Minnesota Historyes or posted to a listserv without the copyright hold - PDF document

Minnesota Historyes or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s s may print, download, or email articles, however, for individual use. www.mnhs.org/mnhistory Wit jus ove a mont unti th fal electionsShoemake move t Dulut an fde a a independen candidat fo Congres i th ne Eight DistrictShoemake ha remembere th suppor h ha re i th are durin th 193 at-larg election Hra wel bu onl succeede i splittin th Farmer vot wit A L Winterquis whil Republica A Pittenge wo th election.Undeterred th ex-congressma woul ru unsuccessfull i th nex fou congressiona elections wit mos interestin contes a 193 primar battl witJoh Bernard Eight Distric Farmer-Labo leaderfel tha Shoemaker wh ha agai file a a F-member ha n chanc t bea incumben Pittengean convince Bernar t run Meanwhile Pittenger a th prospec o facin Shoemake i anothe congressiona contest contribute mone a intermediar t opponen Bernard' cam Bernar defeate Shoemake i th primar b ove 2,00 vote an wen o t wi i th generaelection.^'I 1938 Shoemake returne t hi root i southwester Minnesot wher h challenge Pau Kvale ma wh ha helpe champio hi caus durin congressiona seatin controvers i 1933 AgainShoemake pu o a goo showin bu los th primar a vot coun o 25,94 t 20,687.Th 194 electio foun Shoemake facin twFarmer-Labo challenger i th part primary Thitim h finishe a poo thir t Harol L Peterso anKval a sign o F- weaknes becam mor evidentI 194 Shoemake wo th part nomination bu tha n longe carrie muc weight Republica Car Anderse easil wo th congressiona sea 46,57 vote followe b Democra Theodo S wit 21,192 Shoemake mustere onl 17,241'• Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1935 p 379" Barbar Stuhler "Th Ma Wh Vote Nay Th Storo Joh T Bernard' Quarre wit America Foreig Policy1937-39, Minnesota History 4 (FaU 1972) 84-85" Her an below se Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1939 p 200 1941 p 213 1943 p 258 451-452'' Dispatch, Aug 3 1935 p 1 5 Oct 7 1938 Pioneer Press, Sept 29 p 6 No 28 p 3 1939'• Dispatch, Jun 18 1946 Pioneer Press, Jul 28 1950p 13" Biographical Directory oJ the American Congress, 1692-1693I electio elude him controvers di not FranciShoemake wa stil havin troubl wit hi car an fists I August 1935 h go int a figh i Minne afte hi ca wa rear-ende b another a alter nea hi Redwoo Fall far i October 1938 i hi bein arrested take t th count jadan fine $1 fo assault I September 1939 Shoe wa charge an late foun guilt o attackin knockin a neighborin farme unconscious despit hi argumen tha th neighbo ha com a hiwit a club.^Shoemake wa stil dabblin i politic durin thpostwa years I 194 h trie fo a comebac i thSevent Distric a a Republican a mov ful o ironfo thos wh remembere th creativ skill h use t th GO i th 1930s H ha no ru foCongres unde thre labels Farmer-Labor Indepen an Republican Then i July 1950 h complete th circui b filin fo th Sevent District' sea a a Democrat Hi effort agaiwen unrewarded.^Demagogu o drunkard crusade o charlatangoo gu o gadfly Shoemake di reflec th restlessnes an uneas o th earl 1930s H appeale t thwidenin circl o have-not i th votin populatio aa tim whe man American wer read fo radicasolutions Shoemaker' espousa o idea suc a thos b th Nonpartisa Leagu an th Progres Farmer o Americ enhance hi publi identit a o th underdog H clearl benefite fro reapportionmen tha resulte i th at-larg elec i 1932Th emotional divisiv speec Shoemake mad ath 193 F- conventio wa perhap a fittin farewel th part radical Hi broad ineffectua attack Republicans Democrats an hi ow part comrade ultimatel cripple hi attempt t furthe hiow politica career sendin hi dow t tw decade defeat Shoemake die i a Minneapoli hospita oJul 25 1958 a ag 69 H wa burie no fa fro hiRenvill Count birthplac i Flor Township' Zio '^" TH ILLUSTRATIO o p 17 i reproduce throug thcourtes o Joh Schwartau al othe photograph ar fro MH audio-visua librarvSpring 1989 17 make wa foun guilt an give 1 day o a $5 fineSentenc wa staye unti Jul 2 i vie o th congress candidac fo th senate.''Althoug h wa committe t th union' causeShoemake soo dre th ir o Loca 57 leadershipWhe tw specia polic deputie wer kille durin strike Da Tobin nationa hea o th labo organization sen a telegra t th Minneapoli leadershi tha the see arbitration Shoemake spie thTobi telegra whil a strik headquarter an too iupo himsel t issu a insultin reply "Kee youscabb nos an scal fac out, telegraphe Shoemaker "Thi i a figh fo huma rights You ra jo involved. Shoemake the signe th nam o locastrik leade Bil Brow t th dispatch.''