100 years ago in Spokane: Gamblers weigh odds on mayor’s reelection

There were no public opinion polls in 1917, but there was another way of calculating election odds: betting pools.

“Odds of nearly three to one that Mayor Charles A. Fleming would be reelected were begging takers at Frank W. Smith’s cigar store last night,” The Spokesman-Review said.

There were even bets on the size of Fleming’s re-election margin. Someone bet $100 he would beat his opponents by margins ranging from 1,000 votes to 4,000 votes.

It was no surprise that Fleming and City Commissioner Fred K. McBroom were heavy favorites. However, there were some eyebrow-raising results in other city races, including for city treasurer.

“The surprise of the dopesters (bettors) has been the prevalence of John H. Tilsley money,” said the paper.

However, this was reputed to be “the quietest election from a betting viewpoint in many years.”

From the high school beat: Six Lewis and Clark High School boys were on their way to the football game in Pullman when they stopped for a little diversion in Rosalia, Washington.

The six boys were given permission to visit Rosalia High School.

However, the boys went a little too far. They “became noisy” and disturbed classrooms. Then they played the piano in the assembly room and “even went so far as to go downstairs and ring the bell.”

They were ordered out of the building by the superintendent, and finally the town marshal was called.

They were arrested for creating a disturbance and fined a total of $39.50.