Journal of the Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum Volume 15, Number 1, June 2020

History in Review

An excellent book… Table of Contents -JB Anderson, University of Wisconsin History Issue

2-Feature:

Thinking, Suffering, and

Voting 2020 …thought provoking… Joseph Amato -Laura Weber, Editor, 5-Oral History Grant Project: Minnesota History Blood, Fire and Something

Else – It Began Here

Peter Simmons

8-Book Review:

Curt Hillstrom Conservation on the …an invaluable Northern Plains: New Perspectives contribution to Minnesota Anthony J. Amato, Ed. history… 10-Remembering: -David Grabitske, Kay Schwie – Dale Schwie Texas Historical 4-Earth Day Commission 7-Space Flight

11-Programs and Meetings 11-Editor’s Perspective: In Light of the Times Evelyn D. Klein 12-Minnesota Swedes Raising Cane – Marilyn McGriff 13-Minnesota Women: First These writings take in the Nation to Vote in an open road 1920 – Lois Glewwe 14-Poetry Day via Zoom of independent passage. Joseph Amato, Evelyn Klein, Vicki Mickelson 16-Upcoming Programs, Events

Feature Article

Thinking, Suffering, and Voting 2020 by Joseph Amato

spirituality and unbounded commitment, divisive individualism and totalitarian collectivism. he 2020 national politics challenges me to Unfortunately, personalism had no response to vote. In contrast to those who trumpet the German aggression, tanks, or the indecisiveness of T autonomous individual with absolute right of British and French parliamentarian democracy. choice, I subscribe in the round to Catholic social philosophy, the rights of local unions and state Politics and Democracy governments, a political middle ground based on Before offering my opinions about the basic rights and the constitution. upcoming election, I briefly share some general views The coming election painfully reminds me I about politics and democracy. Since I first studied cannot easily reconcile the U. S. as republic, nation states, I have found them having a great democracy and nation-state that is a global economic capacity for good and evil. Aside from their positive and political power. I join “the old” in saying, an role in consolidating lands and unifying peoples empire is not a republic. While I appreciate American under a governing order, I see social-political democracy’s continuing quest for freedom and struggles for control disintegrating into warring opportunity, with fairness and justice, I know that factions and resulting in violent tyrannies. promises of progress do not preclude unforeseen All states insist on their sovereign right to events, mistakes, and tragedies. collect taxes, raise armies, and adjudicate the supreme Each decade of my eighty years compound law. Unregulated by constitution or limited by age’s caution. My political compass as a trained tradition, they deny all challenges to their power over intellectual historian informs that we know best, not land and peoples. The concept of nation makes select by the logic of Cartesian rationalism but by studying peoples (whoever they are deemed to be) the ultimate what societies over the ages thought, wrote, source of the state’s rights and authority. Uninhibited, legislated, did, and believed. Everything human has especially during war and revolution, they transform a history that can teach us. themselves into tyrannies. Graduate study under Professor A. W. The violent fusion of state and nation was Salomone at Rochester taught me how much first witnessed in the later stages of the French nineteenth century Europe was formed out of diverse Revolution and during the Napoleonic Empire. and contending poles, ideals and powers. He saw Nation-states in Europe and across the world Italian unification, the Risorgimento, fashioned out of extended their sovereignty and hegemony in the a triad of principles embodied by Cavour’s and his course of the nineteenth century. The most radical statesmanship, Garibaldi’s revolutionary and military proponents of the nation underwrote the use of boldness, and Mazzini’s articulation of liberal- increased control at home and defensive and democratic nationalism. aggrandizing missions abroad. Purportedly in the My own doctoral dissertation, Mounier and service of equality and justice, states leveled societies Maritain: A French Catholic Understanding of the and elevated themselves as overarching moral referee Modern World took up the fate of Catholic social and and supervisor. political ideals in the first half of the tragic and crises- In the second half of the nineteenth century, laden interwar Europe. As much as Mounier’s with the emergence of new continental states Italy and personalism was underpinned by a “tragic optimism,” Germany, traditional empires Austria-Hungary, it sought to find a middle way between abstract Russia, and Turkey feared for their existence, while 2 newer states and nationalities wanting to be nations made itself the principal architect and defender of entered life-and-death struggles for the future and freedom and democracy, nationalism, and capitalism their place in sun. across the globe. It confronted Russia’s annexation of The First World War arose out of a set of Germany and Eastern Europe, the global hegemony regional wars, an arms race, aggressive new nations, of Communism and entered into full-scale nuclear and fearful empires. With the partitioning of Africa arms race against the Soviet Union. and plans to divide China, the age of global In the post-war world, the United States competition and imperialism arrived. The drop of a formed alliances, established programs of foreign aid, pin might have started a war—the assassination of initiated world trade, and was instrumental in Archduke Ferdinand did. The concept of survival of establishing the United Nations. It militarily the fittest seemed to define the plight of nation-states intervened in Korea and Vietnam, and later in Iraq, in an ever-smaller world. the Near East, and elsewhere. It carried out a world The First World War dictated to all: mobilize mission, essentially an open and free society, while, to survive. The war and post-war birthed tyrannies paradoxically, becoming the greatest state and largest and totalitarian states in Russia, Italy, and Germany. economic empire in the history of the world. In those three, the unification of party and state The world and all its complex affairs became became grounds for claiming the future, fulfillment, incalculably America’s. Its citizens increasingly have and destiny of their people and the future of mankind. been required to ask what in the world is not of their These states placed themselves beyond individuals, interest? They are tested to comprehend and judge groups, rights, traditions, institutions, cultures and their own country’s power. Beyond the most complex religions. foreign politics and matters of war and peace (now If this justly characterizes the nation-states of compounded by fear of cyber wars) American Europe, does it in any way describe the United States? citizens interrogate themselves over their nation’s Or do we treat the United States as exceptional, responsibility for phenomenal growth of world because it has a unique geography, constitution, and populations; economic disparity; countless wars history? Did it, somehow, remain free of the flaws of beyond and within national borders; violation of state and empire in its rise and growth from an insular human rights and the matter of neighboring and republic of thirteen relatively autonomous seaboard worldwide migrants and immigrants. colonies to a then democratic republic? Additionally, American citizens must face Unquestionably, it had fought the Civil War over the increasingly urgent and complex issues associated issues of states’ rights and emerged from it as a with short- and long-term worldwide climate change unified nation-state. In less than fifty years, it and pollution; disproportionate water, mineral, and completed its dominion reaching from sea to sea. energy resources; disparate stages of social and Having subdued all indigenous peoples on its economic development. There are matching and territory, the 1898 Spanish-American War made the interrelation problems arising from growing cities; United States the dominant nation of the Americas. the extension of commercial agriculture and the Just twenty years later, in 1918, it emerged from the exhaustion of soils; the depletion of natural resources; First World War as the most powerful democratic and rising seas; increasing wildfires; and as irrepressibly capitalist nation-state in the world. revealed in 2020, world-wide pandemics. Vital and With its victory in First World War, the indispensable ecological zones such as seacoasts, the United States, under President Woodrow Wilson, rain forest and Polar caps are sacrificed for national determined the new but short–lived democratic progress and world economic development. national order of post-war Europe and gave birth to These international and global matters the League of Nations, which it itself did not join. increasingly go to the heart of American politics, Within a decade, the League failed the test of keeping straining understandings and testing loyalties. peace in face of rising powers in Europe and Asia. Conscience repeatedly asks: At what price and at After its victorious emergence from the whose expense is American prosperity and progress Second World War, defeating Germany and Japan, purchased? Can economic and material progress the United States rebuilt much of Western Europe and truly serve national and world freedom and justice? 3