^Unio leaders wh fel tha Shoemake ha proveirresponsibl an exhibitionis befor th telegra t wer disguste wit hi performance The declare strik headquarter "of limits t th congressma an officiall repudiate Shoemaker' actions Tobi accepte thei explanation althoug th leadershi fel th inciden adde t To grudg agains Loca 574Shoemake wa als havin hi cour troubles Hwa foun guilt o fadur t sto i th Ma 5 ca an fine $75 Th congressma returne t o Jul 3 statin h ha n mone fo th $7fin an askin fo an receivin a sta o bi sentence day late h wa i municipa cour payin a $5 levie fo hi action durin th truckers strike.'Jai loome onc mor fo th congressma beforh coul ge hi Minneapoli lega problem behinhim Shoemake fade t appea i traffi cour whehi continuanc wa u o Augus 6 Th judg issue a benc warran an ordere Shoe t jai t begi servin hi 30-da workhousterm Th congressma appeare i cour th follow day indicatin tha h ha intende t pa o tim ha no recalle th cler o court' nam anmad ou th chec improperly Th fin wa pai an jai sta canceled.'Despit hi problem wit th Minneapoli polican judiciary Shoemake continue t poun awa aSenato Shipstead stil hopin t muste suppor foth primar election Durin a speec i Windo o 6 h lampoone Shipstead saying "H wa a gapumpin dentis whe I firs kne him H pumpe ga t pu hi i th Senate. Th congressmaals slamme Roosevel an hi programs "Th NRAAAA CWA an RE ar goin t en i a biI.O.U."'Fiv day befor th Jun primary h dre a largcrow i Wdlma an treate the t a three-hou o Shipstead H adde t hi lis o Shipsteasynonym suc name a "Judas, "bi hun o cheese,"grafter, an "yellow. Wit profanit an occasionaspittin o th floor th congressma rippe int th Th Willma Weekly Tribune o Jun 1 calle speec "largel a entertainment. O Jun 16Knu Wefald th stat railroa an warehous commissioner charge tha Shoemake ha threatene hi politica extinctio i h spok i favo o SenatoShipstead Shoemake answere th Wefal attacksayin tha h woul "tel abou th fourtee relative ha o th payroll al th outlaw an inlaws mak a governmen of b an fo th Wefalds."Shoemake kep swinging bu hi punche di nodamag Shipstead Th congressma wa crushe b a margi i th primary sufferin eliminatio a a seriou challenger Ther wer othe sign i result o th primary Th Democrati party ha bee fo 1 year virtuall moribun i mad a stron comeback Althoug th coul clai 39. percen o th voteth Democrat wer jus a ste behin a 37. percent day o th Farmer-Labo part a a strong independen thir part wer numbered I wa th sam Franci Shoemaker.Critic o th congressma no too som shot othei own Afte hi drubbin i th primary Shoemake reporte tha a Europea new agenc wantehi a a correspondent Th St Pau Pioneer Press editoriall o th congressman' possibljourne overseas "Neve hav th citizen o th statmor anxiousl an passionatel desire t believ th word. Th editoria maintaine thath onl thin mor gratifyin th agency' proposa t sen Shoemake t Europe "woul b it offe sen hi som plac farthe away"'*SHOEMAKER' persona an politica fortune begaa stead declin followin hi primar los t Shipstead Lydgia hi wif o 2 years fde fo divorc i o 1934 Excep fo som brie tim spen i wit he husband Mrs Shoemake ha nea he Ne London Wisconsin homwher sh operate a beaut parlor Th divorc wagrante o Septembe 3 1934 wit ground liste acruelt an infidelity.'' Pioneer Press. Ma 24 1934 p 1 3" Her an below se Dobbs Teamster Rebellion, 8889" Dispatch, Jul 3 5 1934" Dispatch, Aug 7 1934' Pioneer Press, Ma 7 1934 p 7= Dispatch, Jun 16 1934 p 1 3" Gieske Farmer-Laborism, 193 194''- Pioneer Press, Jul 30 1934 p 6" Time Magazine, Aug 6 p 40 Sept 3 p 57 1934Scher interview Jun 24 198717Minnesota History agains th senato struc a emotiona chor wit thconventiongoers bu th senator' proponent werabl successfull t pu dow th mutin agains thincumbent I a 2 A.M showdown Roble D (Red edito o th Minneapolis Labor Review, le a defens o Shipstea an helpe secur a narroendorsemen fo th conservativ Farmer-Laborite.TH ERRATI congressman' tr fo Shipstead' senat sea wa interrupte whe Shoemake agai encountere difficult wit th law Twic durin th o Ma Shoemake wa arreste b Minneapolipolice embarrassin th part an attractin ridicul hi candidacy A high-spee ca chas dow Henne Avenu o Ma 5 wa a th hear o th firs case Shoemake becam involve i a mor significanissue—th Minneapoli truckers strik o 1934 Minneapoli Teamste Loca 574 unde th leadershi o mil' Gieske Farmer-Laborism, 189-191 Pioneer Press, Mar 29 1934 I 194 Shipstea move t th RepubUcaparty' Minneapolis Journal, Ma 6 1934 p 1 2 Loi Quaan Pete J Rachleff "Keepin Minneapoli a Open-ShoTown Th Citizen' Allianc i th 1930s, Minnesota His­ 5 (FaU 1986) 105-117" Journal, Ma 19 1934 p 2 Pioneer Press, Ma 221934 Dispatch, Ma 22 1934itan Trotskyites ha decide t tak o th city' Citizen' Allianc (CA) a associatio o industrialistsmerchants an lawyers Forme durin Worl Wa 1 allianc ha bee instrumenta i keepin Minneapoli a "open-shop town an th teamster ha decide t challeng it dominance Th truckers strik May 1934 le t a violen confrontation an thensuin battl becam a landmar even i th histor th Minnesot labo movement Shoemake woul i th middl o it.Earl i th labo disput th congressma convince Judg Fre B Wrigh t issu a 3 A.M blankebon an releas 7 imprisone strikers Then o Ma21 Shoemake too a activ par i th picketin anwa arreste b Minneapoli police Afte postin a $20 ba an bein released Shoemake complainetha h ha bee "manhandled b police I th mids thi Shoemake foun himsel withou hi car Sherif Joh Wal seize th aut t satisf a $58 judgmenagains th congressma wh ba borrowe an no tha amoun bac i hi newspape days.Shoemaker' tria fo disorderl conduc wa helth followin da i Judg Wright' courtroom Th claime h wa i th marke are a threques o Governo Olso an als a a representativ th people Mos Winthrop attorne fo th defense challenge polic witnesse t n avail ShoeSTRIKING TRUCK drivers face Minneapolis armed police during a tense conjrontation in May, 19.34. 