Mossbackism in Olympia: The Club, the Hotel and the Saloon Men
Board of Trade members proposed folding the Washington Club into the Olympia Hotel to settle liquor complaints and give the board a cash stake—then the club's defenders blamed saloon keepers and 'picayune politicians.'
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A subject was discussed before the Board of Trade last night, the outcome of which will be looked for with interest. For some time past members who are equally interested in the Washington Club, the Board of Trade and the Olympia Hotel have been discussing a method by which all three institutions could be materially benefited. It is claimed by some members that the Washington Club rooms detract from the patronage of the hotel, because visitors to the city are entertained at the former place. In view of efforts which have been made to place the Board of Trade upon a more substantial basis and give its stock a cash value, suggestions were made last night and freely discussed. The idea is to secure for the Washington Club suitable quarters in the hotel, which can be fitted up and furnished with conveniences and accommodations equal to those provided by the club. In this way it was thought that all responsibility of the club in maintaining refreshments can be disposed of. The mayor and some members of the council state that they are continually in receipt of complaints and must sooner or later take action in the matter. It is thought that some arrangement can be perfected whereby the club property may be assigned to the Board of Trade, each member of the club taking stock in the board to the value of that paid on the club assessment, the board to assume the payment of the balance of about $7,000 due on the Washington Street property. In order to bring the matter to a point, a committee consisting of J. F. Gowey, A. H. Chambers and M. A. Root, all of whom are members of the club and the Board of Trade, was appointed to confer with the trustees of the club and to perfect, if possible, arrangements for a change. OPPOSED TO CONSOLIDATION. 'The mossbackism of Olympia was never more apparent than in the opposition to the progressive Washington Club by a lot of gin mill keepers, who, through certain patrons, are trying to wipe out the club in order to save somebody's bar-room from bankruptcy,' said a well-known member of the club today. He grew more indignant as he discussed the proposed consolidation with the Board of Trade, and said: 'The club is the best thing that Olympia has had since the city was founded. It started out in a progressive way and is on the same footing as the clubs of Tacoma and Seattle, where refreshments are served. There is no trouble there between the clubs and the authorities on the refreshment question, but here the picayune politicians oppose the club in order to stand in with saloon men on election day. I am tired of it.'
“The mossbackism of Olympia was never more apparent than in the opposition to the progressive Washington club by a lot of gin mill keepers.”
The fight was about who got to gather, drink and shape Olympia's business—and whether city hall would side with a private club or the saloon trade. It is an early version of the same downtown argument over licenses, private clubs and who gets a seat at the table.
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