WILLIAM L. HARDING - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/06/1922 - HFSID 3740

WILLIAM L. HARDING
The former Governor who banned the use of foreign languages in Iowa declares himself a "great personal admirer" of Theodore Roosevelt.
Typed Letter signed: "W. L. Harding", 1 page, 8½x11. Des Moines, Iowa, 1922 April 6. On his letterhead as President of Liberty Life Insurance Co. to Elmer V. Heise, Syracuse, New York. In full: "Your letter of the 23rd ult. at hand and noted. I am inclosing an outline of remarks made by me at a memorial in honor of Theodore Roosevelt held in Springfield, Illinois, February 12th, 1919. In this outline I tried to show the influence that a man of Mr. Roosevelt's place in history had upon one single state. The outline is not long, you can read it hurriedly and I take it will be able to cull from this the particular thing that you want for your book. Let me say in passing that I appreciate the opportunity of having a part in this work for I was a very great personal admirer of Mr. Roosevelt. Cordially yours". Republican William Lloyd Harding (1877-1934)was Lieutenant Governor (1913-1917) and Governor (1917-1921) of Iowa. He is best remembered for what came to be called the Babel Proclamation, forbidding public use of foreign languages in Iowa. The ban, widely regarded as unconstitutional, forbade use of foreign languages in houses of worship as well as in schools, and even over the telephone. Harding even declared that God did not hear prayers spoken in languages other than English. This executive decree was prompted by anti-German sentiment during World War I, but Harding's hostility to immigrants extended to all such groups, including Iowa's large Norwegian population. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Corners and edges creased and lightly worn. Otherwise, fine condition.