Will this progress give rise to a centralization that will immigrants, a Vietnam anti-war activist, Catholic deny local, traditional, and high cultures? Does worker and a constitutional liberal-conservative in the national politics offer a key or prison for future life spirit of Lord Acton. I know that I am at odds with and humans? both parties and the secular ideologies of progress that National parties and ideologies offer underpin them. conflicting and self-serving national narratives of Admitting I owe this nation respect for its who benefits and suffers. Only the most naïve believe constitution and gratitude for its law and they know and can write this narrative with certainty. opportunities, I will vote my faint hopes with strong Ever in debate are freedom and justice, progress and doubts in 2020. I still retain, though frayed, a belief tradition, individual and community. that American constitutional republic and people’s democracy matter to the nation and world in which The Forthcoming 2020 National Election tyrannies wax. As in most human affairs, I light a There are many reasons why candle that I choose the good. I suffer the forthcoming 2020 The final note I add to this confessional essay national election. Presidential is: Corona virus has added to my election blues. I fear elections are traditionally taken to the United States will emerge in 2020 ever more be turning points. They summon us centralized and regulated. And it will evermore suffer to choose candidates who speak to the problems and contradictions of world trade and be local, national, and global issues. As tested by the containment of China (and other change accelerates in the world, possibilities dictatorial regimes) as it tries to be both a prosperous multiply. Everything and anything could happen, and and dominant friend to the world. we are forced to navigate by suspicion, conjecture, and ideology—anything other than a sure compass. ~Joseph A. Amato has a Ph.D. in history The years of the Trump’s presidency have set and wrote multiple forms of intellectual and cultural the stage for coarse passions and polarizing opinions. history, including poetry, philosophy, and ethics. He His egotistic style of command—head of the bully pioneered the writing of local, regional and family pulpit of a great bureaucracy—is accented against the history. Amato published more than twenty-five background of a long growth of the imperial books. Recent works include The Book of Twos, presidency in this century and last. The Democrats, Everyday Life: How the Ordinary Became headstrong and reckless, desire to impeach without a Extraordinary, Buoyancies: A Ballast Mater’s Log, chance of having the votes to do it, testify to their My Three Sicilies, and Towers of Aging. desire to be righteous and victorious accusers. I, as one voter of 150 million voters—know my singular vote counts little—in truth, nothing. Celebrating 50 Years Adding to my sense of irrelevance, my reasoning Earth Day finds no footholds on the nasty cliffs of contemporary issues and their rising, craggy summits. At the same An oil spill along the time, I am worn dumb and dull by political coast of California in preachment, redundant news, pseudo criticisms 1969 precipitated generated out of imagined absolute perfection. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nevertheless, I will go to the November Nelson of Wisconsin presidential polls, despite my own ignorance and and environmentalist Denis Hayes to bring about the fallibility before such taxing problems as health care first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. The event today and tomorrow for 331 million, the complexities attracted millions of people and initiated an of farm policy, and the elements and cost of national environmental movement as well as annual events to defense. I will go to the polls as admittedly uncertain protect the environment. On Earth Day 2016 climate of who and what is best for nation, world, and self. I change was addressed internationally in the Paris will go to the polls as a “a peasant skeptic,” a Agreement. grandchild of Sicilian and other European 4