9 S ^i^Spring 1989 17 Herma Coo quote Shoemake a saying "Ye I hihi an I'l kil him. Whe aske b th policema fo identity Shoemake replie tha h wa a congressma know t everybod i Washington H drovawa bu wa late arreste b police.'Publicit fro th inciden wa bad eve b Shoemaker' standards Th pres pinne hi wit labelsuc a "Statesma Shoemaker, " a a Congressman, an "Yo can' arres Shoemaker. Th casdragge o fo tw months wit tria lawye an Wis Congressma Raymon J Canno defendin A Apri tria resulte i a hun jur an a tria se fo Ma a whic Shoemake di noappear Canno withdrew protestin bi client' irresponsibl tactics.'Throughou Marc an April Shoemake wafightin a two-fron war—on i Washingto againsth ca drive an on i Minnesot agains Henri Bac i hi hom state th congressman' mad hi boss' entr int th senat rac officia b filin Shoemaker' nam wit th secretar ostat o Marc 10.'Henri Shipstea refuse t b goade int a battlwit Shoemaker preferrin t ignor hi antagonist' Stanle Marshall secretar o th HennepiCount F- association wrot t th senato o Februar 28 urgin a repl t Shoemaker Shipstea answere tha h ha "neve stoope t discus scurrilouan unfounde attack upo m character an addetha h hope hi friend woul "no permi ou enemie t forc a campaig o persona vilificatio anslander. Serenel steerin hi campaig alon th higroad Shipstea decline th advic o supporter thah pre-emp th expecte attack b Shoemaker ThSt Pau F- associatio o Marc 1 aske Shipstea tpledg suppor fo th entir part ticket th senatorefuse t mak a blanke endorsement reservin th t judg th calibe o candidates.'I wa soo apparen t Shoemake tha h di nohav th immediat suppor neede t wres thFarmer-Labo nominatio fro Shipstead s h develope anothe plan Arrivin i th Twi Citie th dabefor th convention h delivere a radi addres announcin a pre-emptiv attack A banne headlin i St Pau Pioneer Press o Marc 2 tol th story Ask Ba o F- Indorsements. I hi tal congressma state tha makin endorsement wasomethin "th Republica Part did. H aske hi t allo th voter t decid th F- nomine a primary An h als mad not o hi lega i Washingto an referre t hi "pugilisti Shoemake claime h wa th victi o a i Washington, sayin tha h ha no th tax drive an assertin tha th cabma "no a tax drive bu th middleweigh champioo th Marines sen ou t giv m a nic trimming.Shoemaker' positio seeme tenuou a best buth doo t contro o th conventio appeare t ope a politica mistak b Governo Olson Thgoverno stirre th part faithfu wit hi ringin " a radical speec i whic h declare tha hwante a "definit chang i th capitalis system an h woul no b satisfie wit tinkerin o patch tha system Th governo an hi secretary "VincDay the lef th floor i effec abdicatin contro oth convention.'Shoemake advance t th podiu shortl afteGoverno Olso ha finishe speakin an launcheint a 45-minut tirad tha sen a damagin broadsid th Shipstea camp I was perhaps th mos speec th radica congressma ha eve delivered an i nearl torpedoe th candidac oHenri Shipstead H excoriate th Farmer-Labosenato fo failur t suppor th part an makin deal wit th Republicans H maintaine thaShipstea misse ove 1,00 senat rol call an ha use th nam Farmer-Labo o th floo o thsenate.'"Wh mad Shipstead? aske Shoemaker "ThMahoneys th Va Lears th Carlgrens Starkeys Sta Welchs Townley an th Shoemakers, h answered H charge tha th senato ha bee unfaithfu t thos Farmer-Labo leader wh ha worke fo befor an durin hi 1 year i th Senate H tha th senato ha draw ove $100,00 i salar an hi wife a hi secretary a fourt tha muchye ha refuse t giv an t th part newspaperTh challenge claime tha Shipstea wa "no a membe o th Farmer-Labo association s ho cayo indors hi unde you constitution? ContinuingShoemake charged "H i a Republica no a Farmer W hav n representativ i th Senate. conclude wit a pledge " wil b th nexsenato fro Minnesota."