Evening star., 1951-07-06
Good Government Platform
Has Been YoungdohFs Pride

of an establishment in which
gambling was permitted personally
liable, with the penalty including
loss of all licenses.
Loud, Long Protests.
It was stiff rap for the resort
industry, and the protests were
loud and prolonged. But the
northern part of the State hasn't
the votes of the agricultural
southern third, and Gov. Young
Idalh, in 1948, was a shoo-in for a
second term.
/ The Youngdahl crusade also was
aimed at liquor, with particular
attention to uniform closing hours,
owner liability and sitter pen
Ialties for offenders.
Gov. Youngdahl earned NATIONAL
acclaim for his efforts in behalf Of
the mentally i'll. The "snake pit"
system of treatment was abolished
in Minnesota. Patients were re-
moved from restraints. they were
given food from the same menu
as employees, they were given new
buildings. new beds. new therapy
and more doctors and attendants.
He was Joined ir this program
by Democratic Farmer Laborite
Members of the Legislature, as he
was in unsuccessful attempts to-
establish a Statewide fair en-
Iployment practices law, modernize
ithe State constitution, revise legis-
Ilative districts to the benefit of
more populous areas and to
Iliberalize labor legislation.
Fourth Term if He Wanted it.
In many ways, he was tough
pill for the conservatives to swal-
IIlow, but his election margin in
,I1950 indicated that all he had to
do to win fourth term in 1852
was to announce his candidacy.
! If the judgeship hadn't ap-
Ipeared, most political observers
were certain he would seek a
fourth term-something no Gov
ernor before him had ever had.
His only alternative would have
been to oppose Senator Edward j.
Thye, whom he succeeded as Gov
ernor, in the 1852 Republican
, primary. r.
1 Gov. Youngdahl has been a
, strong advocate of admission Of
displaced persons into this coun-
try and toured Europe to study
, them two years ago. He has ap-
pointed gubernatorial commits
sions in their behalf, well as
in the interests of racial and
=. religious minorities. the Indians
and immigrant farm workers.
The Governors legal experience
has been h-ostly from the judi
cial side of the bar.
After his graduation from the
University of Minnesota Law
School, he practiced in, Mime
{ apolis for two months before be-
coming assistant city attorney
= From 1924 until 1880, he practiced
Y with former District Judge M. C.
t Tiff, in Minneapolis.
Elected Judge in 1880.
He was elected municipal judge
y in 1880 and remained on the city
;, bench until his appointment tc
o the District Court n 1886 by
= Gov. Stassen. He was elevated te
the post of associate justice o1
!, the State Supreme Court in 194s
i and left four years later to rur
for Governor.
j Luther W. SYoungdahl was borr
I in Minneapolis on May 20, 1895
. the son of John Carl Youngdahl
groceryman, and Elizabeth John.
+ son Youngdahl, both immigrant.
b from Sweden.
S He was graduated from a Min.
5, neapolis High School in 1915 ane
received his bachelor of arts de.
+ gree from Gustavus Adolphus Col.
: Ilege, st. Peter, Mimi, in 1919
n and his law degree from the Uni.
r Iversity of Minnesota in 1921. HI
Il is member of Phi Beta Gamma
Luther was one of eight chill.
/ dren, six boys and two girls, in.
n Guiding the late Representative
II Osca- Youngdahl, and Mrs. Clar.
: ence T. Nelson, wife of the pastor
I of Augustana Lutheran Church
: in Washington.
Another of the Governor!
Il brothers is the Rev. Reuben K
y y Youngdahl. pastor of Mount Olive
: Lutheran Church, one of the larg
: est parishes in Minneapolis.
The close association of a siste
e, and brother with the ministry i
T. indicative of the strong religion
s. influences that have guided tn
l. Minnesota Governor throughou
TT life. He once said his family mot
: to was religion. work and edu
4 cation"
The Governor is a charter mem
l.. ber of Lake Calhoun Post. Amer
;. ican Legion, based on World Wa
e. I military service, which was re
!. stricted to officer candidate schoc
ID and a tour as instructor at For
"a Still, Okla. He was mustered ou
%. as a first lieutenant.
" His American Legion participa
e tion included term as distrit
% commander and another as vic
IS commander of the Minnesota de
er partment.
. In addition to the customary ru
ts is of bar and judicial association
m Gov. Youngdahl is a member {
80 the American Institute of Swedis
te. Arts, Literature and Science; d
HA rector of the Minnesota Council {
Is. Religious Education, director {
re- the Lutheran Foundation, pa
or president of the Gustavus Ado
" Iphus Alumni Association, directt
I of the Minnespolia College of Lay
IN i h past member of the Minneapol
s.; Area Council, Boy Scouts of Anne
- :. lea, and past master of A. F.
on A. M. 277. Scottish Rite az
- Il