On This Date in Minnesota History: August 22

August 22, 1917 – Referring to a poster advertising the proposed meeting Friday at Lester Prairie, McLeod County, where Thomas Van Lear, socialist mayor of Minneapolis, will be the principal speaker, Governor Burnquist today repeated with emphasis that no disloyal demonstrations are to be permitted in Minnesota.

Minneapolis Mayor Thomas Van Lear¹

“If un-American statements are made at any public gathering in this state, prompt arrests will follow,” declared Governor Burquist.

A large picture of Mayor Van Lear appears on the poster announcing the “Nonpartisian league meeting and grand patriotic demonstration” at Lester Prairie. Patriotic music will be furnished, says one display line, while another asks:

“The war has cost millions of lives and billions of dollars—who is going to pay?”

This poster and smaller ones received at the Governor’s office give large type to the announcement that “Mayor Van Lear will speak on the war.”

Governor Burnquist, when asked whether drastic action against outbreaks would be ordered through the McLeod county sheriff, as was done Sunday at the meeting at Lake Manuella, in Meeker County, Where Sheriff Mike Kouslak arrested A. L. Broms, St. Paul Socialist leader and draft foe, simply repeated that un-American meetings cannot be tolerated in Minnesota.

Minnesota Governor Burnquist²

Reports reached the capitol today that F. A. Teigen, a son of State Representative A. F. Teigen, will attend at the Lester Prairie gathering.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Governor Repeats Warning; Disloyal Meetings Tabooed. Posters Announcing Lester Prairie Program, With Van Lear, Reach Capitol.”; Aug. 23, 1917; p. 8.

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Van_Lear

²http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JosephAABurnquist.jpg

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/LesterPrairie.htm

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