The Washburn leader., 1904-04-02
ACT OF CHARITY?
What Gov. White Did To Aid in the
Collection Of Funds for Famine
Sufferers in Northern Norway and
Sweden in 1893.

Sufferers in Northern Norway ant
Sweden in 1893.
Was it Gov. Whites prejudice
against the Scandinavians? His
prejudice against Gov. VanSant o1
Minnesota on account of the mer
ger dispute? Or, was it because
he believed the whole subject un
worthy OF his consideration thai
caused him to fail and neglect te
take action looking to the relief o1
the famine striken residents of the
northern part of Norway, Sweden
and Finland on account of the cror
failures of 1902?
We leave it to the Governor tc
explain. Here are the facts in the
case, which, in the light of the third
term pretentions Of the Governor.
are worthy the consideration of ev-
cry Scandinavian voter as we'll as
every lover Of humanity in the
State. Here is communication
on the subject
Washburn, n. D.. Mch. %, 1904
Because Of crop failures in the
northern part of Norway, Sweden,
and Finland in 1902, gaunt hunger
stalked broadcast in their land, and
pleading cry for succor came to
their countrymen in America. The
Governors of Minnesota, Illinois,
South Dakota and number of
other states having large numbers
of Scandinavian citizens issued
proclamations to the citizens of
their respective states calling for
subscriptions to be sent to the aid
of those suffering. Being in Bis
marck to attend the session of the
Legislative Assembly the first part
of 1908, [ called upon Gov. White,
to him what had been
done in other states in connection
with the subject and discussed gen
orally with him what would be
advisable to be done in North Da-
kota. The Governor agreed with me
that some action should be taken
at once looking to the collection of
a fund to relieve the distress exist
ing in the Scandinavian Fatherland
and promised to give the matter an
early and favorable consideration.
A short time after this, I had oc-
casion to go to St. Paul, and while
there [ visited Sen. Thorpe, chair
man of the Minnesota committee,
who furnished me with the pro-
clamation issued by Gov. VanSant
upon the subject and appointing
to look after the same,
together with a complete set of the
forms, letters of instruction and of
that were to be used
in Minnesota in the collection of
the Scandinavian Relief Fund. All
these, I brought to Gov. White and
again talked the matter over with
him in all its detail. He apologized
for not having given the matter
consideration and agreed to do so
at once, to issue a proclamation
and to appoint the County Treas
urer of each county a committee of
one to receive subscriptions and
donations for the relief fund, and
to appoint persons in the different
parts of the county by the Treas
arer to solicit and receive for the
fund. It was deemed advisable to
appoint the County Treasurer of
each county because he would know
best who to appoint as influential
Scandinavians in each community
throughout his county.
I did not know at that time of
The deep seated prejudice that Gov.
White entertained toward Gov.
VanSant on occount of the differ
,nces they had on the merger
question, and if 1 had known it, I
would not have believed it would
prejudice him against the whole
scandinavian race because I,
scandinavian, had brought him
'opy of the Governors proclama-
ion.
From the time I delivered the