100 years ago in Spokane: Jews announce support for declaration of war

On the day after the U.S. Senate passed a war resolution, the Jewish community of Spokane went on record declaring its “unfailing loyalty and steadfast allegiance” to the U.S.

“Our people seem to have been overlooked in the public gatherings for the expression of sympathy with and support of President Wilson,” said Sam Stern, a community spokesman. “The reason I do not know, but some of us have realized that no effort has been made to find how the Jewish people of the Inland Empire feel in the present crisis. There are more than 1,500 Jews in this vicinity, who are entitled to public recognition in times when the sentiment of the community is being given expression.”

Their sentiment was clearly expressed in a resolution passed at a mass meeting: “The Jewish residents of Spokane assembled herewith declare … that they are Americans, first, last and all the time, and will support the president of the United States in upholding the honor and integrity of their country.”

They also collected money for the Jewish relief fund, to help the many Jews who were victims of the European war.

Another resolution expressed “keenest pleasure” that a new Russian regime had granted equal rights to Jews.

From the recruiting beat: Spokane young men continued to beat a path to the recruiting offices. In one day, 23 men joined the Navy, 10 joined the Army, three joined the Marines, and one joined the National Guard.