DOCSLIB.ORG

The Traditon of Protest and the Roots of the Farmer-Labor Party

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Traditon of Protest and the Roots of the Farmer-Labor Party MR. NAFTALIN, who is Minnesota's .state commissioner of administration, is on leave from, the University of Minnesota department of political science. The present article is drawn from his unpublished "History of the Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota," which he prepared as u doctoral dissertation in 194-8. The Tradition of Protest and the ROOTS of the FARMER-LABOR PARTY ARTHUR NAFTALIN THE DOUBLE-HYPHENATED charac­ will insist that the Minnesota party is dis­ ter of Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer- tinctive in more than its name. The latter Labor party name makes it unique among believe that its program and spirit reflect contemporary state pohtical organizations. today, in a somewhat attenuated form, the It alone, among the ninety-six major state militance and progressivism that have char­ political bodies, proclaims itself as some­ acterized the successive movements of thing different from simple Republican or agrarian and industrial protest — a protest Democratic. The presumed difference, as that has, in various forms, existed during signified in the letters DFL, reflects the much of the period of almost a century legacy of the once-predominant Farmer- since Minnesota became a state in 1858. Labor party — a legacy that was formafly In tracing the Farmer-Labor roots of embraced in 1944, when the then separate the Minnesota party, one finds them buried Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties were deep in the recurring pattern of protest, merged into the Democratic-Farmer-Labor each cycle of which seems to have had a party .^ specific expression in the state's politics. Whfle some may claim that the passage It is possible to trace the genesis of the of twelve years since the fusion has made Farmer-Labor movement in a virtually the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party indis­ unbroken line back to the earliest days of tinguishable from other state Democratic political activity in the state, from the parties as a political organization, others national Grange of the late 1860s, through the Anti-Monopoly and Greenback parties 'Among the sources used in preparing the present of the 1870s, the Farmers' Alliance of the study are such general works on the state as volume 1880s, the People's party and Populism of 3 ot William W, Folwell's History of Minnesota (St. Paul, 1926), and volume 4 of Minnesota in Three the 1890s, and, finally, in the present cen­ Centuries (Mankato, 1908), contributed to the series tury, to the Nonpartisan League, out of by Frank R. Holmes; and numerous special studies which emerged the Farmer-Labor party. and monographs. The latter include John B, Andrews. "Nationalisation (1860-1877)," in John R. Commons, Minnesota's tradition of protest was nur­ History of Labour in the United States, vol, 2 (New tured first by the economic oppression and York, 1918); Solon J, Buck, The Granger Movement (Cambridge, 1913); Nelson A, Dunning, Farmers' Al- social privation that fell upon the farmers 53 June 1956 of the Midwest. The settlers of the 1860s the other, when he bought his tools or came to Minnesota's frontier land with groceries, "he was at the mercy of a non­ buoyant spirits. They were sustained at competitive market, protected by patent- first by the dream of fashioning a glamor­ rights and tariffs, to which were added ous new hfe out of the wilderness country, extortionate transportation and middleman but the harsh realities of frontier life charges." ^ changed their mood. Vernon L. Parrington In short, the farmer in Minnesota, as describes the change in outlook: "Disap­ elsewhere in the new West, was the victim pointment and disfllusion settled upon a of an expanding and violent economy on land that before had smfled in the spring which powerful industrial interests to the sunshine. The harvest was not fulfilling the East could and were exerting a predomi­ expectations of the seedtime." The ferment nant influence. Given the tradition of Jack­ bubbled up from a deep social and eco­ sonian democracy that the farmer trans­ nomic frustration. "It is no holiday job," ported with him, it was inevitable that he Parrington continues, "to subdue an un­ would seek to redress his grievances by tamed land and wrest abundance and com­ organizing politically. It was inevitable fort from a virgin soil. Only for the young that he would come to identify his lot with who can project their hopes into the future that of his neighbors and that a definite is it endurable; for the middle-aged and the class consciousness would emerge. old it is a heart-breaking task. The history As the turn of the century approached, of the western frontier is a long drab story the rise of the organized labor movement of hardship and privation and thwarted in Minnesota added a new dimension to hopes, of men and women broken by the the protest. The industrial revolution and endless tofl, the windows of their dreams the nationalization of industry had fas- shuttered by poverty and the doors to an abundant life closed and barred by narrow liance History and Agricultural Digest (Washington, opportunity." - 1891); Nathan Fine, Labor and Parmer Parties in the United States, 1828 to 19S9 (New York, 1928); The social unrest coflided with economic Frederick E, Haynes, Third Party Movements since depression and the flames of political pro­ the CivU War (Iowa City, 1916); John D, Hicks, test were ignited. The market value of The Populist Revolt (Minneapolis, 1931); and George M, Stephenson, John Lind of Minnesota (Minneapo­ produce dropped and the debtor farmers lis, 1935). Among briefer studies are Hicks' article on of the West were further strained. They "The Political Career of Ignatius Donnelly," in the mortgaged their farms and watched their Mississippi Valley Historical Review, 