The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-10-16
CLANNISH CLUB IDEA
DRAWS SHARP REBUKE
Montana Record Heraldl

CnOSe clIlZenS OF montana VINO are OF
Scandinavian descent into the Erick-
son column through the medium of
organizations bearing the label
Erickson Scandinavian Club is not
meeting with general support from
that portion of the states population.
On the contrary there is a well
defined feeling of opposition in GER
tain quarters and it is being freely
expressed.
Objection to the formation Of
clubs of this character is based up
on the principle that Montana citi-
zens of scandinavian descent are
loyal to the land Of their adoption
and that an attempt at the clannish-
ness of obtaining votes for a Scandi-
navian by Scandinavians, for an
Irishman by Irishmen, or in fact line
up nationalities at all is a reversion,
and attempting to bring back into
political life something we have at
tempted for years to eliminate.
In a communication to the Repub-
lican State Central committee, H.
Norskog of Great Falls made public
a translation of a letter written in
Norwegian and his reply thereto
which furnish interesting reading to
persons of Scandinavian descent. The
letter to Mr.. Norskog follows:
Great Falls, Montana,
October 3, 1924.
Republican State Central Committee,
Helena, Montana.
Today, l received a letter printed
in Norwegian which literally trans
lated is as follows:
F'Dear Friend:
"It has been said that 'Scandinav-
ians are without Unborn PRIDE Let
us prove to the world the untruth of
this assertion.
"It is our pride that the Scandi-
navians have had a considerable part
in the formation of the New World
John A. johnson as governor of Min
nesota and Knute Nelson as United
States senator from Minnesota, are
shining examples of what men Of our
tribe can produce. Really, it would
make the blood freeze in the veins if
we were not proud Of them and their
unusual worth and multiplicity of tai
ent. America has seldom exceeded
these beautiful examples. Until re-
Gently we have always been repre-
scented among the great and proud in
this nation. Let us again have such
representation in the mighty seats;
let US place a Scandinavian forward
in this land, the leading in the world;
let us this year elect our native John
E. Erickson as governor of Montana,
and again have the special honor of
having a Scandinavian as one of the
leaders among the most eminent in
the world!
''The plan is to hold a Scandinavian
reception for Judge Erickson when
he visits Great Falls, and, of course,
we expect you to be present.
"For the purpose of carrying out
a proper campaign for Judge Erick-
son it is necessary to have money.
Won't you send US your contribution,
whatever you can afford from $1.00 /;
to $500. Be so kind as to send I
remittance to the treasurer at the
above mentioned address.
Respectfully, F,
t'THE ERICKSON SCANDINAVIAN ,
CLUB. :
"By S. R. JENSEN, President"
MIR. Norskog's Reply. r
To the above letter Mr.. Norskog +
made the following reply: i
"To my mind, this kind of cam
paigning is cheap sop. AS far as I o
know, all of my ancestors were Scan '
dinavians, but l am a citizen of the =
United States, and that is the only 7
country to which I owe anything in v
any manner whatsoever. I feel it is h
perfectly within the rights of people {
of Scandinavian descent, of Irish
descent, of English descent, or any !,
other descent, to join an Erickson or n
any other club that they see fit, but r
would as soon think of organizing il
an English club, or an Irish club, or s
an Italian club as to organize a
Scandinavian club for the purpose of II
operating within the civic political II
confines under the laws of the United W
State of America. h
sit is perhaps true that the people cl
who are sponsoring this sort of a
hing mean well enough, but, it is w
true that it is in fearful bad y,
and l hope that the S~candinav- 81
of Montana will resent an at ;s
;empt of this kind. l look upon it as q,
stupendous stupid blunder, and one to
or which the Scandinavians will