Research the archive
Narrow 22,457 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
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.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1904 | 26 |
| 1909 | 21 |
47 stories matching per
- The Loophole in the City Limits
A technicality regarding state versus city law leaves police empty-handed in a speeding crackdown on Pacific Avenue.
- The Wealth Gap and the 'Prince' of Industry
A biting editorial critiques the concentration of inherited wealth and the limitations of modern tax policies.
- The Political Brawl for the Second Ward
A scathing letter from W. H. Reed exposes the business alliances and legislative record of city council candidate John M. Bell, setting off a local firestorm.
- The Fight Over Tacoma’s Public Utilities
City Controller Lister defends the administration’s plan to earmark utility profits for bond repayment rather than immediate rate cuts.
- The City Hall Pay Dispute
A Tacoma teamster takes on the city after being shorted on his daily wage, sparking a potential test case for labor rights.
- The Price of a Transit Franchise
Tacoma’s City Council strikes a bargain for new railway depots in Old Town and the Narrows, bartering city streets for future development.
- The Battle for Cheaper Lights
Mayor Campbell's administration faced intense pushback from the city council while attempting to dismantle an electric lighting monopoly.
- The War on Tacoma's Public Market
Stallkeepers and property owners accuse the city council of conspiring with a 'grocery trust' to demolish a vital public resource.
- The $1,000 Bribe for Slot Machine Protection
Owners of 100 slot machines propose a monthly payment to the city for the privilege of operating under police protection.
- The Automatic Entertainer's Divorce
A local husband defending a divorce suit reveals his unique business holdings in coin-operated slot machines and automatic banjos.
- Tacoma Tries to Tame the Automobile
The city council moves to regulate the dangerous 'benzine buggies' with mandatory registration tags and strict speed limits, including a crawling 6 mph pace on downtown streets.
- The Price of City Hall
Tacoma prepares to put a price tag on its public servants, setting new salary caps for city officials ahead of the April 1904 election.
- City Council Faces Telephone Monopoly Fight
Local committee pushes decision on a new telephone franchise to the full city council, triggering debates over corporate financial backing and competition.
- The Power Trust Tries to Woo Tacoma
A regional power company offers the city cheaper rates, fueling the municipal argument for public utility ownership.
- An Appeal to the 7,000,000 Sisters
A scathing critique of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, arguing that the tax burden is unfairly placed on the working class.
- Tacoma’s Secret 'Fining' System
Mayor Wright and Chief Malony allegedly operated a shadow tax on gambling and vice, using fake names to funnel illicit profits through the city’s ledgers.
- The Power Grab: Tacoma Businessmen Battle Utility Monopoly
Prominent citizens organize to fight an electric franchise they fear will cripple local industry and inflate power prices.
- The Price of Municipal Transparency
A local newspaper challenges a long-standing government graft scheme by undercutting the official printing contract, sparking a showdown at City Hall.
- Labor Standoff at Renton Mines
The Seattle Electric Company reopens its Renton coal mines with non-union workers after contract negotiations regarding a 10% wage cut collapse.
- Issaquah Coal Miners Walk Out
150 miners strike after company denies work-sharing with displaced employees from the closed Grand Ridge mine.
- The Shadow Ledger of Tacoma’s Police
A secret cash book reveals how police collected 'fines' from gamblers and protected a slot machine monopoly.
- The Shadowy Franchise Fight
After accusations of a $132,000 bribe, the Tacoma City Council is forced into a formal inquiry over the Independent Telephone Company’s franchise bid.
- Northern Pacific Slashes Wages at South Tacoma Shops
A radical reduction in hours for over 800 workers leaves employees with decreased earning capacity.
- The Fight for Lewis County Land
A federal court decision could strip railroad corporations of vast land grants held since the early days of territorial expansion.
- Street Railway Workers Strike Over Wage Cuts
Italians employed by the Tacoma Railway and Power Company walk off the job after their daily wage is slashed from $1.75 to $1.60.
Also about this, in other words
- The High Price of Ninety Cents
A jury finds a man guilty of stealing less than a dollar from an intoxicated victim, recommending leniency to the judge.