8:80-132 (June- September, 1921); articles by George B. Engberg on earnings slip away in interest on their "The Rise of Organized Labor in Minnesota" and mortgages. In the growing gloom of eco­ "The Knights of Labor in Minnesota," in Minnesota nomic depression, the farmer became pre­ History, 21:372-394 (December, 1940), and 22:367- 380 (December, 1941); and an item on the first Farm occupied with the immediate symptoms and Labor party in Appletons' Annual Cyclopedia of the economic order that he was finding and Register of Important Events, 1888, p, 559. Un­ increasingly oppressive. He was enraged, published studies include Engberg's "Rise of Organ­ ized Labor in Minnesota, 1850 to 1890," and Maude according to Parrington, at "a complex A. Gernes' "The Influence of the Labor Element in middleman organization that gouged him the Populist Party," both owned by the Minnesota Historical Society. The society's manuscript resources at every turn." The farmers fulminated include vast collections of the papers of Ignatius against the elevator companies which fixed Donnelly and Knute Nelson and the records of the "monopoly tolls, swindled the farmer in North Star Grange, The society also has a file of the Anti-Monopolist, the weekly newspaper founded by their grain-gradings, and combined to DonneUy in 1874, and Donnelly's pamphlet collection, force down the market price at harvest with many pertinent items like Facts for the Granges time and raise it after the crop came under (1873). their control." On the one hand his profits ''Quoted from Parrington's Main Currents in were controlled by the monopolies, and on American Thought, 3:260 (New York, 1930). ''Parrington, American Thought, 3:261, 262. 54 MINNESOTA History tened the factory system on the American accepted his class role in society, that he, economy and the worker became an urban too, should seek to redress his grievances counterpart of the oppressed farmer. The by political action. And it was inevitable, factory system had developed at a time too, that the farmer and the laborer, both when free land stfll existed in ample quan­ in quest of fundamental changes in the tities. Free land had speeded the develop­ social and economic order, should periodi­ ment of the factory system by constantly cally attempt a fusion of their forces. draining off surplus labor, thus forcing the introduction of time-saving machinery. IN THE DECADE following its admission High wages for skflled workmen and an to the Union in 1858, Minnesota feverishly ever-growing market for manufactured developed its virgin resources, quite ob­ goods accelerated the introduction of ma­ livious to political and economic trends. In chinery and increased specialization of the older parts of the nation, the first por­ labor, and thus came the factory system tents of protest were becoming visible. The and inevitably the rise of a group-conscious workingmen of the East sought to develop laboring class. But, while the westward a national political movement in the form movement was speeding the rise of the of the National Labor Union, but the con­ factory system, it temporarily, at least, ventions of this organization in 1864, 1866, slowed the rise of organized labor, because and 1867 involved no direct participation as the frontier moved westward it drained from the state, although they were con­ off from the older sections the discontented cerned with matters of land reform, cur­ farmer and laborer, who, instead of fight­ rency, taxation, and antimonopoly which ing for a better life at home, moved west were shortly to occupy the minds of Min­ to begin life anew. nesota farmers. By 1900 the end of free land and the It was in 1868 that the first definite ex­ closing down of the frontier had brought pression of the protest occurred in Minne­ to the laboring man a realization of his sota with the formation at St. Paul of the permanent dependence upon the industrial North Star Grange, the first local of the system and an awareness of the need to Patrons of Husbandry.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Edmund Rice (1638) Association Newsletter
    EDMUND RICE (1638) ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Published Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring by the Edmund Rice (1638) Association, 24 Buckman Dr., Chelmsford MA 01824-2156 The Edmund Rice (1638) Association was established in 1851 and incorporated in 1934 to encourage antiquarian, genealogical, and historical research concerning the ancestors and descendants of Edmund Rice who settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1638, and to promote fellowship among its members and friends. The Association is an educational, non-profit organization recognized under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Edmund Rice (1638) Assoc., Inc. NONPROFIT ORG 24 Buckman Drive US POSTAGE Chelmsford, MA 01824-2156 PAID Return Postage Guarantee CHELMSFORD MA PERMIT NO. 1055 1 Edmund Rice (1638) Association Newsletter _____________________________________________________________________________________ 24 Buckman Dr., Chelmsford MA 01824 Vol. 79, No. 1 Winter 2005 _____________________________________________________________________________________ President's Column Inside This Issue Our Rice Reunion 2004 seemed to have attracted cousins who normally Editor’s Column p. 2 don’t attend, so the survey instigated by George Rice has proven particularly useful. One theme reunion attendees asked for appears to be a desire to hear more history of Database Update p. 5 our early Puritan forefathers. US Census Online p. 6 To that end, we have found an expert in the history of the Congregationalists Family Thicket V p. 7 who succeeded the Puritans. He is Rev. Mark Harris who, among other things, teaches at the Andover Newton Theological Seminary. He will speak at our Annual Meeting Genetics Report p. 8 2005 on the evolution of Puritans from the 1700s, where Francis Bremer left off, to the Rices In Kahnawake p.
