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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Washington state: Going without meat, wheat and sherbert a ‘patriotic duty’

With World War I ongoing, more meatless and wheatless days were a “patriotic duty,” the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported on Nov. 24, 1917. The newspaper also reported that North Central High School defeated Lewis and Clark High School in football. (Spokesman-Review archives)

Food – its scarcity, not bounty – was uppermost in people’s minds as the holidays approached.

“The Northwest must settle down to a more intensive conservation of food and more meatless and wheatless days may be expected as a patriotic duty before the winter is over,” said a front page article.

The federal food commissioner for the state had just returned from Washington D.C., where Herbert Hoover instructed Washington State to “tighten up all along the lines, especially on wheat and pork products.”

Even dessert was taking a hit. The ice cream manufacturers of the Pacific Northwest announced they would no longer be making sherbet.

“Sherbet is unpatriotic,” said the manufacturers. “It requires too much sugar. Intern it for the duration of the war.”

From the football beat: North Central High School won the football championship of the city with a resounding 16-0 victory over Lewis and Clark High School, the only other city high school.

The two NC stars were “Cop” Daniel, who plunged for one touchdown, and Donald McPhee, whose “pretty dodging” through the center of the line resulted in another touchdown.