^Th conventio floo erupte wit a roa o applaus a th radica congressma steppe fro th mi an th respons temporaril unsettle Ship campaig managers Shoemaker' cannonad' Dispatch, Apr 4 1934 p 1 12" Pioneer Press, Apr 5 1934 p 1 3 Dispatch, Ma 71934 p 2' Dispatch, Mar 10 1934™ Siste Mar Ren Lorentz "Henri Shipstead Minnesot Independent 1923-1946 (Ph.D thesis Catholi Universit o America 1963) 47-48' Millar L Gieske Minnesota Farmer-Laborism: The Third Party Alternative (Minneapolis Universit o Minnesot Press 1979) 187-192" Her an below se Pioneer Press, Mar 28 1934 p 12'• Pioneer Press, Mar 28 1934 p 1 217Minnesota History SENATOR HENRIK SHIPSTEAD, speaking at a political gathering during the 1930s ' Time Magazine, Jul 17 1933 p 11 Despit hi notoriet ther i littl indicatio tha hi behavio cause embarrassmen o concer bac hom i Minnesota Perhap thfac tha h ra a a at-larg candidat an no a a repre o a particula distric helpe t insulat him Th page o Twi Citie dail newspaper wer devoi commen o hi activitie unt hi ope spli wit Ship i July 1934' Minneapolis Tribune, Aug 12 1933^ Dispatch, Aug 16 1933 p 1 5 Pioneer Press, No 71933"" Dispatch, Feb 15 1934 p 4ow whe h wen t th Whit Hous t receiv froPresiden Frankli D Roosevel a pardo fo hi 193 I th proces th congressma als pickeu a pardo fo hi secretary Frankli T Wolf a Leavenwort acquaintance "No onl a I th onl i Congress, boaste th Minnesotan "buth onl ma t emerg fro th Whit Hous wit pardon a well."B TH EN o th firs ter o th Congress FranciShoemake wa contemplatin a aggressiv an dangerou politica move Th freshma congressma wareadyin a challeng t fello Farmer-Laborit anincumben Minnesot senator Henri Shipstead o Shipstead' unpopularit wit th part an personall alienate b th conservativ stanc th senator Shoemake ha decide t act H returne t Minneapoli i lat summe an commencehi driv t supplan Shipstead H wa quickl i thnews bu onc agai fo police no political mattersI Augus h go int a earl mornin ro wit workme wh wer usin a acetylen torc outsid hi Rit room Shoemake confronte th me anthe smashe si o thei lantern a th jo site Th bashe wa arreste bu wa late released Alcharge wer dropped.'O th politica fron Shoemake wen afte Shipstea i typica two-fiste style bu th careles orator ha seeme acceptabl fro a out-of-wor radi di no wea a wel o a Unite State congressman I Augus h fire a brie salv a Shipstea dur a America Legio conventio i St Cloud on conventiongoe t yell "W don' wan anpolitica ga attacks. Shoemake wa jeere a a im Novembe meetin o wa veterans agriculturists an labo representative i th stat capito wheh attacke Republicans Roosevelt an Shipstead hi tur t speak Shoemake shouted "Whwant t liste t tha bla blah Yo can' kee a Unite State congressma waitin lik this."*Shoemaker' attack o Senato Shipstea shifteint hig gea i Februar o 1934 a mont befor thFarmer-Labo convention Th congressma maile a lette t al F- count convention indicatin tha h b a candidat fo th senat nominatio unlesGoverno Olso wa drafte int th race.Preparation fo th forma announcemen o Shoemaker' candidac an hi plan fo th Marc Farmer conventio wer sidetracke whe th congress becam enmeshe i a controvers concernin hi wit a Washington D.C ca driver Witnessereporte seein Shoemake ra int th bac o a castoppe a a traffi ligh an pus i throug th inter Then Shoemake reportedl approache th drive an punche hi i th face PolicemaSpring 1989 17 th cemen contrac fo th dam Shoemaker' closinstatemen laste nearl three-quarter o a hour Thfive-ma Faribaul jur too 2 minute t fin th no guilty.-NO'VEMBER' earl electio return indicate a triump fo Farmer-Laborite a th party le b Gover Olson capture al bu tw stat offices An fo firs tim i appeare tha th F-Ler migh clai a majorit o seat i Minnesota' congressiona delegation I wa clea tha Farmer-Labo candidate Mag Johnson Pau J Kvale Henr Arens an ErnesLundee woul b amon th to fou finishersForme governo Theodor Christianson Jr. wa th Republica vote-getter followe b Democra Eina Hoidal an anothe Republican Ra PChase Th rac fo th tw remainin at-larg seatwa wid open wit Franci Shoemake battlin Re Harol Knutso an Augus Andrese fo o th las positions.-B Saturday return showe Andrese ahea anwidenin hi lea ove Shoemake an Knutson bu outstat suppor upo whic Shoemake relie wastil comin in Monda foun Shoemake surgin pasth other an movin ou o thei reach Leadin b tha 1,20 vote wit jus 3 precinct stil outth Farmer-Laborit wa elected H finishe i eight whd Knutso edge Andrese fo th fina seat.-'Th congressman-elec bega preparation fo thmov t Washington D.C b settin u a Minneapo headquarters bu controvers followe hi t thTwi Cities I thi cas Shoemake reporte beinstraitjacketed handcuffed an beate i a Minneapoli hospital Th bizarr inciden centere aroun a repor fro Shoemake tha h ha bee taken whilunconsciou an unde medicatio fo a toot extraction t a Minneapoli hospital Whe h awakene hproteste tha h wa i th wron hospita an demande hi release I th commotio tha followedShoemake claime tha seve orderlie attacke him official reporte a confrontatio wit Shoemaker addin tha the calle fo polic t assist.