    [Show full text]
  • The Law, Courts and Lawyers in the Frontier Days of Minnesota: an Informal Legal History of the Years 1835 to 1865 Robert J
    William Mitchell Law Review Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 1 1976 The Law, Courts and Lawyers in the Frontier Days of Minnesota: An Informal Legal History of the Years 1835 to 1865 Robert J. Sheran Timothy J. Baland Follow this and additional works at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr Recommended Citation Sheran, Robert J. and Baland, Timothy J. (1976) "The Law, Courts and Lawyers in the Frontier Days of Minnesota: An Informal Legal History of the Years 1835 to 1865," William Mitchell Law Review: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 1. Available at: http://open.mitchellhamline.edu/wmlr/vol2/iss1/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews and Journals at Mitchell Hamline Open Access. It has been accepted for inclusion in William Mitchell Law Review by an authorized administrator of Mitchell Hamline Open Access. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © Mitchell Hamline School of Law Sheran and Baland: The Law, Courts and Lawyers in the Frontier Days of Minnesota: An THE LAW, COURTS, AND LAWYERS IN THE FRONTIER DAYS OF MINNESOTA: AN INFORMAL LEGAL HISTORY OF THE YEARS 1835 TO 1865* By ROBERT J. SHERANt Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court and Timothy J. Balandtt In this article Chief Justice Sheran and Mr. Baland trace the early history of the legal system in Minnesota. The formative years of the Minnesota court system and the individuals and events which shaped them are discussed with an eye towards the lasting contributionswhich they made to the system of today in this, our Bicentennialyear.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to a Microfilm Edition of the Alexander Ramsey Papers and Records
    -~-----', Guide to a Microfilm Edition of The Alexander Ramsey Papers and Records Helen McCann White Minnesota Historical Society . St. Paul . 1974 -------~-~~~~----~! Copyright. 1974 @by the Minnesota Historical Society Library of Congress Catalog Number:74-10395 International Standard Book Number:O-87351-091-7 This pamphlet and the microfilm edition of the Alexander Ramsey Papers and Records which it describes were made possible by a grant of funds from the National Historical Publications Commission to the Minnesota Historical Society. Introduction THE PAPERS AND OFFICIAL RECORDS of Alexander Ramsey are the sixth collection to be microfilmed by the Minnesota Historical Society under a grant of funds from the National Historical Publications Commission. They document the career of a man who may be charac­ terized as a 19th-century urban pioneer par excellence. Ramsey arrived in May, 1849, at the raw settlement of St. Paul in Minne­ sota Territory to assume his duties as its first territorial gov­ ernor. The 33-year-old Pennsylvanian took to the frontier his family, his education, and his political experience and built a good life there. Before he went to Minnesota, Ramsey had attended college for a time, taught school, studied law, and practiced his profession off and on for ten years. His political skills had been acquired in the Pennsylvania legislature and in the U.S. Congress, where he developed a subtlety and sophistication in politics that he used to lead the development of his adopted city and state. Ram­ sey1s papers and records reveal him as a down-to-earth, no-non­ sense man, serving with dignity throughout his career in the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Sidney M. Owen, an Editor in Politics / Carl H. Chrislock
    MR. CHRISLOCK, who is associate professor of history in Augsburg College at Minneapolis, was the winner of the Minnesota Historical Society's Solon J. Buck Award in 19-57, given for the best article published in this magazine. Like that below, his prize-winning contribution dealt with the politics of protest in Minnesota during the 1890s. SIDNEY M. OWEN An Editor in Politics CARL H. CHRISLOCK IN 1910, when Sidney Mark Owen died, he have not completely ignored him, but most seemed to have a secure place in Minnesota of their attention has been reserved for history. Ex-governor John Lind, who was Ignatius Donnelly. In the long run, Don­ not by habit an effusive man, said he re­ nelly's pre-eminence can no doubt be de­ garded "Mr. Owen ... as the one man fended. But this much can be claimed for who has contributed more to the uplifting Owen: within Minnesota he successfully of the people's ideals than any other man" challenged Donnelly's leadership of Alliance- he had encountered in public life. The first Populism. In the 1890s many who adhered of the famous Wallaces of Iowa attributed to this movement regarded Owen rather the strength of progressivism in Minnesota than his more famous rival as their authen­ "largely" to the "seed sown by Mr. Owen" tic leader. in the 1890s. The Minneota Mascot praised Thus justice, if there is such a thing in Owen's capabflities as editor of Farm, Stock the historiographic sense, would seem to re­ and Home in exalted terms, describing that quire a re-evaluation of Owen's significance.
