Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-01-03
"REMINISCENCES
OF A WELL KNOWN
MINNESOTA MAN
Editor and Senator Frank A. Day
as Remembered by Editor
of American.

In the death of Frank A. Day of
FairmOnt, the state of Minnesota has
lost one of its big leaders, leader
in newspaper circles, politics, and a
very aggressive civic leader.
Mr.. Day had gone to Winona to
spend Christmas at the home of "a
married daughter He was seized
with a paralytic stroke and passed
away there Thursday morning, Dec.
9th, at the age of Is. He is survived
by his wife, two daughters, and two
sons. The funeral, held at Fairmont
Sunday afternoon, was attended by
5000 people.
served apprenticeship in an Iowa
newspaper office and came to Fair
mont in 1874, when he established
the Martin County Sentinel as a week
ly newspaper. 1t was later made a
semi-weekly publication, and in 1904
he established the Fairmont Daily
Sentinel. Others were interested with
Mr.. Day in his publication, but he was
the chief editor throughout the 81
years.
The editorials of the veteran edi-
tor were widely copied because they
were fearless and Independent in
thought and, his personality was deep
ly impressed on his newspapers. In
his early years he was a Republican
and at one time was chairman of the
State Republican Central Committee.
He turned to the Democratic ranks
when his friend. VIM. ]. Bryan, was
first candidate for president. He
was also chairman of the State Dem
ocratic Central Committee, served
several sessions as representative
and senator in the state legislature
and was lieutenant-go governor one term.
1t was in his fight to make John A.
johnson governor of the state that
he likely became best known. He man.
aged Mr.. Johnson's three successful
campaigns and was private secretary
to the governor.
Frank Day had winning person
atty and he was ever a center of at
traction at the annual Minnesota
editorial meetings as we'll as other
gatherings of newspaper men. He had
also been honOred as president of the
state body some years ago. 1t might
be of interest to relate some expert
enceS.
Four or five years ago when Pres
ident L. d! Coffman of the state uni
versity, addressed the first day SEES
sion of the Minnesota Editorial AssO-
citation and his address was given a
scant write-up in the daily press
Frank Day arose the next day and
said he had cOmbed the dailies with
a fine comb before he could find any
thing about this wonderful address
and then he was very "chagrined" to
observe only few lines down in an
obscure corner. Frank" as he was
known to the fraternity, said, IF this
masterful address had been delivered
at Fairmont it would have gotten a
big streamer heading across the front
page of the Sentinel accompanied by
four column write-up or more"
were on hand to get their rundown,
all acquainted with Frank and they
enjoyed it to their hearts content as
did everybody else in the room. But
that was not enough, he went right
on and kept his audience in an uproar
with his wit and good humor. Being
chairman of a committee to arrange
for newspaper exhibit at the state
fair that year he told of how the fair
management had set aside an entire
building for the newspaper "boys and
girls" of the state-a place where the
art of printing would be shown, and
place where the boys and girls could
visit, tell yarns, feel at home and
spit on the floor if you please" At
the editorial banquet that year many
of the speakers referred to Frank Day
and the more fun they had with him,
the better he liked it, keeping up a
constant chatter with those close to
him. He had an array of knives,
forks, spoons, ETC., spread about his
plates. He would file away at a bun