100 years ago in Spokane: Man accused of advocating revolution found guilty

H.M. Wicks, firebrand radical orator, was convicted of criminal syndicalism for a speech he gave in a vacant lot on Madelia Street.

The prosecution claimed that Wicks said the working class should start a revolution.

Wicks’ attorney said his client never advocated violence. The judge concluded that Wicks did not advocate starting a revolution, but he did say that workers should be “prepared” for one when the capitalists initiated it. The judge said Wicks believed “that all trouble was started by the capitalistic class rather than the working class.”

Sentence was pending.

From the Lone Star beat: Anticipation was building for the federal trial in Spokane of star football coach and movie actor William “Lone Star” Dietz, on charges of evading the draft. Dietz coached Washington State to a Rose Bowl victory in 1916.

The trial, set to begin in two days, was “attracting widespread attention and it is predicted that one of the largest galleries of spectators … assembled in federal court” would be on hand.

Both the prosecution and defense were “carefully guarding their interests” and refusing to divulge their strategies.

However, it was becoming apparent that one of the key questions would be about Dietz’s Native American heritage. He had made his name as a player on the legendary Carlisle Indian Industrial School team, along with Jim Thorpe, coached by Pop Warner.

On his draft questionnaire, he had apparently listed himself as a noncitizen Native American and the government was expected to dispute that.