    [Show full text]
  • Minnesota's Role in the Democratic Rift of 1860
    MR, JORSTAD Is a member of the history faculty in St. Olaf College at Northfield. This is his second article on pioneer Minnesota politics to appear in this magazine. Minnesota's ROLE in the DEMOCRATIC RIFT of iseo ERLING JORSTAD AFTER completely dominating the political ter of 1859-60 faced the future with grave scene in Minnesota during the territorial era doubts. In that presidential election year the from 1849 to 1858, the Democratic party was party would send an official delegation to a soundly defeated in the gubernatorial and national convention for the first time. The legislative races of 1859. Not untfl 1899, four state's party men were not only apprehensive decades later, did it recapture the governor­ after letting the "Democratic banner trail in ship or a substantial majority in the legisla­ the dust" by losing the governorship, but ture. There is no simple explanation for this they were well aware that the national Dem­ drastic turn of events. The roots of the Demo­ ocratic organization likewise faced critical crats' misfortunes in Minnesota, however, problems. One Minnesota Democrat who ex­ can be traced to the critical years 1859 and pressed his conviction that only Douglas 1860 — years when the whole nation was could "be successful on Election day," facing grave political problems. added, "But I must confess, that it looks The Democratic dynasty of Minnesota re­ gloomy, from the bad feeling exhibited by ceived its first setback in 1859, when the the Southern members, in the present Con­ Republican candidate, Alexander Ramsey, gress."- easily defeated the Democratic nominee, Among the constitutional problems over George L.
    [Show full text]
  • Minnesota's Scandinavian Political Legacy
    Minnesota’s Scandinavian Political Legacy by Klas Bergman In 1892, Minnesota politics changed, for good. In that break-through year, Norwegian-born, Knute Nelson was elected governor of Minnesota, launching a new era with immigrants and their descendants from the five Nordic countries in leadership positions, forming a new political elite that has reshaped the state’s politics. The political story of the Scandinavian immigrants in Minnesota is unique. No other state can show a similar political involvement, although there are examples of Scandinavian political leaders in other states. “Outside of the Nordic countries, no other part of the world has been so influenced by Scandinavian activities and ambitions as Minnesota,” Uppsala University professor Sten Carlsson once wrote.1 Their imprint has made Minnesota the most Scandinavian of all the states, including in politics. These Scandinavian, or Nordic, immigrants from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden created a remarkable Scandinavian political legacy that has shaped Minnesota politics in a profound way and made it different from other states, while also influencing American politics beyond Minnesota. Since 1892, the Scandinavians and their descendants have been at the forefront of every phase of Minnesota’s political history. All but five of Minnesota’s twenty-six governors during the following 100 years have been Scandinavians—mostly Swedes and Norwegians, but also a Finland-Swede and a Dane, representing all political parties, although most of them— twelve—were Republicans. Two of them were talked about as possible candidates for the highest office in the land, but died young—John Governor Knute Nelson. Vesterheim Archives.
