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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 49 |
| 1889 | 85 |
| 1891 | 34 |
| 1892 | 219 |
| 1893 | 235 |
| 1894 | 244 |
| 1895 | 220 |
1,086 stories matching refus
- Mutiny in Port Townsend Harbor
The crew of the Arctic whaler J. D. Peters refused to work after being denied a discharge — and an officer from the cutter Grant clapped them in irons.
- The Mayor's Right to Fight City Hall
A landmark Washington Supreme Court ruling affirmed a mayor's authority to hire private counsel when the city's own legal department refused to defend the city against an illegal bond ordinance.
- Spokane Guardsmen Refuse to Break Strike
A Washington state militia company refuses to man a non-union train, sparking a tense standoff over labor loyalty and the role of the National Guard.
- Ballard's Mayor Refused to Pay a Court Judgment. The Judge Wanted Him in Court.
Mayor Matthew Dow declined to issue a warrant for J. F. Thornton's judgment against the city; a superior court ordered him to appear and explain or face punishment.
- A Tavern Shooting Over a Refused Drink
A notorious local man opens fire in a saloon after a laborer refuses his offer to share a round.
- The Carpenter Who Went to Jail on Principle
A local carpenter faces jail time after refusing to pay a poll tax, equating his plight to the political climate of Tsarist Russia.
- The Fire Chief Who Wouldn't Take Orders
Seattle's fire chief refuses to recognize the assistant chief appointed by the commissioners, setting up a courtroom fight over who runs the department.
- Seattle's Great Northern Cashes In as the Pullman Strike Snarls Rival Railroads
With transcontinental traffic rerouted through Puget Sound, James J. Hill's line refuses to haul cars boycotted by the American Railway Union — settling an old score with the Northern Pacific.
- The General Who Refused to Work Sundays
A Civil War veteran turned customs official risks his government pension to stand against a 41-hour shift demand at the Port Townsend docks.
- Labor Dispute Ends in Street Attack
A local contractor was beaten with a revolver and slungshot by a group of men after he reportedly refused them work.
- Seattle Bakers Threaten New Year’s Strike
Local union demands an end to grueling night shifts, as bakery owners signal a refusal to yield.
- Union Longshoremen Boycott Lodging House
A seaman is assaulted for refusing to leave a blacklisted boarding house in a labor dispute.
- The Battle for the Courtroom Door
Mayor Ronald and Judge Rivers engage in a bizarre standoff over who has the authority to fire and appoint a municipal court bailiff.
- Judicial Gridlock in King County
The Supreme Court intervenes when two Seattle judges refuse to finalize a case, each insisting the other should sign off.
- Tacoma Man Arrested for Refusing Smallpox Vaccination
As fear of disease grips the border, travelers are being forcibly vaccinated and quarantined in a climate of escalating hysteria.
- The Registration Wars of 1892
A political brawl spills into the courts as Tacoma’s city clerk is arrested for refusing to register voters pushed by out-of-town Democratic ward workers.
- The Shingle Trust Faces a Revolt
Independent dealers refuse to join a new price-fixing association, setting the stage for a showdown in the regional timber market.
- Blaine's Dry-Town Experiment
The city council refuses liquor licenses, forcing the town's saloons to shut their doors as the temperance movement gains a local victory.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.