Minnesota Historical, Cultural and Heritage Grant Report

Blood, Fire, and Something Else – It Began Here by Peter Simmons

uring the peak years of the Vietnam War (in to report to a specified location either for induction or Vietnam, it’s called the American War), for a pre-induction physical exam. These notices D United States citizens began, publicly, to notoriously began “Greetings,” and they were refuse to participate in that war to an extent nearly increasingly dreaded once the United States began to unprecedented in the nation’s history and in ways send more and more ground troops to Vietnam in unique to the twentieth century. That refusal, which 1965 and thereafter. became known as “The Resistance” and “The Refusal to cooperate with the draft had been Movement” grew to be nationwide and multi- increasingly frequent and visible after a few young generational. Thousands of young American men men publicly burned their draft cards at a small peace disobeyed orders to be inducted into the military and demonstration at Union Square in New York City, on were, then, federally indicted. Over three thousand May 16, 1964—Armed Forces Day. By October 16, were imprisoned. In Minnesota, during 1969, 1970 1967, a national day of protest had been organized by and 1971, more than half of all federal criminal the National Mobilization Committee to End the War indictments were for Selective Service violations. in Vietnam. An estimated 1400 draft cards were Some went further. Beginning in 1966, and at destroyed by young men on that single day. least through 1971, American peace activists began Refusing to submit to induction, failure to not only to refuse the draft, but also to attack and report for induction, destroying or failing to carry dismantle its administrative foundation: the county one’s draft cards, or failure to register in the first Selective Service offices. Those offices held records place, were all federal felonies, with penalties of up that identified men eligible to get orders to report for to five years in prison, plus fines of up to $10,000. induction. The attacks involved taking or destroying Increasingly, large demonstrations against draft files (there was a separate file for each the war took place across the country. Among these individual registrant) and sometimes damaging office were the March on the Pentagon on October 21, 1967, equipment, such as typewriters. and two National Moratorium marches on For those who weren’t alive then, or who Washington, on October 15 and November 15, 1969. weren’t tuned in, here’s some context: The Selective The peace movement was fully visible, although not Service Act of 1948 required that every eighteen- yet widely supported by the general public. Returning year-old male resident of the United States (not only combat veterans told stories that were at odds with citizens, but all young men) register with their local official claims of “light at the end of the tunnel.” The Selective Service office (draft board). They were to My Lai massacre had happened on March 16, 1968 keep that office informed of their place of residence but wasn’t revealed to the public until November and to carry on their person at all times both their 1969. Lines were drawn – “Hawks” vs. “Doves.” registration card and their classification card. Opposition to the war was becoming open rebellion. Classification indicated availability and fitness for This was the setting in which taking direct service, e.g. IA (available), 2S (student), 4F (unfit), action against draft boards developed. In an essay in etc. As the Army called for manpower, the local draft the New York Review of Books, September 25, 1969, board—composed of local citizens of good repute— the writer Francine du Plessix Gray labeled those who would choose from those classified IA (this was the took such steps “The Ultra Resistance,” which neatly “selective” part) enough men to meet their county’s captured the degree to which the Selective Service quota. Those chosen were sent a notice ordering them System had come under attack. By the end of 1969, 5 there had been at least a dozen major raids on draft priests, brothers Daniel and Phillip Berrigan. For board offices. Tens of thousands of files were them it was an act of faith carried out by a faith destroyed. community, and it planted a seed. Several of those In the 21st century, the rationale for these acts arrested that day began to range across the country of destruction may not be clear. But at the time, there soon after they were released on bail. Led by Army were at least two reasons which were crystalized in veteran George Mische, a devout thirty-one-year-old 1967 by the second such act, or “action,” as these Catholic from St. Cloud, Minnesota, they organized events came to be called. The first was in 1966 and small meetings and retreats at seminaries and will be described later. On October 27, 1967, four monasteries and in less institutional settings, like men—a priest, a minister, an artist and a poet—all Catholic Worker houses. (It’s worth noting that some veterans of the Civil Rights movement, entered a draft of those very first draft card burners in 1964 were board office in Baltimore and poured blood on Catholic Workers.) These gatherings were meant for drawers filled with files of the local registrants. Their both reflection and recruiting: Do you have the aim was to protest both the Vietnam War as well as fortitude, family situation, and faith community the bureaucracy that fueled it with young draftees. support to face years in prison? These recruiters had They stayed at the scene and were arrested and jailed. seen other organizers do much the same during the It was, for them, an act of Christian witness, meant to Civil Rights movement just a few years before. demonstrate vividly that those seemingly benign files At this point, what was becoming known as were the instruments – and the quiet office that the “Catholic Left” had put its own stamp on the housed them – the agency of blood and death for “ultra-resistance” to come, and it was strikingly Americans and Vietnamese alike. unique. Prayerful attendance at the destruction of For the Selective Service System, this assault “property that had no right to exist” and standing by was more than a disruptive nuisance. To the surprise to be publicly, peacefully arrested, while wearing of the Baltimore Four, as they were soon called, clerical garb, was thought-provoking: What was Selective Service – stupidly – had never made copies “witnessing” about? What were they praying for? of registrants’ files. In 1967, there were no Why would Catholics do that, since the Church computerized offices as we now know them today, no generally supported the war? Suddenly, everyone was external hard drive backups and no “cloud.” There watching. was only carbon paper which was no help if it was not The seeds planted by the Catonsville Nine used. Several Catholic peace campaigners, who were sprouted, most notably in Milwaukee, on September following the Baltimore Four trial, quickly realized 24, 1968. Mische had been instrumental in that destroying draft files would effectively result in assembling a group of clergy and laity, including four erasing men from the system, making them safe from Minnesotans, one of them a secular Jew from St. Paul. conscription, even though that had not been the They burned thousands of draft files in a downtown particular aim of the Baltimore blood pourers. street. All of them – the Milwaukee Fourteen – were Those peace campaigners turned Baltimore arrested at the scene, ultimately convicted, and trial observers, and a Minnesotan in particular, imprisoned. decided to “do more of those” actions against local After Milwaukee, raiding took off; the draft boards. Draft board offices weren’t well missionary travel of George Mische and others had protected. Young men were, after all, supposed to been hugely successful. By the end of 1971, hundreds come into them. And the files were right there. of draft boards had been attacked. Magnetic tapes had The “observers” went to Catonsville, been destroyed at the Michigan headquarters of Dow Maryland, on May 17, 1968. There were nine of them, Chemical (principal maker of napalm), and Dow seven men and two women. They entered the recruiters were blocked at universities. The FBI office Catonsville draft board, where they hauled hundreds at Media, Pennsylvania had been successfully of files to the parking lot outside. They, then, burned burglarized, and Daniel Ellsberg had carried out the them with homemade napalm and stood in prayer slow-motion theft of what became known as the holding hands while awaiting arrest. All were Pentagon Papers. The character of the raids also Catholic clergy or other lay persons, and included the changed, from acts of witness and faith to outright 6 sabotage, with often the secular and political idea of: family. His father, Tom, had been ready to refuse “do it; get away; and then do it again.” The goal was induction during WWII but failed his physical. Barry to impair the operations of the targets, to stimulate and his family were not peace activists, and they further resistance, and to show that “we’re not didn’t protest the war. But they responded – uniquely helpless.” The war had come home. – when the war came to them. Tom Bondhus was Draft board raids continued until active opposed to wars on principle, believing that they were conscription ended in 1973, but they were infrequent fought on behalf of business interests. He wrote that after 1971 because of improved security measures. he would “declare war” on the United States The last major raid took place in Camden, New government if it came to take his sons. Jersey, on August 22, 1971. It was unique in that all Barry’s completely original act was indeed those charged – the Camden Twenty-Eight – were the first known destruction of Selective Service files acquitted by their federal jury. The tide was turning. ever in the United States, a fact in which some That was nearly the end, as the war itself was Minnesotans take pride. to end in 1973, but the attacks on Selective Service offices have a beginning which is of particular local ~Peter Simmons wrote this essay in interest. Barry Bondhus, a nineteen-year-old from connection with a 2018 Minnesota Big Lake, Minnesota, had received an induction order Historical, Cultural and Heritage Grant, from his Sherburne County draft board. On February sponsored by the Minnesota Independent 24, 1966, Barry went into that board’s offices in Elk Scholars Forum. During 2018 and 2019 River, Minnesota. His act that day would be personal, he conducted interviews with eight spontaneous, earthy, and oddly engaging. Barry was equipped with two large buckets, which contained his Minnesotans involved in the resistance and his ten (!) brothers collected excrement, over a to the United States’ war against week’s worth. This was the “something else” of this Vietnam in which he took part. Simmons article’s title. After brief indecision, he opened has a B.A. in American History and a several file cabinet drawers and emptied the pails into B.S. in Agricultural Business them. Administration. He has now retired from Barry, who was imprisoned at the Sandstone, Health Partners and Hennepin County Minnesota federal prison for fourteen months and Medical Center. died in 2018, was part of a Christian fundamentalist

