Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-19
John LIND DIES;
WAS WILSON ENVOY
Former Governor of Mime
sofa Refused to Discuss
Mission in Mexico.
gy the Associated Press.

I BY the Associated Press.
/ MINNEAPOLIS, September 19.-John
! Lind, rs, personal diplomatic repre-
! sentative of President Woodrow Wilson
| to Mexico in 1913 and former Cover
nor and Representative from Minnesota
died at his home here last night after
an extended illness
Prominent in affairs of the Democratic
party in Minnesota, Mr. Lind was Sc
| lected by President Wilson to make an
| investigation of conditions in Mexico.
Mr.. Lind declined to discuss his mission
or what 1t accomplished.
He was the first Democrat to be
elected Governor of Minnesota, serving
! from 1899 to 1901. He served three
terms in Congress from the second Min
nesota district. beginning in 1886. He
was nominated and elected to Congress
on the Republican ticket. He was a
member of that party in his early po-
litical career, but the free silver move
ment appealed strongly to him, and he
Joined the Democrats in 1896, and In
1902 was elected from the fifth district
as a Democrat.
A widow, two sons and daughter
survive
Became International Figure.
Mr.. Lind became an international
figure in the sphere OF diplomacy When
he went to Mexico in 1918 as personal
representative" of President woodrow
Wilson.
Hardly known outside his own State,
where he had been a Governor and
Representative, Mr.. Lind was chosen
for the delicate task OF unofnclaI ennis
sary to Mexico City. He had no onlclal
title.
Though unable to speak the language
Of the country, Mr.. Lind mace an ex-
tensive investigation of conditions IN
Mexico On his return he faced attacks
before legislative committees In Con-
press but received commentator IN
many other quarters.
Victoriano Huerta, provisional Presi-
dent. was at the helm of the govern
ment in Mexico City when Mr.. Lind
was introduced to international diplom-
acv. 1t was charged the Wilson ad-
ministration was openly opposed to the
Huerta regime, and reports were that
one purpose of the personal representa-
tive was to effect the resignation OF
the acting President.
After conferences with the American
special envoy, Huerta still remained as
the titular head of the Mexican govern
ment, although rebellion under several
military factions was rampant at the
time Mr.. Lind would not comment on
the published report that upon his ar
rival in Vera Cruz from Mexico City
he recommended armed Intervention by
ten United States.
Silent on Mission.
Intercepted hundreds of times. Mr.,
Lind would never give any intimation
as to his mission or its subsequent &C
complishmentS, although before Sen
ate investigating committee he revealed
- Ii IL
swer that all data was in the files Of
the State Department.
In April, 1920, before the Senate
Foreign Relations subcommittee. Mr..
Lind holly defended President Wilson's
stand on Mexico in recognizing the
Carranza government.
Five years after his Mexican trip
President Wilson asked Mr.. Lind to be-
come a member of the advisory COM
mission created by the United States
Department of Labor, and on his ac-
ceptance he was appointed chairman.
1t was said by those close in touch
with him that Mr.. Lind was offered
the ambaSsadorship to Norway, but de-
clined 1t because he did not want to
leave his home estate.
John Lind was born March IS. 1854,
In Kama, Province of Smaland. Sweden.
the descendant of farmers and freemen
who had titled the soil around his birth
place.
Lost Hand in SawmiIl.
The family came to the United States
in 1867, settling in Goodhue County
Minnesota, when John was Is years old
Shortly after, while working in q saw
mill. the boy lost his left hand. This
turned him from physical labor into
intellectual pursuits.
Completing the public schools, he
taught school in Sibley County, and