100 years ago in Chicago: Prospect of nominating Spokane senator for president fades at GOP convention

The prospect that Sen. Miles Poindexter of Spokane would be the next Republican candidate for president was fading fast. The Spokesman-Review’s correspondent at the Chicago convention reported that Poindexter would probably get only about 15 votes on the first ballot: Washington’s 14 votes and one from Hawaii.

Other candidates were generating much more enthusiasm. The candidates with the most delegates, Gen. Leonard Wood, Sen. Hiram Johnson and Gov. Frank Lowden, appeared to be hopelessly deadlocked, although they each had hundreds of delegates. Several dark-horse candidates, including Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, were generating increasing enthusiasm.

From the attendance beat: Miss Wanita Wilson, a graduating North Central High School senior, made it through 12 years of school without ever being absent – or even tardy.

She was singled out for praise by her principal for this remarkable record. She also had a fine academic record and was on the honor roll.

“She expects to enter some eastern college in the fall,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.