First of Its Kind Space Flight

Two astronauts will have the privilege and enjoyment of looking at planet Earth from another Time travel used to be thought perspective. Space X’s historic flight will usher in a of as just science fiction, but new kind of space travel, conducted for the first time Einstein’s general theory of by a private company, taking astronauts Bob relativity allows for the Behnken, an Air Force colonel, and Doug Hurley, a possibility that we could warp retired Marine, to the International Space Station. It space-time so much that you launched, after a brief postponement due to weather could go off in a rocket and return conditions, on Saturday, May 30, 2020, from the before you set out same launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as did NASA’s Apollo shuttle missions which closed in ~Stephen Hawking 2011. Since 2012 the private company launched cargo capsules to the space station. 7

Book Review: by Curt Hillstrom Conservation on the Northern Plains: New Perspectives Edited by Anthony J. Amato The Center for Western Studies, Augustana University, Sioux Falls SD, 2017, 215 pages

his book contains eleven essays and a straightforward, chronological approach would have foreword by outdoor writer Dennis Anderson. made the message clearer for readers not familiar with T It covers conservation trends on the northern the subject. While Lindeman made critically plains from northern Illinois to eastern Wyoming and important contributions to the science of ecology – he north into the prairie provinces of Canada, from its was a pioneer in analyzing ecosystems using energy first settlement to what is happening today. The flow rather than who eats what – all this could be a bit authors are academics, farmers, ranchers, historians, off-putting for some readers, perhaps discouraging sociologists, and writers who generally take a broad them from continuing. view of the topic. And while alternate viewpoints are In between these are essays that cover various discussed (in neutral language), there are no specific aspects of the northern plains. Some of my favorites political power groups – environmental, private were Peter Carrels' piece on three farmers who were property advocates, socialists, or libertarians – economically “forced” to adopt more progressive represented. agricultural practices; Linda Hasselstrom's vigorous In his Introduction, editor Anthony Amato argument for livestock raising as the best use for the discusses the term “conservation” in the book's title. western prairie; Lisa Payne Ossian's historical look at To many it seems a bit quaint, an “old-fashioned” the interplay between government programs and Iowa word appropriate to the first half of the twentieth farming; and Anthony Amato's careful analysis of century. But words are important to the authors. what is and has been going on with the viewpoints Other words – sustainability, resilience, re-wilding, and behavior of the powers-that-be on the northern bioregionalism, environmentalism, preservation – plains. I also enjoyed Andrea Glessner's essay on wild could have been used. But these have definitions and horses. Wild horses? That has to be peripheral. But connotations that are various and conflicting and are she shows how stories and images can change human often used as political cudgels. In the end, the word attitudes and lead to important changes in policy. “conservation” was, appropriately, considered the Also, Miles Lewis expands Ossians' inquiry with a best choice to represent the issues, people, and look at farmer-ranchers and government policy in backgrounds being discussed. Understanding this Montana. Stephen Eliason reports on some studies of gets you a long way into understanding what this hunters and outfitters to understand why the former collection of essays is about. are declining and the attitudes toward wolves of the One important reason “conservation” was latter (no surprise: most of them hate wolves, favored is because of its historical ties, since this government, liberals, and outsiders). And Barry book's approach is largely historical. The essays are Stiefel outlines the development of parks and bookended with two well-written pieces: a scientific preserves on the plains in the U.S. and Canada. history of the plains by William Hoffman and a Clearly, as the book shows, change is a social/political history by Joseph Amato. The former constant. The universe continues to expand. is the most technical and footnote-laden essay. It Continents move. And what happens on the northern focuses on Minnesotan (and northern plains-raised) plains – from being covered by glaciers to being Raymond Lindeman for its presentation. Perhaps a covered by farmland – is changing. On the human scale, the primary driver of these changes – not