-Shoemake di no le th inciden drop H went Governo Olson' office strippe t th wais ifron o reporter t displa bruises an demande a Shoemake declare tha h ha n trou i escapin th handcuff becaus h ha onc bee neighbo o th magicia Harr Houdini " use tliv nea hi an h taugh m al th tricks, hThre day afte th Minneapoli hospita incidenShoemake wa i a ne hospita be an bac i thnewspapers Th congressman-elec wa admitte tth For Snellin veteran hospital drawin fir frostat veteran group i th process I wa charge thaShoemake wa neve i th servic an tha th politicia wa takin spac tha coul b use b a disable I wa al "accordin t Hoyle, Shoemakecontende fro th hospital H wen o t explai h ha gon int th arm a Cam Grant Ilhnois an serve fo si days H the injure a anklwhil fallin fro a carloa o lumbe h wa unloadin an wa give a medica discharge "Al thi hea m admissio i comin fro Augus AndresenH can' tak a lickin gracefully, Shoemake declared Th controvers ende whe th congressman lef th hospita afte a week' stay.'Fiv week later upo arriva i Washington Shoemake foun ne conflic waiting Hi righ t claihi sea wa challenge b Californi representativeAlber E Carter wh maintaine tha th Minneso felon convictio mad hi ineligibl fo th office Carte als note tha Shoemake "brazenl anflauntingl refer proudl t hi convictio an impris a a badg o distinction. Minnesot F- rep Pau Kval an Nort Dakot libera Willia Lemk le Shoemaker' defens o th Housfloor Shoemake sa i th rea o th chambe smilini appreciation Whe th matte cam t a vote h overwhelmin suppor an wa sworn.'Onc i th Hous o Representatives Shoemakeshowe littl interes i initiatin legislatio bu in use th nationa foru t g afte ol Minnesot enemies I Jun h presente a length sum o hi grievance i a speec title "M JudiciaCrucifixion—Ho a Judicia Oligarch Railroade Mt a Penitentiary. H vilifie hi enemie a "ravenoufiends an "alle rats an bombasticall concludeb demandin tha Congres clea u th rotte judicia syste an en th persecutio b publi official t who Juda Iscario woul b a princan a benefactor."'I July Shoemake cleane u som busines o hi" Pioneer Press, Aug 17 1932. = Red Wing Daily Republican, No 10 1932 White et al., Minnesota Votes, 119-" Daily Republican. No 12 1932 Legislative Manual, 1933 p 201- Her an below se Dispatch, Jan 25 Apr 19 1933A possibl explanatio o Shoemaker' behavio exist i persisten rumor tha followe hi throughou hi caree abouhi drinking Kinvi interview Jun 24 1987"-' Pioneer Press, Feb 2 1933 Dispatch, Feb 2 1933 p8 Accordin t th Veterans Administration Shoemake di th arm i January 1919-" Congressional Record, 73r Cong. 1s sess. 1933 p71-74 132-135™ Congressional Record, 73r Cong. 1s sess. 1933 p5506-5511 Durin hi tenure Shoemake introduce onleigh bills fiv o the fo relie o individua constituents17Minnesota History Andresen th incumben congressman wa stilkeepin a weathe ey o Shoemaker Th tw haunfinishe busines datin bac t th 193 campaigwhe Shoemake ha charge th Republica witprofitin illegall fro th constructio o th Hastingdam Andrese denie th charg an ha sue foslander Proceeding agains Shoemake ha bee delaye b hi sta i Leavenworth bu no a Augustria dat ha bee se fo a Faribaul courtroom."Undeterred Shoemake continue hi flourishin193 campaign whic gathere respectabilit an momentu whe h finishe amon th to nin votegetter i th statewid Jun primary Nin qualifierwer neede becaus th congressiona campaig wa b conducte wit al candidate runnin at-largeAccordin t th Farmer-Laborites th at-larg desig wa th resul o Republica gerrymanderindurin a Minnesot reapportionmen battle Th Min­neapolis Labor Review charge tha Augus Andresenwit hel fro Republica allie i th legislature wamos responsibl fo th for take b th redistrictingTh legislature' pla brough a vet b GovernoOlson Th vet wa uphel i a stat Suprem Courtes o Ma 11 an a at-larg congressiona rac wath result.-Shoemaker' aggressiv an reckles campaig stylbega drawin attention bot positiv an negative example i Clarkfiel h knocke lumberyar Mat Quis unconsciou afte th tw ha durin a Shoemake speech I a GoodhuCount tal Shoemake claime t hav uncovereWashington' notoriou Teapo Dom scanda b steal Secretar o th Interio Alber Fall' briefcaseAn th abrasiv candidat achieve th questionabldistinctio o havin a radi broadcas cu shor becaus o it content Official a a Twi Citie radi sai Shoemake wa interrupte seve minute hi quarter-hou speec becaus the fel "h madassertion tha migh b regarde a slanderous. Man reporte tha th candidat wa schedule tspea agai o th statio bu woul hav t provid a tex an follo i verbatim.Part leader i Stillwate woul no allo Shoemake t addres a Farmer-Labo rall there fearinh woul damag othe part speakers includin Gov™ Pioneer Press, Aug 17 1932 Organized Farmer, Apri29 1932- Minneapolis Labor Review, Jul 1 1932 p 2 O reapportionment se White et al., Minnesota Votes, 6 Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1933 p 546^^ Dispatch, Oct 6 1932 intervie wit Lyl KinvigJun 24 1987 note i author' possession Pioneer Press, Nov 3 1932'-^ H O Peterso t H G Creel undated bu UkelJune 1933 H O Peterso Papers MHSGIVSHIPSTEAHELSupport--ElecFarmer-LaboCandidateShoemake^i FOongresA 1930 campaign poster ironically placed Shoemaker in the camp of Henrik Shipstead, his future opponent. erno Olson H O Peterson a Farmer-Labo newspape editor sai th cit stil remembere a encountedurin th 193 campaig whe Shoemake ha th hig school enterin classrooms distrib campaig materials an refusin t leav unt schoo principa pointe t a "bunc o husk foo [sic] player wh wer anxiou t mak a touc [sic] wit him. Peterso reporte tha Shoemake lef shouting "A agen o Wal Stree order mout. "T severa thousan peopl i Stillwater, Peter wrote "th nam Shoemake i poison."