34 Nebraskaland • December 2023
uring the late 19th century, spittoons became a common
feature of saloons, hotels, stores, banks, railway
carriages and other places where adult men gathered.
Many localities passed laws against public spitt ing other
than into a spittoon, but such laws were seldom enforced.
Some people of this era objected to restrictions on where they
could spit as an infringement on their individual liberty.
Nonetheless, anti-spitting sentiment was growing.
TheNorfolk Weekly News-Journalon Sept. 7, 1906, reported
a recent move by the federal government to end spitting
on the fl oors of federal buildings, ostensibly to prevent the
spread of disease. TheNews-Journalsaid:
"In the Norfolk federal building, in several prominent
places, there has been recently hung the following sign:
'Please Do Not Spit on the Floor. To Do So May Spread
Disease.' There is no demand to stop the practice, but a kind
request, the government believing that an appeal to the
No Spitting
By Patricia C. Gaster, History Nebraska
Spittoons are visible on the fl oor in this circa-1910 photo by John Nelson of Ericson. RG3542-95-20
D
A spittoon for visitors adorns Governor Adam McMullen's
private offi ce at the old Nebraska State Capitol,
Dec. 27, 1927.
HISTORY NEBRASKA RG2183-1927-122
