their Lodges
A 2,500-person rally in Tacoma’s Armory Hall denounces a papal edict against secret societies, blending fraternal pride with fierce anti-Catholic nativism.
- Spokane’s Moral Crusade Against Dance Halls
Local reformers and the Ministerial Association launch a petition drive to ban dance halls and variety theaters from the city.
- Canada Bans Seattle's 'Depraved' Tabloids
Provincial authorities in Victoria and Vancouver slam the border shut on Seattle newspapers deemed too obscene for public consumption.
- Washington Bans Armed Mercenaries
Legislators override a veto to criminalize the employment of private armed bodies, a move targeting industrial labor conflicts.
- The Unwritten Law of Ballard
A Chinese laundryman is chased from the suburb by a mob enforcing a local, extra-legal ban on residents of Chinese descent.
- Spokane's 'Spotted Egg' Targeted by 1,393 Petitioners
Residents demand an end to theaters and dance halls selling liquor, while the legislature bans women from working where liquor is sold—a law aimed squarely at Johnny Considine's Spokane resort.
- Fishermen Demand Changes to Salmon Laws
Local fish dealers urge the legislature to end the ban on spring fishing, arguing it does not protect spawning runs.
- The Government Bans 'Holy Moses' Mining Claims
A federal ruling in Washington state aims to put a stop to 'tenderfoot' miners who give their claims offensive and profane names like 'Jumping Jesus.'
- City Council Moves to Shutter Saloon Dance Halls
Legislators pass a sweeping ordinance to ban dancing in liquor-serving establishments, effectively targeting local variety theaters and saloons.
- The Fight Against Hired Guns
A proposal at the constitutional convention seeks to ban the use of private armed guards like the Pinkertons in Washington state.
- The Makah Nation’s Fleet Challenges the Seal Hunters
With firearms banned, the Makah sealers of Neah Bay turn to traditional hunting methods, outmaneuvering white commercial competitors.
- Political Deadlock and Dirty Tricks in Olympia
Accusations of corporate puppetry fly in the Washington State Legislature as the battle for the U.S. Senate seat intensifies.
- Police Commissioners Ban Lunch in Saloons
After an officer is fired for drinking on the job, the commission issues a strict new rule prohibiting police from using saloons for meals.
- Washington State Bans Private Mercenary Guards
New legislation makes it a serious crime for companies to employ private detective agencies like the Pinkertons to suppress strikes or intimidate employees.
- The Irish Revolutionary Speaking in Seattle
A profile of Captain John McCafferty, a former Confederate soldier turned Irish republican militant, ahead of his local political rally.
- A Twelve-Year-Old's Calculated Ambush
Blaming '10-cent literature' for his actions, a young boy attempted to murder his neighbor in a planned attack near Mondovi.
- The Seattle Athletic Club Rejects Prize Fighting
A newly formed club at the Hotel Northern officially bans professional boxing matches on their premises, signaling a shift toward amateur sport in the young city.
- Regional Moral Panics Over 'Indecent' Papers
Tacoma and Olympia officials move to ban the sale of the Seattle Mercury and the Spokane Sunday Sun, labeling them 'obscene literature' and threatening vendors with prison time.
- End of the Salmon Ban
Local fishermen win a victory as the state repeals restrictions on salmon fishing in Puget Sound.
- The Cow War of Brooklyn and Latona
Seattle residents clash over the right to keep livestock in the city, pitting the 'backwoods' life against the sensibilities of the urban elite.
- Calls for a Ban on Immigration
A U.S. Senator proposes a sweeping one-year suspension of immigration, citing fears of disease and labor competition.
- Seattle’s Music Halls Went Silent Overnight
After the city council banned music halls and refunded their licenses, Seattle’s basement theaters shut down without a fight — at least for one night.
- The High-Stakes Gamble at City Hall
Local gambling syndicates prepare a desperate political maneuver to force Mayor Ronald to legalize their operations upon his return from the East.
- The City’s Cigarette Ban Hits a Snag
A federal judge rules the local anti-cigarette law unconstitutional, leaving shopkeepers in a cloud of confusion.