American Legion of Lake Mills Correspondence

July 1, 1921

Prof. O.E. Rolvaag Secy. Faedrearven Care St Olafs College Northfield, Minn.

My Dear Sir;-

It has come to the attention of the local post of the American Legion that your society intends to hold its annual meeting in Lake Mills this week and that on the day of July Fourth, the day set aside to celebrate the birth of our country, it is your intention to hold a part of your excersises in a foreign language.

In view of the above circumstances the writer was requested to call a meeting of the Officers and Executive committee of the Post. This was done and the following sentiment was found and it was unanimously decided that it be communicated with you.

That on a day set aside for patriotic purposes of celebrating our countries independence that it would be a lack of courtesy to hold a public service in a foreign language. That in view of the great loyalty of the people of Norwegian descent during the recent war we feel sure that you will be glad to comply with this request. That if this meeting is held in a foreign language on the Fourth that there will be considerable displeasure among many citizens. Therefore we respectfully request that meetings be held in the AMERICAN language and that proper observance of the day be maintained.

In closing we wish to welcome your society to Lake Mills and express the hope that your visit is a pleasent one.

Yours very sincerely,

John R. King, Post Com. C.M. Tapager, Post Adj.

Lake Mills Improvement Ass'n.

OFFICERS

H. L. HILL President

J. M. TAPAGER Vice President

A. M. SHEIMO Treasurer

M. A. AASGAARD Secretary

DIRECTORS

H. L. HILL

A. M. SHEIMO

J. R. KING

I. L. MOEN

I. A. NELSON

ARCHIE R. NELSON

J. M. TAPAGER

LAKE MILLS, IOWA

July 1, 1921

Prof. O. E. Rolvaag, Sec'y. Faedrearven, Northfield, Minn.

Dear Sir:

As directors and officers of the Lake Mills Improvement Association, our Commercial Club, we welcome to Lake Mills the National Meeting "Faedrearven" July 3rd.-4-5-.

We appreciate the honor shown us by your selection of Lake Mills as the place for this great meeting.

This community has but recently finished one of the finest Norwegian Lutheran Churches in this part of the country and it is a well and generally known fact that the population of this community is more than 90% Norwegian.

Now in view of the foregoing conditions, we are all the more desirous and watchful that no action or proceedure of said meeting be of a nature that would prove distasteful or out of harmony with our extensive programme of Americanization. The great majority of the Norwegian people were at heart loyal Americans throughout the great struggle of the World War, and during this trying time as at all times previous, they proved themselves some of the most virile and most valuable citizens of that amalgamation of nationalities which we call American. Therefore let us perform no careless act now to bring us in the least sense into disrepute as true and sincere Americans. We must remember that over a large part of this great Nation all evidences of foreignism have through long association been lost in the composite whole and in the mind of that element there is no more clinging to or promotion of the things of the fatherland, - no similarity to "the house that was devided against itself". Therefore in this instance let us do nothing to engender unfavorable comment either verbally or from the press.

We offer this warning in view of the fact that objection has been raised by local Norwegian people as well as others, to the idea of holding "Faedrearven on July 4th. which is a holiday for the celebration of our American Independence; the Birthday of the Nation. And we now learn for the first time as per programme published in the Lake Mills Graphic that an oration will be delivered in the Norwegian language by Prof. D. G. Ristal. In courtesy to this Country and an unadulterated Americanism we in the most friendly and co-operative spirit suggest and request that nothing be done by any over enthusiastic individual during "Faedrearven" which might possibly arouse

Lake Mills Improvement Ass'n.

OFFICERS

H. L. HILL President

J. M. TAPAGER Vice President

A. M. SHEIMO Treasurer

M. A. AASGAARD Secretary

DIRECTORS

H. L. HILL

A. M. SHEIMO

J. R. KING

I. L. MOEN

I. A. NELSON

ARCHIE R. NELSON

J. M. TAPAGER

LAKE MILLS, IOWA

Prof. Rolvaag #2.

unfavorable comment, and we especially ask that all services on July 4th. be in the English language and of a nature to promote only things American so that it cannot be said that on this Nation's Birthday the Norwegian people promoted or fostered things Norwegian. In harmony with such a spirit all parts of the programme should ring with American spirit and in the American Language. In fact it is a rare opportunity for the Norwegian people to show their appreciation of the blessings they have received in the land of their adoption.

Therefore, as a civic and community organization, representative of the people in general, and committed to a policy of securing "the co-operation of all local agencies on an extensive programme of Americanization" as stated in the duties of our sub. division on Education, we ask that you assist in making every action and word on our Glorious Nation's Birthday, beyond unfavorable comment or criticism.

We doubt not the realy loyalty or the genuine American, patriotic spirit of any man, but let us all, especially on our National Independence day avoid any suggestion by Act or Word that we are anything but loyal, unadulterated, 100% Americans.

We also desire to inform you confidentially that agencies of this State and Nation are watching the conduct of this meeting closely.

"Faedrearven" we extend to you, as true Americans, the glad hand of fellowship and welcome you to Lake Mills in a spirit of True Americanism.

Yours most respectfully and sincerely,

LAKE MILLS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

H. L. Hill President.

I. L. Moen Vice Pres. Director

A. M. Sheimo Treas.

absent Sec'y.

J. M. Tapager Director Vice Pres.

J. R. King Director.

I. A. Nelson "

[?] Mayor, Pro Tem

Mr. John R. King, Post Commander, American Legion, Lake Mills Iowa.

1921

My Dear Mr. King:--

I am in receipt of your letter dated July 1st inst. I did not receive your letter before I left for Lake Mills. I do not know that the letter needs an answer, as you are fully aware of the subsequent developments. Yet, in order that you may understand us better, I send you this answer:

In the first place, we had invited Dr. L. W. Boe of St. Olaf College to deliver the address of the day in the English language. That it was to be the address of the day was specifically stated on the program. President Boe is too well known in your community to need any kind of opology. And he delivered a splendid address.

In the second place, we had also invited Professor D. G. Ristad to address the meeting in the Norwegian language upon any topic he might choose. That he was to speak in Norwegian you interpret as an act of discourtesy, because Norwegian is a foreign language. To this I wish to state a fact of which you should be perfectly well aware: the Norwegian language is certainly not foreign to the prairies surrounding Lake Mills! The strongest accusation you can possibly make against said language is this that it is a settlement language. But how it can in any way can be called discourtesy to address the people in their own settlement [language?], we at least fail to understand. (over!)

But irrespective of that fact we have never known [heard?] that courtesy consisted in lip service. We have always been taught that the virtue of courtesy was a matter of the heart.

We fell very much distressed because of this action of the Post at Lake Mills. It is the most unpleasant experience that we have ever had. For it has never happened to us before that we have come as invited guest into any a community and been told that we must not do thus and so, but not this and that.

We are also at a loss to understand this action of the Post at Lake Mills. We were invited by the Salem Lutheran Congregation and not by your Post. We were the guests of said congregation and not of your Post. Hence, it does look rather strange, to put it mildly, that the Post should see fit to interfere in matters which belong to another body. This act, to our mind, comes dangerously near to being a brich breach of courtesy.

Times are very serious in our beloved country just now. It will take all the sane sanity our people have to get out of present difficulties. It seems to us that a Post of the American Legion should be the last organization to put obstructions in the way for people that come together in a peaceable manner to discuss and take counsil with one another how we best can to meet the dangers threatening our nation.

Very respectfully yours

O. E. Rölvaag, Secretary for "Fodrearven".