The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-01-17
FRANK M. EDDY. PATRIOT


Frank M. Eddy, statesman journalist, patriot
faithful friend, and generous to fault, is dead.
The Herald editor had the privilege of being
closely associated with this most remarkable man
for several years. While he had the frailties OF
mankind, to know him closely was to love him; to
meet with Mr.. Eddy in daily contact was liberal
education. His outstanding Americanism was an
inspiration.
Mr.. Eddy detested sham and was not slow to
recognize hypocrisy. In August, 1916, the first
satellites of Townleyism coming into Minnesota
from North Dakota selected Sank Centre as a
starting point An oily individual stated to the
officers of the then Commercial Club that they were
heading movement to start Farmers Elevator
in this city, Market conditions were not of the
best, and as the club have always been at the
disposal of any legitimate farmers movement they
Were given the club for their meetings gratis
few days later gang of nearly dozen rough
necks, almost any whom the average man would
hesitate meeting lonely road on dark night,
opened their headquarters in this city. The meet
ing was in charge of Randall, who after the war
broke out did time for his utterances against the
government He was "fre-eater" Facts were
not necessary in his argument. He harangued his
listeners for nearly two hours, heaping abuse upon
the Commercial clubs, the local business men, and
generally willfully msstatiRg their attitude toward
the farmer, finally unfolding the plan that they
were in Sank Centre for the purpose of securing
members for the North Dakota Non-Partisan League
Mr.. Eddy covered this meeting for the Herald
On his return to the office following the meeting
he related what had taken place. The writer in
structed him to stake them down the line" the only
restriction being to keep within the law of libel.
Boy that two-column story in the Herald the next
week was sizzler in which he exposed the falacies
OF Townleyism, warning the farmers to keep away
from this gang they would eventually regret their
association His vision prophetic. The editor
TAI was literary masterpiece. 1t brought to the
herald the hrst written notice of retraction which
became the popular weapon to use by Townley as
his gang began to sink their vicious tentacles into
the farmers in all portions of the state
For several years after the writer purchased
the Herald from Mr.. Wells in 1913 Frank handled
the editorial page He invariably turned in reams
more copy than could be used. All were excellent
Dut space shortage prevented their use. On one oc-
caslon the writer said: Frank, if you would make
your editorials third of column instead of two
columns long the Herald would be the most widely
quoted country weekly in the country" eff could
say in third of column what it takes me three
columns to say" he said, 81 would not be receiving
soup bone wages on the Herald, but would be TAX
ing the place of some of the high paid editorial
writer's of the country"
Mr. Eddys sense of humor was intense in a
quiet way. His short paragraphs were epigrams.
II webster did not furnish the world he needed he
would unhestatingly coin apt one to convey his
meaning.
Frank became member of Congress during
the reign of Speaker Reed, of Maine. The latter
was probably one of the brainiest men who ever
welded the gavel in the lower House of Congress.
The speaker and Mr.. Eddy had many things in
common and became very close friends. Both were
Eabd readers of urid detective stories as relaxa
tlon The Herald editor recalls evening spent with
Mr.. Eddy when he reviewed his association with Mr.
Reed Calling at the speakers office one afternoon
ne found his friend reading thrilling detective
story. He asked the speaker which kind of detec-
tive stories he liked best, the nickel kind or those
costing dime. The speaker replied: "the nickel
KIND, there is more action. "Uncle Joe" Cannon was
strong admirer of Mr.. Eddy ALSO
On one occasion Mr.. Eddy and William Jen-
nngs Bryan were the principal speakers at Nation
al gathering of Norwegians held in Chicago. Both
were to speak the same afternoon; Mr.. Eddy first.
The Sank Centre man, although a thoroughbred
Yankee, spoke Norwegian like native. He knew
that Mr. Bryan usually made up his addresses from
those delivered by the preceding speakers. Frank
prepared his address very carefully, had Nor
wegian expert translate it into his native tongue,
and committed it to memory The large audience
was delighted when Mr. Eddy delivered his adj
ress in Norwegian. Mr.. Bryan was amazed and
came as near making failure of an address as he
ever did. After it was all over Mr.. Eddy felt
well repaid and he chuckled with glee when discuss
ing this experience years afterward
Mr.. Eddy became candidate for Congress in
1884 At that time the old Sixth district was hot
bed of Populism. Haldor Bowen, of Fergus Falls,
was the sitting member. Mr.. Eddy's entry. into
the field was looked upon as being somewhat fool
hardy by the political experts. The campaign he
waged was the most remarkable ever carried ON in
the state. The district covered very large area,
but practically every voter interviewed. Meet
ngs were held where ever opportunity presented
a couple of musicians were carried to drum up
crowds. After the votes were counted it was found
that Mr. Eddy had been elected by something less