    [Show full text]
  • Nininger, a Boom Town of the Fifties
    NININGER, A BOOM TOWN OF THE FIFTIES^ The swift rise of the boom town of Nininger In Dakota County, Its brief and hopeful period of prosperity, and its passing Into oblivion constitute a chapter in the develop­ ment of Minnesota Interesting to students of both national and local history. Laboring during the fifties, the found­ ers of Nininger reflected the enthusiasm of those who en­ joyed the abounding prosperity of the earlier part of that decade but who suffered losses in the crash of values fol­ lowing the panic of 1857. As a type, Nininger resembles the host of mushroom cities that sprang up along the fron­ tier from Lake Superior to the border of the Indian terri­ tory. The methods of settlement, the gambling in town lots, the speculation in railroad stocks, the launching of great enterprises with little or no capital, the exaggeration of opportunities, the capitalization of the far distant fu­ ture, and the basic Idealism of the people at Nininger were characteristic of the frontier of the fifties, though in places geographically wide apart the development varied some­ what. For the student of Minnesota history the story of the rise and fall of Nininger is of Interest not only because It is typical of that of many boom towns of territorial days, but also because Ignatius Donnelly first became identified with Minnesota as a founder of Nininger. Of the found­ ers, he alone remained faithful to It. The Donnelly house stood after all other houses had been torn down or re­ moved. The Donnelly family alone remained In the town.
    [Show full text]
  • Winona Daily News Winona City Newspapers
    Winona State University OpenRiver Winona Daily News Winona City Newspapers 11-10-1969 Winona Daily News Winona Daily News Follow this and additional works at: https://openriver.winona.edu/winonadailynews Recommended Citation Winona Daily News, "Winona Daily News" (1969). Winona Daily News. 959. https://openriver.winona.edu/winonadailynews/959 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Winona City Newspapers at OpenRiver. It has been accepted for inclusion in Winona Daily News by an authorized administrator of OpenRiver. For more information, please contact [email protected]. m " - ' " : Continued - . /M; ?V .^Vr; vi-9^^"silMt:j -V- . > - - - ;_;.:: :v : Cloudy; Cooler y Of Magazines :: > y / .v- -;r .Tuesday - ,: Classified Section Prari AAa|sive Pernod In Sufc^ By BOB MONROE ; ly," "Honor Amenta i Week" from Ft. Hood, Tex. Dr. Howard. rate the National Day of Pray- Associated Press Writer ahd .."National C-"o n^f i d. en c e Levy, a former Army physician er/ In Newport News,. Va„ - .-a" Supporters and opponents of Week" are among the titles giv- who was court-martialed for re- prayer prrigram at Todd Sta- President Nixon's Vietnam poli- en the pro-administration dem- fusing to train Green Beret dium drew crowds despite rain: cy, hold new demohstrations-this onstrations: y medics, told the:ally, "Mr. Nix- Today negotiations continue week in the continuing contro- Activities by supporters and on shouldn't: worry about being for the route to be followed by versy over the nation's involve- critics began early. A Veterans the first president to lose a.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier.Pdf
    '•wii ^.^m CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Sejmour L. Green . i/^^ >/*--*=--— /o~ /^^ THE LATE JUDGE FLANDRAU. He Was Long a Prominent Figure in tbej West. 4 Judge Charles E. Flandrau, whose death!/ occurred in St. Paul,- Minn., as previously f noted, was a prbmlnfent citizen in the Mid- i die West. Judge Flandrau was born in , New York city in 1828 and when a- mere | boy he entered the government service on ' the sea and remained three years. Mean- i time his -father, who had been a law part- ner of Aaron Burr, moved to Whltesboro, and thither young Flandrau went and stud- ied law. In 1851 he was admitted to 'the i bar and became his father's partner. Two years later he went to St. Paul, which I had since been his home practically all the tune. in 1856 he was appointed Indian agent for the Sioux of the JVlississippi, and did notable work in rescuing hundreds of refu- gees from the hands of the blood-thirsty reds. In 1857 he became a member of the constitutional convention Which framed" the constitution of the state, and sat -is a Democratic member of the convention, which was presided over by Govei-nor Sib- ley. At this time he was also appointed an associate justice of -the Supreme Court of Minnesota, ' retainitig his place on the bench until 1864. In 1863 he became Judge advocate general, which position he held concurrently with the .iusticesbip. It was during the Siolix rebellion of 1862 that Judge Flandrau performed his most notable services for the state, his cool sagacity and energy earning for him a name that endeared him to the people of the state for all time.
