On This Date in Minnesota History: January 21

January 21, 1918 - Henry Miller, a wealthy, retired farmer near Fairmont who was born in Germany, pleaded guilty to charges of disloyalty and was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail.

After refusing to buy Liberty bonds and to subscribe to the Red Cross, Miller is alleged to have said: “America is all wind and blow and it is a damned poor country. The Kaiser is all right.”

After being sentenced Miller asked to be allowed to pay a fine, saying he didn’t want to go to jail.

“You have money to pay a fine but none for Liberty bonds,” replied the judge. “You will go to jail.”

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Wealthy Farmer Said United States ‘All Wind’; 60 Days In County Jail”; Jan. 21, 1918; p. 1.

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