8 counting natural forces but resulting from them – is diminishing arguments for and against particular use. Prehistoric fauna once grazed these lands, policies concerning issues on the northern prairie. followed by the animals that hunted them, including These issues are extremely important and humans. Eventually European settlers discovered the involve the source of a fertile soil of the northern plains and have come to significant part of our dominate them with their farms, ranches and cities. nation's food. How should we With the arrival of homo sapiens, ambitions, use the land? Farmers and viewpoints, attitudes, concepts, and values became ranchers want land dedicated overwhelmingly important. Settlers, like most people, to agriculture. Hunters want operated on the assumption that the way things are access to land that is today is the way they will be tomorrow. Once humans attractive to game. set things up the way they want them to be, a way that Environmentalists want more makes them happy (and makes them money), the areas set aside for nature. status quo becomes very resistant to change. But Industrialists want to exploit things change anyway. On the plains, years of ample fossil fuel and mineral rainfall can be followed by years of drought. Boom deposits. Cities want space for new businesses and and bust cycles are common. Furthermore, what housing developments. works for one group of people does not always work We are beginning to understand that the soil well for other groups, who have other values, other does not bounce back quickly from being plowed-up objectives, other agendas. prairie and then abandoned. Continuous corn The result of these changes and these clashes production drains the soil of much of its fertility, of values on how to use the land has resulted in leading to increased use of synthetic fertilizers which, government intervention, which then creates winners along with modern herbicides and pesticides, pollute and losers. And the losers blame everyone else, aquifers and rivers and our drinking water. This is especially government, for not getting their way. This exacerbated by our ethanol program which actually is illustrated in Lewis' article on agricultural contributes to global warming rather than reducing it extension services in Montana. When things are and uses the land for a non-food crop. Ditches that going well, farmers and ranchers want nothing to do were built early in the twentieth century to drain low- with government. But when they aren't, they want the lying land, marshes, and shallow lakes have led to government to step in, and the political strength of the major erosion losses and further pollution of our different factions, largely local, controls the outcome. waterways. Greater use of irrigation has led to our As Ossian points out in Iowa, the consequences can aquifers being drained faster than they are being be unpredictable and undesirable. Even if they are refilled. Ownership of rights to the limited water generally beneficial, once government programs have supplies on the plains has become a complicated and been set up, changing policy is very difficult, despite litigious mess. changing social attitudes and needs. Ownership, not just of water rights, but also Hoffman's discussion of the science relevant of land is critical. While the U.S. was setting aside the to the plains is an important part of the book's first areas in the West for national parks, monuments, examination. As natural scientists in the nineteenth and forests, it was giving away the plains to private century began to move from just collecting and interests because there were no “natural wonders” cataloging species to trying to understand how there. Further privatization of land and resources have everything fits together, we see the beginning of the managed to lock out other users. Some things development of what today we call ecology. With the (Hasselstrom notes cattle production in the meat exploding advancement of technology in the past cycle) are controlled by a limited number of decades, scientists can now “see” what is happening corporations with deep pockets and political in more detail and in more places than ever before. influence. While some governmental protection has And this new information is spawning new taken place, particularly for grasslands (most of them understandings, new theories, and bolstering or originally meant to save the buffalo), prairie potholes for duck production (due to pressure from hunting 9 organizations), and various other spaces for whoever comes out on top will rarely be the best long- recreational or unique characteristics (largely by term solution. We should never forget that this, our states), the basic mosaic of the plains and its issues country, is a democracy and the government is all of has remained the same. us. This book does a fine job of fleshing out these Clearly, we need some sort of a model that issues – and especially the history that led to them – falls between the industrial factory farm and the without placing blame nor advocating solutions. It romanticized family farm, as well as efforts to share does, however, have a clear bias: Things are the plains with non-human creatures. But even more changing, and in order to control the changes, we importantly, we need to be able to listen to each other need to consider all stakeholders and to be informed with understanding and then to think critically. by science. Conservation on the plains started with a concern for soil erosion during the dust bowl, but as ~ Curt Hillstrom, a retired systems analyst, we realized the effects of our agricultural practices, graduate of the University of Wisconsin, studied we found that we needed to monitor water use, philosophy and mathematics. He attended graduate fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, invasive species, school in systems science at the University of and many other parameters. Climate change Louisville, leaving after becoming disenchanted with complicates the problems. As Anthony Amato points the traditional educational system. Past president of out, “...the land and water of the endless prairie are MISF, he has been a member since 1984. finite, and a narrow focus on efficiency often leads to a catabolic path.” Slowly, one begins to realize that we are on the cusp of an agricultural revolution, from Remembering subsistence farming to commodity farms to industrial Kay L. Schwie agriculture to what? Conservation movements often begin when A long-time member of MISF, some group realizes that what they value is being she passed away on March 31, threatened by the practices of others. When they 2020. begin to push for change, the established powers will Kay was a warm, almost inevitably push back. But conservation caring, loving woman, who movements can also begin when a few users begin to found fulfillment in living a life realize that what they are doing is not working, as the of service to others. Kay farmers in Carrel's piece do when their incomes take received her B.S. in Health Care a dive. In either case, public attitudes are slow to Administration from Metropolitan State University. change, and entrenched interests can thwart progress At retirement, Kay was the vice president of toward solutions for years. Midwest Stone Management, a medical company Nonetheless, government is the critical specializing in urology. She enjoyed literature, linchpin in this fight. One of the most important music, and the arts, but it was in nature that she functions of government is to mediate between power found true solace and outlets for her passion for the groups to find a solution that, ideally, makes all sides preservation of wildlife and natural resources. This happy. Unfortunately, finding this ideal does not led to her becoming the first president of the Friends happen often. And even more unfortunately, the of the Minnesota Valley, an organization working to losers in this fight, seemingly unable to understand protect and enhance the natural resources of the the role of government, simply blame “the feds.” Minnesota River Watershed, including the Lamentably, sometimes government leaders Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. participate in this blame themselves. (Remember Kays is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ronald Reagan's quip, “The nine most terrifying Dale, her sister, Leone, brother-in law, Roger and words in the English language are: 'I'm from the other relatives and friends. A private interment was government and I'm here to help.”) This is held at Lakewood Cemetery. A memorial service government's job. Allowing the protagonists to just will follow at a later date. fight it out can be extremely costly, and the actions of ~ Dale Schwie 10

