Spokane's Council Narrowly Votes to Dry Out Variety Theaters

At 5:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, after three hours of hearing, the ordinance which forbids the selling or giving away of spirituous or malt liquor in variety theaters passed the council by a vote of 9 to 6, the same exactly as was indicated by the test vote before the discussion. Mayor Belt will now have five days in which to sign or veto the ordinance. If he concludes to sign it, it will be in force and take effect ten days from the date of its passage, or Friday, April 5.

The arguments both pro and con were eloquent and forcible, but so well balanced that not a vote was changed after two hours and a half of debate. Dr. F. B. Cherington was the first speaker. He explained the position of the Ministerial Union in this fight and made a vigorous attack on the present system of running variety theaters. How their signatures had been obtained he explained, as well as the number of business men who had signed the remonstrance and those who had refused to sign either. In the district in which he himself had canvassed, he asserted that the opponents of the ordinance had misrepresented the situation to many of the signers.

A. G. Lane, manager of the People's Theater, then came forward and made an eloquent appeal for “the poor man, and the only pleasure resort which is furnished to the poor man in the city of Spokane.” He entreated the city council to pass no Connecticut “blue laws.” The big crowd which stood in the rear evidently was in sympathy with the speaker, and in spite of the gavel of the chairman frequently interrupted him with bursts of applause.

The Rev. W. A. Spalding, of the United Presbyterian church, followed in a forcible address in which he urged the council to protect the young men of the city, to protect the strangers who were coming and above all protect his children and other children who are growing up here from “the terrible temptations of these dens of iniquity.”

W. S. Norman said their horrors and their glories had been shown, but he thought there was a safer middle ground which the business men desired to take and which would “let well enough alone,” and allow them to bring about a return of prosperity to this city.

The Rev. W. T. Euster made an earnest appeal for godliness, while the Rev. W. H. Marvin said the mining men as a class were not anxious for this kind of entertainment and the variety shows only served to keep many people from Spokane.

T. C. Griffiths closed the discussion as far as the friends of the theaters were concerned. He said it was not so much whether the theater was all sunshine and loveliness or whether it was degrading and iniquitous, but the real question was whether the people desired it, and in proof that they did he cited the theaters' petition which contained near 3,000 names, as against the one which the preachers had been able to obtain in almost six weeks of hard work with only 130 names upon it.

Dr. D. N. McInturff replied to the attorney and said while they had few names compared to those of their opponents there were more voters on their list than on the other.

After some remarks by the members themselves and some little skirmishing and a suggestion of postponement, the vote was finally taken and the friends of the ordinance, unable to longer restrain their feelings, burst into applause. The vote stood 9 to 6 in favor of the ordinance.