There were no deaths, but the destruction of the building led to a prolonged political fight over whether the state legislature and governor would close the institution, or authorize funds for its replacement.
The local businesses in Cheney and Spokane generously gave donations to departments and offered special prices to the State Normal School.
[8] Governor Marion E. Hay, who was in the area at the time of the fire, encouraged the rebuilding of the school.
[9] After Hay lost his re-election campaign in 1912 to Ernest Lister, the incoming governor opposed the rebuilding of the school: despite Lister's vocal opposition and his attempt to veto the bill authorizing the new building, a coalition of "democrats, progressives and republicans united to carry it over his veto.
"[10] Lister came to Cheney in person in April 1913 to inform the citizens that, though he had opposed the rebuilding of the normal school, now that the legislature had insisted on its restoration, he would see that the new structure was of the highest quality.
"[11] In 1913, the Session Laws added a new provision, Chapter 70, in order to aid in the rebuilding of Cheney Normal School.