Programs & Meetings

Editor’s Perspective:

In Light of these Times

As the coronavirus pandemic and MISF members are, for the most part, gregarious has upended our lives for conversationalists who miss the excitement of their now, it is inevitable that the in-person gatherings. days to come will bring Depending on the state of the pandemic and change to our existence. the availability of the Washburn Public Library, our Hopefully, these changes regular meeting place, we may have to schedule will be beneficial at home, in the workplace, health Zoom membership meetings for fall. Because of the care system, the environment, and the economy. upheaval, the board decided to move the Annual MISF is trying to deal with the situation as it exists membership meeting part of our normal June now as constructively as we can. After all, Stephen meetings to September to allow more time to get Hawking maintained “Intelligence is the ability to ready and inform the membership in a timely manner adapt to change.” of impending changes and candidates for election, in As the stay-at-home order has isolated the accordance with our bylaws. Other prospective population, and as libraries are still closed after the membership meetings will be scheduled as presenters stay-safe order, who knows for how long, our are comfortable with doing their programs over membership meetings for March and April were Zoom, if necessary. cancelled and placed on the agenda for rescheduling. For the latest on future programs and events, In the meantime, we considered holding follow our website and check your e-mails. meetings over Zoom. We are fortunate enough to I hope everybody stays safe. I will leave you count Bill McTeer, our electronics wizard, in our with the thoughts I recently penned on the Kudo ranks. He set up Zoom conferencing for our board Board to the 2020 graduates of the University of meetings and with great success, so that we only had Wisconsin-River falls: to cancel the March board meeting. This led us to arrange our first Zoom Yesterday lies behind you; membership meeting which we had to move from today offers a spring board; May 23 to May 30 at 10:00 a.m. Since so much was tomorrow forges a new existence, in transition, we rescheduled in order to allow where change paves the road sufficient time to notify members of the change to a and success builds on dreams and virtual meeting. The meeting then featured our chance. regularly scheduled poetry program. May your road take you far. Other changes in the offing are rescheduling the missed membership meetings of March and April, ~Evelyn D. Klein, possibly over the summer, since it looks like we will TMS Editor all be stuck in place more or less for the time being,

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January 24, 2020 Minnesota Swedes Raising Cane Presented by Marilyn McGriff