-On majo roadbloc i Shoemaker' pat wacleare i Augus whe h wa foun innocen o th193 campaig charg tha h ba slandere AugusAndresen Shoemake too th stan afte fou witnesses includin Andresen ha testified Unde questionin fro hi attorney soon-to-b Minneapolimayo Thoma Latimer th defendan claime thaAndrese worke fo "bi interests an ha vote o side o severa issue i Congress H denie say tha th congressma wa makin a profi o eac o cemen use a th Hasting da project bu sa tha Andrese ha helpe friend i securinSpring 1989 17 AN EARLY picture oj John B. Said^orn. Jr.. the judge who .sentenced Shoemaker to prison b "watche closel i th future fo sign o similabehavior Ther bein "n questio o th guil o thdefendant, Sanbor assesse Shoemake a fin o $50an a suspende sentenc o a yea an a da i thfedera penitentiar a Leavenworth.'Unrepentant Shoemake publishe hi accoun oth tria i th Organized Farmer's Decembe 2 edition Unde th headlin "Shoemake Get ChristmaGift, h gav hi versio o th case notin tha Putna ha firs writte t hi usin a envelop ad t F H Shoemake "An Plac But Re WingMinnesota Th stor conclude b notin tha thjudg ha no give Shoemake th "customar opportunity t addres th cour befor bi sentencingI St Paul Judg Sanbor wa incense b Shoemaker' newspape accoun an ordere hi returnet th court Revokin th suspensio o th origina h ordere th now-chastene an conciliator newspaperma t Leavenworth Shoemake fo anothe chanc bu go n sympathy Ar L Sueur hi attorne an a prominen leade o Minnesot left declare hi satisfactio wit Sanborn' fairness T wa please wit You Honor' han o th cas an I hav gon th limi wit thiman, sai th attorney "No I wd mak n morpromises."'Shoemake serve nearl hi entir ter iLeavenworth Release o Novembe 4 1931 h publishe hi accoun o th imprisonmen i th Orga­ Farmer, includin tw letter writte b JudgSanbor t th U.S Boar o Parole I th earlieletter Sanbor favore parolin Shoemaker bu hisecon lette withdre tha recommendation T Shoemake thi prove tha a conspirac indee existed."Shoemake returne t editin th Organized Farmer an too t speake stand throughouGoodhu Count t attac ol antagonist an rebud politica base Th newspape claime tha thforme convic edito ha addresse 1 meeting a packe t capacity i a littl ove a mont afte releas an tha Shoemaker' "incarceratio a ha mad hi mor popular."A ne battl no face th editor Posta authoritie claime tha th Organized Farmer ha violateregulation an th newspaper' second-clas mailinprivilege wer bein revoked Shoemake charge thath posta investigatio wa instigate b Andrese an wh wer tryin t silenc him H tha los o second-clas mailin statu caus a tenfol increas i expense an threateth weekly' survival Suppor fo Shoemaker' pape som results o Apri 7 Senato HenriShipstea reporte tha th posta authoritie woulrestor second-clas mailin privilege t th weekl senato noted however tha thi wa a difficul an i woul tak tim t ge th jo done Timwa somethin th newspape di no have B midsumme i wa al over Cripple b a combinatio o a depressio economy busines antipathy an posta th Organized Fanner cease publication.'O TH FAC O IT prospect woul hav appearedi fo th out-of-wor ex-convic i th summe o1932 Th deepenin depressio wa no onl cripplinth America economy i wa shatterin th people'confidenc i th natio an themselves Suc desperat condition woul provid lifelon radica FranciShoemake wit increase credibilit an growin suppor fro a fearfu an frustrate constituencyTh unemploye Shoemake officiall announcei Ma tha h woul agai ru fo Congress bu Minnesot Secretar o Stat Mik Hol refuse permission H questione th propose candidac sinc Shoemake wa a convicte felon Stat Attorne Genera N Benso overrule Hol an allowe th candidat t fd eve thoug Shoemaker' civ right wer no ye full restored.'" Dispatch, Dec 22 1930" St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dec 30 1930" Organized Farmer, Dec 25 1931 Sanborn' letter arreprinte i Congressional Record, 73r Cong. 1s sess.1933 p 5508-5509" Organized Farmer, Dec 4 11 18 25 1931'• Organized Farmer, Feb 5 p 1 4 Apr 15 1932' Pioneer Press, Ma 6 1932 p 3 Althoug th Minnesot constitutio woul hav disenfranchise felons th U.SConstitutio supersede tha o a state se U.S Constitution Articl 1 sec 2 claus 217Minnesota History n s \M yi}R FAR RP IF.III \UI.I ,\s.SIS I rUK» I NTIN nl FAIIMKIIli;n IlKCniHS PEON W TH ORGANIZE FARMEW AII� M TOf I'llUt T I IMI 11)1 TH UltlUAmerica Freema Jun 2 Issu Confiscate B CrookOrganize Farme Agai Investigate B Governmen SnooperA Hollow Sham • I'alk THIS HEADLINE provides a good example oj Francis Shoemaker's hyperbolic rhetoric. Widow an Orphans Re Wing Minn i car oTempl o Gree an Chicanery. Thi unfriendl salutatio ha bee note b loca