Joseph A. A. Burnquist
Encyclopedia
Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist (July 21, 1879 January 12, 1961) was an American politician. He served in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1909 1911, was elected the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
in 1912, and then served as the 19th Governor of Minnesota
from December 30, 1915 to January 5, 1921. He became Governor after the death of Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
. He later served the state as Attorney General from January 2, 1939 until January 3, 1955. He was a Republican.
and earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School
in 1905. After a brief time practicing law in St. Paul, he entered politics as a state legislator in 1908. During his second term as lieutenant governor, he succeeded Governor Hammond, who died in office.
Turbulent times surrounded America's entrance into World War I in 1917. Not all Americans supported U.S. involvement in a European war, and this feeling was heightened in Minnesota
because of dissatisfaction among farmers and laborers, who were more concerned with domestic policy than with the conflict overseas. Supporters of the war, suspicious of radicals, pacifists, and the foreign-born, acted quickly to stifle dissent. Through the Public Safety Commission—which Burnquist created in 1917 to monitor public sentiment toward the war—he quashed pacifist demonstrations and denounced in his final inaugural message those "few socialistically and anarchistically inclined" who questioned America's involvement in "the world's baptism
of blood." The commission, ostensibly nonpartisan, firmly opposed any action its conservative members considered suspect or un-American.
While primarily concerned with war issues, Burnquist also initiated legislation that improved the state highways, disaster assistance programs, labor relations, and, especially the welfare of children. After leaving office he practiced law for 17 years before beginning his lengthy tenure as state attorney general
in 1936. Until his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota at 81, Burnquist maintained the bearing and manner of a strong-willed senior statesman.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in 1912, and then served as the 19th Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
from December 30, 1915 to January 5, 1921. He became Governor after the death of Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
Winfield Scott Hammond
Winfield Scott Hammond was an American politician. He was a Democrat.Born in 1863 in Southborough, Massachusetts, he served from Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives in the 60th,...
. He later served the state as Attorney General from January 2, 1939 until January 3, 1955. He was a Republican.
Biography
He was born in 1879 in Dayton, IowaDayton, Iowa
Dayton is a city in Webster County, Iowa, United States. The population was 884 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dayton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
in 1905. After a brief time practicing law in St. Paul, he entered politics as a state legislator in 1908. During his second term as lieutenant governor, he succeeded Governor Hammond, who died in office.
Turbulent times surrounded America's entrance into World War I in 1917. Not all Americans supported U.S. involvement in a European war, and this feeling was heightened in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
because of dissatisfaction among farmers and laborers, who were more concerned with domestic policy than with the conflict overseas. Supporters of the war, suspicious of radicals, pacifists, and the foreign-born, acted quickly to stifle dissent. Through the Public Safety Commission—which Burnquist created in 1917 to monitor public sentiment toward the war—he quashed pacifist demonstrations and denounced in his final inaugural message those "few socialistically and anarchistically inclined" who questioned America's involvement in "the world's baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
of blood." The commission, ostensibly nonpartisan, firmly opposed any action its conservative members considered suspect or un-American.
While primarily concerned with war issues, Burnquist also initiated legislation that improved the state highways, disaster assistance programs, labor relations, and, especially the welfare of children. After leaving office he practiced law for 17 years before beginning his lengthy tenure as state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 1936. Until his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota at 81, Burnquist maintained the bearing and manner of a strong-willed senior statesman.