mill and hired Cubans to help. Often, they would burn Marilyn McGriff has been making presentations on the previous year’s crops and plant new. Once they the topic of Minnesota Swedes Raising Cane in Cuba had expanded into a neighboring community, their th in the early 20 century, in the United States as well business declined. as in Sweden. As people were attracted to the area, a hotel She pointed out that her presentation was was built. Young, single men with U.S. citizenship from the point of view of the Swedes who had arrived, looking for a new life, though some became previously settled in America and then moved to disillusioned and did not stay. Many families came to Cuba. Apparently, Swedish journalists tried to Cuba, and children were born and died there. By present the same topic from the point of view of 1908, 200 Swedes lived in Cuba. Life, however, did Swedish citizens undertaking this venture. However, not turn out to be as successful in the Cuban colony because these folks had first settled in the U.S., before as people had envisioned, and many died from heading for Cuba, she felt she had a more direct disease, and others returned to the U.S. connection to the motivation and direction of this Dr. Lind had persuaded families like J.P. and undertaking by the Swedes, many of whom or whose Marta Jonsson, who had previously come from offspring later returned to the U.S. Sweden to the U.S., to go to Cuba. They came with It began with the Spanish American War of nine children and had one more while in the U.S. 1898 when the opportunity to settle in Cuba and raise Unfortunately, Mrs. Johnson died en route to Cuba. cane presented itself. Cuba was a U.S. protectorate, Eventually, he opened Jonsson’s Crane and Repair and they wanted Spain out of the picture. Dr. Alfred Shop which was primarily run by his sons. As his Lind, originally from Sweden, who had become a daughters married, one remained in the settlement, doctor in Minnesota, soon invested in large tracts of but others returned to Cambridge in the U.S., as did land in Cuba. He then sold parcels of land to fellow other families. Even Dr. Lind’s wife, who was not Swedes with the promotion that the land was cheap used to such subsistence living, decided to return to and that Cuba had a warm, healthful climate, where live in the U.S. crops would grow all year long. Thus, he persuaded One of the reasons for the lack of success for some farm families to resettle in Cuba in the hopes of this settlement were the mini revolutions that took improving their lives. He called it the Swedish place at the time, so that surveyors would not come Lutheran Colony, and in his brochures, he called the out. By 1917, a more widespread revolution occurred, area in which they settled Bayate. While Bayate no and the American Swedes were caught in the middle longer exists, a museum has been established in with some members of the colony becoming part of memory of its residents. the troops. Eventually, another financier took over The new arrivals in Cuba soon developed Lind’s settlement at a great loss for Lind. Lind died in roads and bridges as well as houses adapted to Cuba. 1924 and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in A certain curiosity developed between them and the Minneapolis. people already living there because of the Swedes’ Marilyn McGriff is a local historian, differing ways to decorate their houses. School was researcher, and author. She is currently assisting with established, and students spoke a mixture of Spanish publication of a pictorial history of St. Paul’s Swede’s and English. Hollow. The meeting was attended by about 26 Cuba’s newcomers began with subsistence people. farming, new methods, and crops. Railroads made it possible for cane to be developed, and sugar became their main crop. Eventually, they operated a sugar

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February 22, 2020 Minnesota Women: First in the Nation to Vote in 1920 Presented by: Lois Glewwe

on the morning after the ratification was, presumably, Lois began her presentation by noting that Friday, Marguerite Newburgh in South Saint Paul, according August 27, 1920, is the centenary of women’s right to to the newspaper. vote in the United States. A South Saint Paul scholar, In the early 19th century, many immigrant she researched women’s suffrage in Minnesota which women were brought to work in South Saint Paul led her to South Saint Paul. stockyards, where they were eager to become She noted, well before that date, women were independent working women. Consequently, South always allowed to vote in the state of Wyoming, but Saint Paul had a very active suffrage movement. in Minnesota women could only vote for the school These women often lived in boarding houses, many board. Interestingly, Native American women always of them built by Swift & Co. Although they faced a had the right to vote. difficult life, some managed to open stores and many Women’s concern with the right to vote enjoyed an independent life. initially caused problems. Lucretia Mott and Cowboys brought the cattle and liked to Elizabeth Stanton started the right to vote movement. drink. Many bars were established in South Saint Paul One major issue was property ownership. Women which did not believe in Prohibition and eventually could not own property or get a divorce. Women lost attracted corruption. their right to own property once they married. No During this time, various ethnic groups progress was made in this respect during the Civil formed their own clubs, establishing such venues as War. the Croatian Hall, Serbian Hall, Polish Hall, among Susan B. Anthony was a reformer who fought others. The women of these groups were powerful for women’s rights over their children and the right to and influential. Wives of bankers and stockyard th hold property. When the 14 Amendment was passed managers, though living in lovely homes, worked in 1868, she tested its application to women and with the suffragettes, contributing to the promptly wound up in jail. political/social movement. The fact that there was Various attempts were made to get women only one high school everyone attended contributed the right to vote. Adam Fridley attempted to get to this unified effort. women the vote in Minnesota, but the bill was vetoed The Glewwe family women, it is assumed, by then Governor Austin. In California, Senator took part in this historic first election in which women Aaron A. Sargent introduced a bill, but it, also, did participated. not pass. During World War I, women protested and Interestingly enough, the ERA was first picketed outside the White House. But many were introduced in 1923, approved by Congress in 1972 arrested and put in jail, where many were and is still awaiting final ratification by states. subsequently force fed when they went on a hunger Lois Glewwe is a graduate of the University strike, causing serious injury. Part of the argument of Minnesota, with a master’s degree from the against women’s right to vote was that people were University of Pennsylvania. She is author of afraid women would take a stand for prohibition. But published histories of South Saint Paul, West St. Paul, in 1918 Prohibition passed anyway. and Inver Grove Heights, among many others. See th In 1920 the 19 Amendment, at last, made it www.dakotasoulsisters.com illegal to bar citizens from voting based on sex. There were 36 attendees at the meeting. Subsequently, in Minnesota the first woman to vote