posta authoritie wh sough t hav Shoemake indicted.'Th Re Win radical quic t recove hi politicabalance reporte undiminishe suppor fo hi candidac an re-entere th rac fo th Hous b mid Shoemake easil capture th Jun Farmer primar election outpollin Joh Lyon o LSueu 1,67 t 11 an drawin mor Thir Districvote tha th F- incumben candidat fo governor B Olson.Bu Shoemaker' mai targe wa t b Congressma Andrese wh wa als know i th Organized a th "jellyfish, "rodent, an "Wal Streetool. Th Shoemake campaig sloga becam "Vot m i Novembe an mak i th las o August. electio prove tha Thir Distric voter preferre Andresen Th Republican coulproudl recit th lis o countie take i th routCarver Dakota Goodhue L Sueur McLeod Nicollet Rice Scott Sibley an Washington I wa a clea fo Andrese forces bu Shoemake coul taksom solac i th fac tha h ha outpoUe th Democrati nominee.'' Organized Farmer, Dec 26 1930 Pioneer Press, Mar28 1930 Th exac envelop notatio i fro a Shoemakespeec i th Congressional Record, 73r Cong. 1s sess.1933 p 5507" Organized Farmer, Jun 20 1930' Organized Farmer, Jul 4 11 18 Nov 7 1930 intervie wit Morri Callstrom Jul 9 1987 note i author'possession Bruc M White etal., Minnesota Votes: Election Returns . . . 1857-1977 (St Paul MHS 1977) 111" St. Paul Dispatch, Dec 29 1930 Organized Farmer, Jun 27 1930FEDERA authoritie wer waitin t dea wit thdefeate congressiona candidat a mont afte th H wa summone t St Pau t fac U.S Cour Judg Joh B Sanborn Th issu wa now-notoriou lette t banke Putnamaddresse t th "Robbe o Widow an Orphans.Th usuall outspoke edito wa quie i th court h ha explaine hi positio i th Organized There i languag tha wa stron eve b hiextravagan standards Shoemake castigate thbanker H detaile Putnam' allege mistreatmen o an orphan an tol o ho hi ban shat homes Th stor labele Putna a hypocrite a Jekyl an Hyde financia dictator tyrant traine ohi ow congressmen an dare th banke t sue.'Judg Sanbor wa no impressed "Yo hav beesayin thing abou peopl whic hav n basi i fact, Sanborn H sai th defendant' action woulAUGUST H. ANDRESEN, Republican congressman, about 1936 Spring 1989 16 Fo hi effort a th Chicag convention Shoemake wa electe a on o th ne farmer-labogroup' tw vice-presidents Willia Bouck leade oth Washington-base Wester Progressiv Farmer(WPF) wa electe president Th Bouck-Shoemakerelationshi wa t ripen an i th sprin o 192Shoemake joine Bouc a a WP organize i Wisconsin Wit a bount o $ fo ever .$ membershi th ne recruite signe 45 farmer i oncounty alone.Bu th WPF whic ha no evolve int th Progressiv Farmer o Americ (PFA) wa tor apar in afte Shoemake wa charge b a PF officia misus o funds H wa expelle followin th December 1926 conventio i MinneapolisPresiden Bouc side wit Shoemake i th dispute a rif tha doome hope tha th PF coul int a importan America far organizationAlthoug hi reputatio ha suffere i WisconsinShoemake stil possesse credential enoug i th protes movemen t ge a opportunit t us hitalent i Minnesota Fre A Scherf a earl activisi th Nonpartisa Leagu an forme stat legislato Re Wing wa lookin fo hel i reconstitutina Coodhu Count far weekly th Organized H decide tha Shoemake migh wel b thma fo th job I wa par o th Scher pla tha serv a th poin ma fo th revampepublication I announcin th chang i ownershipth Organized Farmer's boar o director mad nmentio o Scherf reportin tha th pape ha beesol t F H Shoemake o Ne London WisconsinScherf' influenc wa stil quit clea whe hi daugh Mildre wa name th newspape publisher witShoemake th editor.Th Scherf-Shoemake partnershi displace thOrganized Farmer's prominen previou editor SusiW Stageberg—feminist prohibitionist an calle bsom th "mother o th Farmer-Labo party Shoemake an Fre Scher seeme inten o blazin a radica pat a spokesme fo farmer std sufferin th effect o postwa pric slump i th commoditie market Shoemaker' radica editoria policie di si wel wit th conservativ busines communit th Re Win o 1929 an majo advertisin source t dr up Sensin a conspirac agains hi paper Shoemake fough back Wit alliterativ elan hlambaste hi enemie i a stor i th Octobe 4 issue t th Re Win Manufacturer Associatio t city-owne power th subheadlin rea"Leechin La[s]civiou Liar Loathel Lacerat LocaLame Limpin Lazaruses. Th outrage editoclaime tha th manufacturers association "thi gan looting thievin liars, wa behin th apparenboycot o hi newspaperB lat 192 th ambitiou newspaperma begaentertainin thought o runnin fo Congres froMinnesota' conservativ Thir District mad u atha tim o th state' south-centra counties Standin hi wa wa Andresen th formidabl Republica who lik Shoemaker live i Re Wing anti-Andrese barrag opene wit a stor heade "A H Andrese Betray People tha wit th congressman' suppor o th controversia Hawley-Smoo tarif bdl Th lea wa ful o Shoemake vitriol "Runnin tru t form an accordin t dictate o thos wh liv b robbin th farmersAug H Andrese membe o Congres fro thi dis agai stabbe th farmer who h misrepresentsi th back."Shoemake withhel officia