100 years ago in Spokane: Chinese residents debate which new year to celebrate

From our archives,

100 years ago

The Spokane Daily Chronicle reported a rift in the city’s Chinese population, between those who wanted to celebrate the American New Year and those who wanted to celebrate the Chinese New Year later in the month.

All of Spokane’s Chinese residents had chosen to observe the 1915 American New Year. However, as 1915 drew to a close, a number of people were insisting that the community revert back to the Chinese New Year. The “progressives” in the community, however, wished to “relegate to the past all things which savor of the old Manchu dynasty.”

One Chinese resident was quoted as saying, “Probably no happy New Year this time. Some want a holiday on American New Year, others kick (and) say they will take day off Chinese New Year. Plans busted, no celebration.”

From the demographic beat: Spokane’s Chamber of Commerce announced that the city’s population had grown to “between 115,000 and 118,000.” That represented an increase of about 1,000 over the past year.

From the hobo beat: Spokane’s police chief took a hard line on “vagrants” and “loafers.”

“It’s time for the bums to move on,” said the chief. “The bums brought in last night and today are just a starter for what is going to happen. Spokane is not going to entertain and support this class during the winter, unless something is given in return.”