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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1877 | 1 |
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1886 | 1 |
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40 stories matching opt
- The Strange Lottery of Seattle’s 1889 Democratic Primary
While Republicans held conventional district conventions to nominate candidates for the constitutional convention, Seattle’s Democrats opted for the 'novel' method of picking delegates by lottery.
- The Price of a Federal Court Case
After facing trial and a fine in a federal court, A. J. Lilie opts to pay up rather than take his chances with an appeal to the Territorial Supreme Court.
- Shingle Mill Owners Move to Slash Wages
Washington shingle manufacturers opt to cut pay to stay competitive against British Columbia imports.
- Hard Times Hit the Congregation
The Ohaveth Sholem congregation votes to suspend the hiring of a rabbi to manage the financial fallout of the 1893 depression.
- The Constable Who Shot an Innocent Boy
A case of mistaken identity and an assault charge reveal the chaotic nature of frontier justice in late 19th-century Washington.
- The Sudden End of a Legal Tug-of-War
After facing trial on multiple charges, a defendant unexpectedly opts for prison time rather than risking a lengthier legal fight.
- Newport Votes on Whether the Saloons Stay
With 254 voters registered and temperance workers canvassing the streets, Newport prepares for a close local-option election that could shut down licensed saloons.
- Clark County's Country Districts Will Vote the Saloon Up or Down
A local-option petition puts license-or-no-license on the November ballot outside the incorporated towns—where only Battle Ground has a saloon.
- The Saloon Fight Moves to Court: Petition Signatures Challenged
A Valley saloonkeeper tries to block Pend Oreille County’s local-option election, claiming the petition lacks enough valid voters and that many signatures are not genuine.
- A Temperance Bill Debate Turns Into Two Fistfights in Olympia
A Spokane legislator and a Spokane newspaperman trade blows on the House floor over a local-option petition.
- Washington Moves to Kill the Racetrack: Anti-Gambling Bill Heads to the Governor
The House bowed to the Senate's removal of the emergency clause, sending a bill to end horse racing in Washington to the governor — while 'dry' lawmakers pushed a local-option measure late into the night.
- The Drys Won Newport. Then They Built a Machine to Keep It.
A new Municipal League aims to protect the local-option victory—and the city hires counsel as opponents challenge the election in court.
- The City Hall Sewer Crisis
After intense debate, the Seattle City Council moves to settle a long-standing payment dispute with engineer Benezette Williams to ensure the completion of critical sewer infrastructure.
- The Great Railroad Delay: Washington Territory’s Fight for the Northern Pacific
Federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. have rejected a proposal to settle land claims in Washington Territory, opting instead to grant the Northern Pacific Railway an eight-year extension to complete its tracks.
- The Unraveling of the Washington Savings Bank
Facing a stagnant real estate market and steady deposit withdrawals, a downtown bank opts for an orderly closure to protect its depositors.
- Seattle’s Grand Theater Debut
After months of anticipation and construction, Seattle prepares to open a lavish new opera house with the Duff Opera Company.
- The Port Townsend Democratic Uprising
A raucous meeting of the Young Men's Democratic Club in Port Townsend erupts in chaos as members pass scathing resolutions condemning Collector of Customs James C. Saunders for cronyism and alleged corruption.
- Temperance Forces Move to Vote Stevens County Dry
Local-option workers in Colville petition for a September election that could close saloons across the county and set off a dry campaign across Eastern Washington.
- Fruit Industry Faces Tensions as Labor Organization Mobilizes
Farmers and business leaders urge the governor to curb I.W.W. activity as agricultural workers demand an eight-hour day and higher wages.
- The Great Egg Duel of Vancouver
An offended soldier challenged a local man to a duel, but the combatants opted for a slightly less lethal choice of weapons.
- The Battle Over Corporate Power at Washington’s Constitutional Convention
As Washington delegates gathered to draft a new state constitution, a heated clash erupted over whether to explicitly restrain the influence of monopolies and the Northern Pacific Railroad.
- The Ministers' Quarrel That Split Colville's Temperance Fight
A local-option campaign turned personal when the Rev. W. A. Diggins claimed all the town's ministers were behind temperance—and the Rev. G. H. Wilbur publicly called that a lie.
- Seattle's Chinese Community Resists Mandatory Registration
Local merchant groups and the Chinese Six Companies instruct laborers to defy the Geary Act until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.
- The Case for Ending Local Option Prohibition
A 1909 editorial argues that 'local option' is an ineffective, demoralizing policy and suggests an elected board of excise commissioners as a better way to regulate the liquor trade.
- The Unceremonious Ousting of Seattle's Police Chief
After refusing to answer for rampant gambling and open corruption, Chief J.C. Mitchell is fired by the city council as the city pivots toward long-overdue municipal reform.