    [Show full text]
  • Itßlilldy. Iriiheoy
    THE SAINT PAUL SUNDAY GLOBE, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 17, 18*1. Bidwell's addition to Weet St. Paul. Consider- that Warner Millerhad been duly elected, itis lawful to garble quotations and sup- REAL ESTATE. ation ?500. STALWARTS SCOOPED. Gen. Winslow moved that the Senate press words that materially affect the Jobn D.Pollock to Wm. T. Donaldson. The adjourn. Amid cries of "No!" "No!" sense or meaning of the author quoted. IK IN undivided one-half of lot4, block 1, Hopkinw' finish the business to-day!" the This previous- HOLMAN'S PAD BUSK '•ME TOO I*I.ATI'S" SUCCESSOR SE- "Letus is yet worse than allhe has Activityof the Market— LarK« Amount of addition. Consideration, $3,270. roll was called and the motion to adjourn lysaid or done. In the so-called abstract, OF Greve LECTED YE&TERDAY. Purchases for linprovj'mentt.-Trani'fcrs Pauline Beaumette to Herman and carried, the stalwarts and Democrats be itremarked, the cardinal's words are A. Oppenlieim. The south 4o feet of lot 1, CURES ST.PAUL, of thf Week. Beaumette'e, sub-division of block 1, Rondos again locking hands. inserted between quotation marks, withno Simply MIJST3ST. addition. $2,215. Speaker Sharpe vDeserts Conk ling and asterisks where the omitted words occur, The Globe need not repeat to its thou- Consideration lire. Mr.Smith's Misquotation*. impossible for the Adam Gotzian and wife,to Oscar Han6on. Declares That He Feels Bound by the and itwas thus simply ABCTOTIOTt. sands of readers that the country, the To the Editor of the Globe. reader to suppose that he had not a full Without by Lots 20 and 27 of AdamEotzians.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislature of Minnesota
    This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp MEMOIRS "l' '/'IU' SATE 0 FreE s·, .\1\1> "' rtf F NINETEENTH . Legislature of Minnesota, IS C. L. :HALL, SATNT PAUL FEBRUARY. 1 II. .I {, 77 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE Officers of the State Government OF ~~INNE80TA., AND OF THE 19 TH MI~~ESOTA STATE LEGISLjTU~E. BY C. L. HALL. SAINT PAUL, February, 1877. MINNEAPOLIS: JOHNSON & SMITH, PRINT. PREFACE. In present\l1g these Memoirs I do so not without some hesitation. The labor of collecting the material and writing out the sketches is far greater than would seem to one not familiar with work of this character, and, indeed, it has greatly exceeded the expectations of the writer. I was fairly in the middle ofit and must go on, ere I was aware ofits magnitude. The Legislature had been in session almost two weeks before I was encouraged to undertake the enterprise. Thus it will be ~een to what extremity my time has been circumscribed. The work, it will be observed, contains two hundred of these epitomized biographies, and a glance through its pages will explain the large amount of writing it contains. With few exceptions the parties have granted me interviews, and kindly an~wered my interrogatories, thus supplying me orally with reliable data and such other facts as were fresh in their memories. For my personal remarks, ofcourse, I have had to depend upon my own knowledge of the individual, and upon information obtained from indirect sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Lindbergh's Return to Minnesota, 1927
    LINDBERGH'S RETURN TO MINNESOTA, 1927 Bruce L. Larson FEW INDIVIDUALS in history have been showered Minnesotans had their turn to honor Lindbergh in with adulation equal to that given Charles A. Lind­ August when he returned home briefly during a na­ bergh, Jr., of Little Falls, Minnesota, after he flew the tional good-will tour. Large, demonstrative cro\-\'ds "Spirit of St. Louis" nonstop from New York to Paris, greeted the flier in the Twin Cities on August 23-24 France, on May 20-21, 1927. His flight of 3,610 miles and in Little Falls on August 25. The object of Lind­ in 33 hours and 30 minutes was the first one-man cross­ bergh's journe)' was to promote commercial aviation ing of the Atlantic Ocean by air. rather than himself, but he was met everywhere with Throngs of well-wishers gave the t\\'enty-five-year- an unrestrained acclaim that has been assessed as "the old Minnesotan a hero's welcome in several European greatest national ovation ever given an American." ^ As capitals. Then he sailed back to the United States on exemplified by the Minnesota reception, the overwhelm­ the cruiser "Memphis,'' which was especially sent by ing response seems worth describing and evaluating President Calvin Coolidge, and received tumultuous for its own sake as well as for its influence on Lind­ ovations in Washington, D.C, and New York. People bergh's life and on the development of aviation. responded enthusiastically to Lindbergh's modesty and Lindbergh's cross-countr)' tour was sponsored by youthful charm as well as to his considerable achieve­ ment, which more than previous flying feats came to symbolize man's triumph over the air.
    [Show full text]