announcemen o hicandidac unti th Goodhu Count Farmer-Labo a it Marc convention formall aske hi tfile Th Organized Farmer publishe th party' reques an a photograp o Shoemaker pointin outha h woul oppos th "presen incumbent whosrecor i intolerable. Shoemaker alon wit compatrio Fre Scherf th county' F- chairman wa alsselecte a a delegat t th group' stat convention.Bu Shoemaker' Re Win enemie ha a ac thathe wer mor tha read t pla a the attempte t an deflec hi candidacy Wor wa leake Shoemake wa t b charge wit a crime th natur o whic wa no immediatel disclosed tha a wee afte announcin i Goodhu Counttha h woul run Shoemake tol th F- stat conventio tha h wa withdrawing H charge tha wa a politicall motivate mov agains hi ansaid " d no wis t embarras th Farmer-Labo b m candidac fo congress."Detail o th charge agains Shoemake wer soopublic Th da befor th Farmer-Labo conventio t begin h ha bee arreste i Re Win bposta authoritie an brough t St Pau fo arraignmen o charge o sendin scurrilou an defamator throug th mails Afte spendin a nigh ith Ramse Count jail Shoemake wa release o$5,00 bond H wa accuse o sendin a lette tbanke Rober W Putnam addresse to "Robbe o' Her an below se Dyson Red Harvest, 6-14 37-38" Her an below se intervie wit Mildre ScherfJun 24 1987 note i author' possession Goodhue County Historical News, vol 14 no 1 1980 p 3 Organized Farmer, Nov 30 p 4 Dec 14 p 8 1928' Organized Farmer, Dec 27 1929 Th tarif billwidel criticize i Europe impose hig dutie o agricul an manufacture imports' Organized Farmer, Mar 7 21 1930" Minnesota Union Advocate (St Paul) Apr 3 1930 p416Minnesota History ThImprobablJourneoFranci HShoemakeFrederic L JohnsoA A CONGRESSMAN-ELEC fro Minnesot anrecen Leavenwort priso parolee h boasted ' gfro th penitentiar t Congress no lik a grea majorit o Congressme wh g fro Congres t thpenitentiary. H wa arreste o fou separat occasion durin hi two-yea ter i th House—oncwhe h bloodie a Washingto neighbo fo "tomuc singin o Swee Adeline."Hi outrageou behavio an reckles campaigstyl mad hi repugnan t leader whos organiza spanne Minnesota' broa politica rainbo o 1930s Fro th left wher th Trotskyit leader o th 193 Minneapoli truckers strik labele a irresponsibl exhibitionist t th right wher Republica Congressma Augus H An sue hi fo slander—hi nam wa anathemaRespecte leader fro hi ow politica cam denigrate him an Henr G Teigan on o th FarmerLabo (F-L party' foundin fathers sai h wa givet "spdlin fabrication instea o facts. A historia o part calle hi a "part sycophant."H wa Franci H Shoemaker a Farmer-Labo' Congressional Record, 73r Cong. 1s sess. 1933 p136 New York Times, Apri 20 1933 p 1 Al newspapecitation hereafte ar t pag 1 unles otherwis noted^ Farrel Dobbs Teamster Rebellion (Ne York MonaPress 1972) 88-89 Teiga t Richar Manthe Jun 191931 Henr G Teiga Papers Minnesot Historica Societ(MHS) Arthu Naftalin " Histor o th Farmer-LaboPart o Minnesota (Ph.D thesis Universit o Minnesota1948) 216' Organized Farmer (Re Wing) Mar 21 1930 Jun 31932 Biographical Directory oj the American Congress 1774-1971 (Washington D.C GPO 1971) 1692-1693Congressional Directory, 73r Cong. 1s sess. 1933 p55—56 N evidenc support hi clai abou LaFollette" Lowel K Dyson Red Harvest: The Communist Party and American Farmers (Lincoln Universit o NebraskPress 1982) 6-14 Congressional Directory, 73r Cong. 1ssess. 1933 p 55—56candidat electe at-larg t th Seventy-thir Congres i 1932 H als wa a editor writer lecturertraveler specia investigator farmer unio organizeran self-proclaime wrecke o politica machines(Ironically Shoemaker' recor wa t prov tha th"machines h mos ofte wrecke wer thos wit h wa closel affiliated.BOR T Franci M an Regin D Shoemake iMinnesota' Renvill Count o Apri 25 1889 FranciHenr Shoemake wa kep ou o publi schoo an a hom b hi mothe because a h wa tclai i late life h wa mor advance tha otheran conventiona schoo "retarde hi progress. Thaprogress accordin t hi 193 campaig biographyinclude a lon an activ caree a a labo organize leader Bu th claim h mad abou hi participa i th movemen appea exaggerated Durin hi193 campaign h asserte tha h wa a "knowspeaker b ag 14 a to organize fo th WesterFederatio o Miner b 17 an a investigato foWdlia "Bi Bdl Haywood Shoemake claime t b connected wit severa post-Worl Wa I strike an sai tha b wa a adviso t Wisconsin'popula Progressiv senator Rober LaFollette.Shoemaker firs well-documente mov int thnationa labo spotligh bega wit hi appearanc a a 192 conventio o farme an labo group i Chicago Shoemaker the edito o a Wisconsi profarme newspaper The People's Voice, wa a delegatt th convention H ha develope Wisconsi root hi day ther a a Nonpartisa Leagu orga an ha me an marrie Lydgi H Schneide oNe Londo i April 1912.Frederick Johnson, a native oj Red Wing and an award-winning teacher in the St. Paul school system, has a long­standing interest in the history oj the Goodhue County area. He is the author oj Th Se Win Disaste (1986). Spring 1989 16