University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections John A. Simpson Collection Simpson, John Andrew (1871–1934). Papers, 1889–1938. 2.75 feet. Farm leader. Correspondence (1917–1934) with Simpson regarding Oklahoma Farmers Union and National Farmers Union policies, issues, stances, and activities, including financial papers and meeting minutes of the Farmers Union; Simpson’s nomination for the position of U.S. secretary of agriculture in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first cabinet; Simpson’s opposition to President Herbert Hoover and his support of Al Smith’s candidacy for president; Simpson’s opinions regarding bimetallism, the National Farm Board, compulsory military service, and allegiance to the state; and condolences received by Simpson’s widow upon his death. Principal correspondents include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Huey P. Long, Henry Morgenthau, James A. Farley, and Elmer Thomas. Also in this collection are Simpson’s diaries (1924–1934); transcripts of radio and other speeches (1919–1933) delivered by Simpson; news clippings (n.d.); and newspapers (1917–1934), all relating to farm topics; and orders (1934) for Simpson’s book The Militant Voice of Agriculture. __________________ Biographical Note: John Andrew Simpson was born July 4, 1871, near Salem, Nebraska. He completed four years of work at Auburn, Nebraska, High School in one year, and began a short teaching career in Kansas and Nebraska schools. He enrolled in the University of Kansas in 1893, receiving his L.L.B. in 1896, the same year he married Millie Berlet. He returned to Auburn to practice law and became associated with the Populist movement. He spent four years as an accountant in the office of the Nebraska State auditor, then returned briefly to the practice of law in 1901. Simpson drew a claim near Alfalfa, Caddo County, Oklahoma, in El Reno drawing of 1901. He was both a farmer and a banker, prominent in both Ft. Cobb and Weatherford. He served one term as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1915 to 1917. In 1916 Simpson joined the Oklahoma Farmers Union and retained his affiliation in that organization until death. At the time of his death he was serving his fourth term as National Farmers' Union President. (Properly, the organization is the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America.) Simpson rose quickly in the organization, being chosen to lobby for the group, then to serve in office. He was interim-president of the Oklahoma state organization following the resignation of the incumbent, then formally elected to the state presidency in 1917. Simpson held this position until 1930. During his terms in office the state organization prospered. Membership increased from approximately 250 to over 20,000 during his tenure. Simpson founded and edited the Oklahoma Union-Farmer newspaper. Many of Simpson's ideas were considered radical. His criticism of government farm policy during World War I and his affiliation with the Non-Partisan League (considered by many to be socialistic and disloyal) resulted in an investigation by a Council of Defense in 1918 and demands for Simpson's removal as President. However, the membership continued to re-elect and support him. In the 1928 Presidential election Simpson violently opposed the nomination of Herbert Hoover by the Republicans. He ultimately supported Al Smith. Simpson objected to the policies of Hoover as Food Administrator during World War I, feeling that his conduct was more favorable to the Allies than to the American farmer. In 1930 Simpson defeated the incumbent to become President of the National Farmer Union. He also received an endorsement of his farm program, including opposition to the Farm Board and a Policy of graduated "cost of production" and monetary inflation. However, Simpson's militancy was not unanimously accepted and was the subject of both internal and external condemnation. After his election as National President Simpson spent most of his time in Washington and in speaking to various organizations. His radio speeches on NBC were widely reproduced and lauded. In 1932 Simpson began to correspond with Franklin Roosevelt. Simpson seemed convinced that Roosevelt was both favorable to Simpson's ideas and represented the solution to years of unsuccessful opposition to Hoover. Roosevelt, however, was merely polite or ambiguous in regard to specific policies. After Roosevelt's election Simpson was widely promoted to be Secretary of Agriculture by farm groups, governors, state legislatures, and congressmen. With the appointment of Henry Wallace to that post, Simpson concentrated on New Deal programs affecting farmers. He gradually came to oppose many of these programs but declined to attack Roosevelt personally. This opposition helped to generate increased internal dissension in the Farmers Union. The 1933 National Convention included accusations that Simpson had used Chicago gunmen to retain control. The Nebraska Farmer Union voted to discontinue national dues until an investigation of the matter could be conducted. However, before an investigation