The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., December 01, 1926, Page 15, Image 15

December 1926
THE UNITED AMERICAN
as a political messenger before it accidently fell into
the hands of some conscientious American citizens
of Scandinavian birth who challenged the ticket and
threatened its authors with serious consequences if
this attempted political fraud went further. An im­
mediate investigation by these protestants revealed,
according to information obtained from them, that
over ten thousand voters with Scandinavian names
had been carefully selected, as the victims to be, in
this scheme to deliver votes. Their names had, at
great expense, been copied from the registration
books of Portland and Multnomah County and a
printed letter with a strong plea for Scandinavian
political solidarity, signed by the same authority, was
ready to go into ten thousand two cent stamped en­
velopes which had been addressed and were ready for
the mails. Four printed copies of the “ticket” were
scheduled to accompany the letter, which was timed
to go out as an eleventh hour messenger, thereby
leaving little chance for the recipients to make any
investigation of this would-be organization, until after
they had voted.
The challenge had too much of a margin in its favor
to be disregarded, for the organization was only myth­
ical—clearly devised to enable some unscrupulous in­
dividuals to perpetrate a wholesale political fraud and,
if possible, through the means of deception, deliver
the bulk of the unsophisticated voters of Scandina­
vian birth and extraction.
As the name would imply that the “Federation”
was a political clearing house for all social and re­
ligious subdivisions of the three Scandinavian na­
tionalities, at least within the borderlines of Multno­
mah County, it would have been a foolhardy move
for the schemers to have carried out their plans “in
the. nude,” in the face of these protests, as it might,
in the end, have carried with it enough in damages
to more than offset the revenues collected on the
bargain. Considerable hurrying and anxiety was
subsequently noticeable in certain quarters of allied
interest, according to those who made it their busi­
ness to see that at least the subdivisions of the Scandi­
navian groups which they represented, should not be­
come involved, should the matter be made subject to
justifiable criticism.
The die had been cast. The bargain made. There
was apparently no way of keeping the membership of
the official sponsors for the “Scandinavian Civic
Federation” in the dark. The selection of the all-
embracing name had proved a boomerang. The
“tickets” with the “Federation” label had to be dis­
carded, likewise the letters. A new letter had to oe
printed and a new set. of election tickets run off.
For some reason, perhaps best known to the sponsors
of the scheme, they decided to issue the new set of
election tickets over the names of a “committee” of
hyphenated Americans, who were willing to challenge
every sound precept of Americanism to preserve and
continue the “Scandinavian” solidarity in American
elections. Their “prominence” in the nationality
groups was evidently thought sufficiently strong to
“pull” as well as the name that.had to be eliminated.
A few eliminations of candidates from the original
ticket had also been made, which indicated that, on
Page Fifteen
second thought, a racial and religious slant to the
scheme had entered in.
*
*
*
In giving the text of the letter that finally went
out to the “Scandinavian” voters on the eve of the
primary election, we have eliminated the names of
the candidates, several of whom were nominated, and
since that time have been elected. The only thing of
interest to the readers of The United American is the
language in which the subtle appeal was made, and its
signatories. In reading the letter please place accent
on the “we” and “our” which The United American
has emphasized by using capital letters:
Fellow Scandinavian:
The Scandinavian people have always exerted their in­
fluences for good government.
The proper men in office is the basis of good govern­
ment, therefore a Committee have taken upon them­
selves the responsibility of suggesting for your consider­
ation the candidates who have submitted their names
' for public office in the coming primaries. WE respect­
fully request you to give them your support.
WE are enclosing extra tickets with the hope that
you will find the time to interest your friends in the •
cause of OUR candidates..
The following is a brief summary. of the record of
the candidates for Senator, Congressman and Governor.
For OUR national officers, Mr.—blank blank—has the
endorsement of many of the leading papers of Oregon,
the Anti-Saloon League and Veterans. He is young,
vigorous and has a fine record as a public official.
Mr.—blank blank—, candidate for Congress needs no
introduction. WE elected him two years ago. He has
made good.
Mr.—blank blank—, candidate for Governor, endorsed
by Labor, The Anti-Saloon League and other organiza-
tions, has a long and creditable career as a public
official.
WE especially point out to you the following candi-
dates of Scandinavian descent.—blank blank,—blank
blank,—blank blank,—blank blank,—blank blank,—blank
blank,—blank blank,—blank blank, —and —blank blank,
WE hope that our efforts will be of assistance to you.
Yours very truly,
0. 0. SLETTEN,
A. LEONARD ANDERSON,
KARL NORDBERG,
G. F. BUCKMAN,
AXEL LANDEEN,
VICTOR OLSEN,
EMIL G. PETERSON,
ARTHUR B. CARLSON.
BEN SELBERG,
(The addresses of the signatories which appeared under each
name in the letter, have been eliminated as immaterial).
The last two named candidates, recommended in
the letter, are both from long line American families of
Scotch extraction.
With few exceptions the “ticket” was successful.
Just what part the “ticket” played in the nomination
of those who were recommended, is doubtful, although
the sponsors claim due credit—a valuable asset, if
believed, when they press for additional political re­
muneration. It is safe, however, to presume that it
added a mighty nice little quota to the winners’ safe
margin, for the nationality appeal has a wonderful
charm among the masses who have acquired Ameri­
can citizenship, yet have failed to renounce the spirit
of fealty for the native land.
In the November election campaign the same
“committee,” with the exception of A. Leonard Ander-
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