1/1/2009:
North Dakota's most colorful political era was arguably the 1910s and 1920s. Countless books and articles have been written about the Nonpartisan League, Governor Frazier and the nation's first recall election. But unique among these many works is the autobiography of Era Bell Thompson. Her recollections give modern readers a rare glimpse at the state's political past, through the eyes of an African-American schoolgirl.
Era Bell Thompson's father had been actively involved in politics before moving to North Dakota. After serving as a cloakroom attendant for the Iowa senate, he felt right at home among political circles. But as Era Bell recalled, "[w]hen he left politics back in Des Moines, a rock-bound farm in the middle of North Dakota was the last place in the world he expected to find it again..." But when the Nonpartisan League stormed through the farming community, Era Bell's father's was swept up right along with it. In 1916, her father attended a political rally for the Nonpartisan League gubernatorial candidate, Lynn Frazier. The first in line to shake Frazier's hand, he said, "Remember me...when you get to the capital. I'm Tony Thompson."
Frazier did remember Tony. On this day in 1917, Era Bell's father received a telegram from Bismarck, appointing him as private messenger to the Governor. Thompson left immediately, leaving his family behind to manage the farm.
Tony Thompson thoroughly enjoyed his new position. Sitting behind a big desk at the end a long reception room, Mr. Thompson received the Governor's callers and freely handed out advice to anyone willing to listen. According to Era Bell, since her father had experience in another state capitol, the farmers-turned-politicians were often seeking him out for advice, including on occasion, the governor.
Era Bell even got in on the action. During the final week of the legislative assembly, Era Bell and her mother traveled to Bismarck. They toured the capitol building, met the governor and witnessed the closing night of the assembly. She wrote, "They set the clocks back so they could close at midnight, then proceeded to fight until dawn....[P]eople roamed the big halls as if they were going to a circus...Fist fights broke out in the corridors and on the floor. "He's got a gun!" someone shouted...and all bedlam broke loose...It was wonderful."
A few years later, Mr. Thompson planned a party for a small group of his capitol friends. Word of the party spread quickly and soon the number of people crowding into the house exceeded the number of invitations extended. Among the party crashers was none other than governor himself. Feigning hurt, Governor Frazier asked "What do you mean, snubbing me, Tony? Why, I always thought you and I were friends." Following a period of stunned speechlessness, Mr. Thompson led the men in a round of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."
Shortly after the party, Governor Frazier was removed from office following a recall election and Mr. Thompson's tenure in the capitol came to end.
Written by Christina Sunwall
Sources:
Anderson, Kathie R. "Era Bell Thompson: A North Dakota Daughter." In The Centennial Anthology of North Dakota History: Journal of the Northern Plains, ed. Janet Daley Lysengen and Ann Rathke, 167-172. Bismarck, ND: State Historical Society of North Dakota, 1996.
Thompson, Era Bell. American Daughter. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1946.