could be carried out, Simpson died. After testifying before the Senate Finance Committee in opposition to tax legislation, Simpson collapsed and died March 15, 1934. Of his children Mildred has served for a number of years as his secretary, and William continued to be associated with Farmers Union affairs. Simpson's widow published a book, the Militant Voice of Agriculture, a collection of his writings and speeches, in 1934. Table of Contents Subject Files: Boxes 1-2 General Correspondence: Box 3 Correspondence with Franklin D. Roosevelt: Box 3 Endorsements of J.A.S. for Secretary of Agriculture: Box 4 Messages of Condolence: Box 4 Personal Papers and Records: Box 5 Speeches and Articles: Box 6 Militant Voice of Agriculture Book Materials: Box 7 Newspaper Clippings and Miscellaneous: Box 8 Outsized Materials ____________________ I. Subject Files Box 1: Subject Files: American Vigilantes - Farmers Union: Oklahoma. Folders: 1. American Vigilantes: Publications. a. "The Cause of Mr. Hoover's Defeat." (November 19, 1932). b. "Stop the War; or The Fight for Life in Defence of Women, Children, American Manhood, Homes, Independent Business. Certain Acts of Congress Cause the Greatest Crime against Man Since Judas. Petition for Redress of Grievance Filed with Congress, and Letters of Particular Interest to the People indicating why Distress Is Not Relieved and why the People Get a 'Serpent' instead of 'Meat'" (1932). c. "What Our Fathers Established We Can and We Will Preserve." (n.d.). d. "God Can't Lie." (n.d.) 2. Bimetalism. a. "The Single Gold Standard Versus Bimetalism." Statement of South Trimble, Clerk of the House of Representatives before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. (May 19, 1933). Congressional Record (June 10, 1933). b. "The Way to Prosperity." Article by South Trimble. Extension of Remarks by Edgar Howard of Nebraska in the House. Congressional Record (April 22, 1933). c. Silver -- Some Pertinent Facts Relating to Bimetalism. William A. Hesse. (April 19, 1933). Reprinted as "The Use of Silver as Money," Remarks of Burton K. Wheeler in the Senate. Congressional Record (June 6, 1933). d. "Bimetallism or Communism: Money Racketeers Now in Control." Address by T.E. Howard, Chairman of Board of Directors, National Farmers Union, on NBC, August 27, 1932. e. Statement by Senator Key Pittman, Conference of the Committee for the Nation, Re: Bimetallism. November 17, 1933. Press release. f. Letter of C.R. Doddridge, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Remonetization League, to J.A.S. (September 21, 1933). Re: open letter to F.D.R. g. Letter of E.W. Mason from the National Headquarters of the Progressive Study Clubs to J.A.S. (October 7, 1933). "Metallic Money vs. Labor-Hour Dollars in Foreign Trade." h. "Our Inadequate Monetary System." Excerpt from New Agricultural Review, Vol. I, No. 12 (December 1932). i. "Report of Committee on Stabilization of the Money Standard" to the Missouri Bankers Association. j. "Report of Committee on Stabilization of the Money Standard" to the South Carolina Bankers Association (September 1930). 3. Compulsory Military Training (1918). Publication: Report of the Provost Marshal General to the Secretary of War on the First Draft under the Selective Service Act of 1917. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1918). 4. Compulsory Military Training (1919-1936). Correspondence and Memoranda. a. (December 19, 1919). Howard H. Gross, President, Universal Military Training League (Chicago), re: politics. b. (January 28, 1920). J.A.S. form letter, re: Farmers Union opposition to compulsory military training. c. (May 4, 1920). Letter of Arthur F. Cosby, Executive Secretary of the Military Training Camps Association (New York City), re: J.A.S. opposition to universal military training. d. (June 20, 1930). Letter of U.S. Attorney-General William Mitchell, to the Secretary of the Interior (Ray Lyman Wilbur), re: Department of Justice ruling, re: agricultural colleges and military courses. Copy. Attached; typed last paragraph. e. (July 14, 1931). Letter to Orville English (Oklahoma A. & M. College) from J.A.S., re: support of students resisting Compulsory Military Training membership list. Attached; letter to the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma A. & M. from the Alva Ministerial Alliance, re: compulsory military drill. f. (February 15, 1934). Form letter from Edwin C. Johnson, Secretary of the Committee on Militarism in Education, re: Vinson-Trammell Navy Bill and Arms investigation. g. (c. 1935). "Congress Threatens R.O.T.C. and C.M.T.C. Extension." Three- page memo. No author. 5. Farm Board: Correspondence Re (1929-1932). a. Fitzpatrick, John - Chicago Federation of Labor (December 11, 1929). To H. P. Fagan, re: Alexander Legge and International Harvester Company connection. b. Kiplinger Washington Agency (November 14, 1930). Telegram from Mildred Simpson re: Farm Board letters. c. Thomas, Elmer - U.S. Senator (November 26, 1930). Re: Senate Committee on Agricultural Hearing on Farm Board. d. Farmers Union Board of Directors (December 1, 1930). From J.A.S., re: Senators' report on Farm Board.