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May 30, 2020 Poetry Day With Evelyn Klein, Vicki Mickelson, and Joe Amato

while Pandora, with help of her brothers, n May 30, postponed from May 23 for O fills her box with our identity of numbers technical reasons, MISF held its annual poetry and words, names reading over Zoom, first time ever. We gathered and places, statements, and images, things approximately twelve members for this occasion. done and left undone. As we were having trouble getting both poets They will open the box at time aboard, despite previous practice session, we of Revelation. managed to get Joe, but unfortunately lost Vicki. *** While members were waiting for the Vicki Mickelson is a retired educator scheduled poets, moderator Evelyn Klein began who taught in the Minneapolis Public Schools for the program. She is an award winning poet, thirty-eight years. She published seven books of author of From Here Across the Bridge, Once poetry, including Island Attitudes, nominated for upon a Neighborhood, and Seasons of Desire, a Minnesota Book Award in 2016. Vicki’s poetry books of poetry, prose and art, the latter two is inspired by life’s feats books to be found in the Minnesota Historical and daily observations and Society’s permanent library collection. She resonates human frailties introduced the program with a quote from Robert and achievements. Her six Frost and continued with an impromptu reading grandchildren fuel her of her own work in progress, including themes of energy for writing. In Vicki’s absence, the nature, staying at home, and progress. Here is an moderator read to excerpt: members from Vicki Mickelson’s book, from Traveling through Cyberspace: dedicated to her daughter, Aanya, Blades to Ballet Shoes: We navigate cyberspace, our virtual domain, into tomorrows, Picking Apples tied to be back of Pegasus with cords of convenience and lure… You were seven and playful A renegade with a shy nature This Pegasus, like the steed of Skating with a neighbor at Apple Valley ancient gods, Arena Skimming your blades to nowhere born of an electronic goddess and When sassy Stephanie, a skating coach earthly father, Told you lessons would make you a star sweeps us across the universe Gliding in oblivion through our tomorrows. We feel secure Your friend in the web An accomplice in Rainbow Brite mittens that catches us on our way, drink Circling, stopping, chatting from the Dionysian well it offers us, Geometric pastel sweater as if one generation is all it takes A backdrop for your long blond hair to safeguard cyberspace, Insulating your fair skin from the chill

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You made up your mind The Minnesota Scholar You would be a figure skater Like Snow White in “Disney on Ice” A subscription to TMS is a benefit of membership in MISF. Executing jumps, spread eagles, footwork Subscriptions can be obtained for a $15 annual fee. Single In elaborate chiffon costumes issues are $7.50. Send subscriptions and address changes With matching skates to MISF at the return address below.

You had made up your mind The Minnesota Scholar welcomes submissions. We are The apple was ready especially interested in topical issues. We welcome Red and succulent essays, reviews, and memoirs. Generally, articles should And you took a big bite be no longer than 1500-1800 words. Please submit articles Thirty minutes to fame electronically. Use as little formatting as possible. All *** submissions will be acknowledged, although the editor Joe Amato, long-time member and reserves the right to decline to publish an article deemed unsuitable. No second party submissions. For guidelines retired history professor, has written more than and queries contact the editor. twenty-five books on history, two memoirs, two books on philosophy, and a The editor has the right to edit manuscripts. TMS assumes work on magic realism. His no responsibility for contributor errors. Opinions four books of poetry expressed by the contributors may not reflect the include: Buoyancies: A opinions of the editor or of MISF. Copyright reverts to the Ballast Master’s Log, My individual authors after publication. Three Sicilies: Stories, Deadline for the next issue is October 9, 2020. Poems and Histories, Diagnostics: The Poetics Editor: Evelyn D. Klein of Time. Joe explored the Editorial Board: Lucy Brusic, intricacies of aging as he Evelyn D. Klein. read from his latest book just out, Towers of Aging. Here is an example. Contributors to this issue: Jeseph A. Amato Moving On Curt Hillstrom Evelyn D. Klein Vicki Mickelson Those who walk with canes Dale Schwie Still remember the time Peter Simmons When they were captains of their days. Then they counted gifts and exchanges, Drawings: Evelyn D. Klein Got angry and stored up a grudge, And over years wisely learned Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum P.O. Box 80235 To melt down resentment and jealousy, Lake Street Station Fashion prayers and memory out of gratitude, Minneapolis, MN 55408-8235 And make thanks and kindness www.mnindependentscholars.org The enduring alloy of self. Copyright © 2020 by MISF, The Minnesota Scholar. All rights reserved.

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Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum P.O. Box 80235 Lake Street Station Minneapolis, MN 55408-8235

Upcoming Events

During the uncertainties of the Covid-19 outbreak, upcoming events are “speculative,” according to Steven Miller, president of MISF. With the success over Zoom at the May meeting, we will have another Zoom meeting in June and, perhaps, further into the future. There is the possibility we will add a meeting in July, also over Zoom, to catch up with a missed program. It depends, to a large degree, on the coordination of technology and the suitability of programs in our new and untried approach to meetings. It is not clear, at this time, what fall programs will be presented, depending on whether the Washburn Library in Minneapolis, our regular meeting place, will be open again to groups. Scheduled temporarily for fall is the November program. Monthly programs generally begin to gather at 9:30 a.m. with meetings starting at 10:00 a.m., taking place on the fourth Saturday of the month, except in November because of Thanksgiving. For the most up-to-date program listings, please go to the MISF website at www.mnindependentscholars.org as well as e-mail announcements sent by Lucy Brusic.

June 27, 2020 Mr. Coleman is the acquisitions librarian at Bold Vision – ERA 2020 the Minnesota Historical Society. He writes and Presenter: Betty Folliard, Founder – ERA lectures on topics related to Minnesota culture and Minnesota history. He served as president of the Library of This program was postponed from March 28, 2020 Congress’s Minnesota Center for the Book, and will be presented over Zoom at 10:00 a.m. president over Minnesota Book Awards, is on the Complete program details and presenter bio can be boards of Coffee House Press and the Minnesota found under Upcoming Events in the December Center for Book Arts. He received the Kay Sexton 2019 issue of the TMS. Award in 2009. He serves as Executive Leadership Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for November 21, 2020 Integrative Leadership. Sinclair Lewis: The Centenary of Main Street Presenter: Patrick Coleman He is also doing an exhibit at the Minnesota History Center. There will be an opportunity to do a tour related to this program. 16

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