The Ladies Stayed Home: Spokane Falls Votes Without Much Fuss
A quiet April election returns the straight citizens' ticket, with one lively independent fight in the Second Ward and a notable absence at the polls.
Last Tuesday was election day, and although there was no organized opposition to the straight citizens' ticket nominated the week before, yet no little interest was manifested, and all day long knots of men collected about the several polls. The only sign of deep interest manifested cropped out in the Second Ward, where Mr. Deuher appeared as an independent candidate for Alderman. The fight was a warm one, and resulted in the success of Mr. Deuher. The best of good feeling prevailed throughout the day, and not a disturbance is reported. It was noticeable that the ladies did not turn out in full force, as many anticipated.
We give the following as the full vote of the various wards:
First Ward — Mayor: J. N. Glover, 17. City Marshal: E. B. Hyde, 64; F. M. Thompson, 1. City Clerk: Chas. E. Crillin, 8; D. W. C. Britt, 4; E. E. Allen, 1. City Attorney: M. T. Gorman, 46; C. G. Bradshaw, 2; G. M. Forster, 1. City Treasurer: H. Hayward, 44; L. W. Rima, 8. Aldermen: H. G. Harremale, 17; R. W. Forrest, 46.
Second Ward — Mayor: J. N. Glover, 174. City Marshal: E. B. Hyde, 176; F. M. Thompson, 4. City Clerk: Chas. E. Crillin, 153. City Attorney: M. T. Gorman, 160; C. G. Bradshaw, 11. City Treasurer: H. C. Hayward, 150. Aldermen: James B. Roe, 61; W. L. Turner, 164; Peter Ruben, 116.
Third Ward — Mayor: J. N. Glover, 40. City Marshal: E. B. Hyde, 44; F. M. Thompson, 11. City Treasurer: H. C. Hayward, 45; L. C. Cutter, 1. City Clerk: Chas. E. Crillin, 42; D. W. C. Britt, 5. City Attorney: M. T. Gorman, 33; C. G. Bradshaw, 10; J. W. Sinklay, 1. Aldermen: Simon Hamma, 40; J. N. Squier, 34; D. P. Jenkins, 8; Frederick Pohl, 2.
Fourth Ward — Mayor: J. N. Glover, 41; J. E. Gowdy, 2. City Marshal: E. B. Hyde, 48; M. Thompson, 1; F. M. Thompson, 3. City Clerk: Chas. E. Crillin, 52; E. E. Allen, 4. City Attorney: M. T. Gorman, 75; C. G. Bradshaw, 11. Aldermen: A. M. Cannon, 60; George P. China, 62; C. D. Rile, 1; J. N. Squier, 1.
“It was noticeable that the ladies did not turn out in full force, as many anticipated.”
In 1884 Spokane Falls was a raw young town where a single independent alderman could be the whole drama of election day. The paper's aside that 'the ladies did not turn out in full force' is a reminder that Washington Territory had not yet extended the ballot to women — that came in 1883, was taken back by the courts in 1887, and only returned for good in 1910. Local politics here still turns on turnout, ward-by-ward.
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