Minnesota Commission of Public Safety

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The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety was established by the legislature in April of 1917 (Laws 1917 c261), shortly after the United States entered World War I. The seven-member commission (governor, attorney general, and five persons appointed by the governor) was given broad powers to ensure the protection of persons and property, the defense of the state and the nation, and the application of the state's resources to "successful prosecution" of the war.

During its short life (most of its orders were rescinded in February, 1919) the commission was very active. Committees and subcommittees were formed to deal with food and fuel conservation and regulation, marketing of crops, labor relations and employment, and Americanization. The Commission ordered the establishment of the Home Guard of Minnesota, with its auxiliary; the Minnesota Motor Corps Division; and a corps of emergency local peace officers. Mechanism was provided for the establishment of county and local public safety commissions with directors and secretaries appointed by the state commission. Existing state agencies cooperated with the commission in many activities.

The commission maintained ties with the Council of National Defense, other states' defense councils, the War Industries Board, the War Trade Board, the Food and Fuel administrations, and other national or federal agencies.

The commission issued 59 executive orders, which dealt with the regulation of liquor traffic, dance halls, and poolrooms; and provided for the registration of aliens and their property holdings, a farm crop and labor census, regulation of milk prices and the manufacture and distribution of bread, a statewide barberry eradication program, creation of municipal wood yards, and prohibitions against the employment of aliens as teachers and the use of foreign languages in schools.

The commission also formed an employment bureau, primarily concerned with providing farm labor, a speakers bureau, and a publicity bureau, which provided material to local newspapers, distributed pamphlets and leaflets in several languages, and published a weekly bulletin, Minnesota in the War . It also supported the "Liberty Chorus" and community sing movement. Following the devastating forest fires in northern Minnesota in 1918, the commission assisted in relief efforts. A Woman's Committee (officially the Women's Division) existed more or less independently of the commission, although it received funding from it. It, too, had county and local affiliates.

The commission viewed the suppression of disloyalty and preservation of public order as one of its primary responsibilities, and it was the one that aroused the most public attention. According to its final report, the commission had received close to 700 complaints regarding disloyalty or sedition "cases," and many other complaints of violations of its various orders. The commission held several special hearings and conducted many more private investigations regarding the reports and complaints.

The commission's orders were rescinded in January and February, 1919, but the commission continued to meet until 1920 and did not formally tie up all its affairs until 1921, when its records were turned over to the War Records Commission.

From the guide to the Main files, 1917-1919., (Minnesota Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Agents' reports to T. G. Winter, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Cotton, Donald Reed, 1883-. Donald R. Cotton papers, 1915-1919, 1925. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Reports and publications, 1917-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Records relating to Pierce Butler's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court., 1917-1922. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Mexican border service bonus correspondence and vouchers, 1919-1921. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Mahoney, William, 1869-1952. William Mahoney papers, 1890-1951. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Gold star roll, [1918?]-[1921?]. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Karow, Edward, 1884-. Edward Karow scrapbooks, 1917-1925. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Records of county branches, 1917-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. General correspondence, 1917-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Main files, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Schaper, William August, 1869-1955. William A. Schaper papers, 1917-1938. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn John and Norman Lind papers., 1870-1933. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Minutes, 1917-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Special Food Committee files, [ca.1917]-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Brill, Hascal R. (Hascal Russel), 1846-1922. Hascal R. Brill and family papers, 1805, 1849-1964. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Burnquist, J. A. A. (Joseph Alfred Arner), 1879-1961. J. A. A. Burnquist papers, 1884-1961. Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Clippings scrapbooks, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Quigley, Walter Eli, 1890-1962. Out where the west begins, [1932?]. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press (Saint Paul, Minn.). Historical materials, 1862-2001 (bulk 1862-1948). Minnesota Historical Society Library
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Alien registration correspondence and other records, 1917-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Miscellaneous records, 1917-1921. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Alien registration lists, 1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Speakers Bureau records, 1917-[1918?]. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Marketing Committee shipping data files, 1917-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Historical materials., 1862-2001 (bulk 1862-1948). Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Marketing Committee correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1917-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Public Employment Bureau miscellaneous records, 1917-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Petitions and transcripts of testimony in investigations, 1917-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. Records, 1894-1923 Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Americanization Committee records, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association records, 1894-1923 [microform]. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Wattson, Marshman S., 1912-1962. Records relating to Pierce Butler's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, 1917-1922. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Publicity Bureau files, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Correspondence with counties, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Lind, John, 1854-1930. John and Norman Lind papers, 1870-1933. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Minnesota. Game and Fish Dept. Miscellaneous records, 1915-1931. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Expense lists (voucher and warrant abstracts), 1917-1924. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Main files, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Correspondence of the Director of Liberty Choruses and Community Singing, [ca.1917]-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Commission correspondence, 1917-1921 (bulk 1919-1921). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Casualty lists and related materials, 1918-1920. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Speakers Bureau card file, 1917-[1918?]. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. Minnesota in the war, 1917-1919. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Out where the west begins., [1932?]. Minnesota Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brill, Hascal R. (Hascal Russel), 1846-1922. person
associatedWith Burnquist, J. A. A. (Joseph Alfred Arner), 1879-1961. person
associatedWith Cotton, Donald Reed, 1883- person
associatedWith Karow, Edward, 1884- person
associatedWith Lind, John, 1854-1930. person
associatedWith Mahoney, William, 1869-1952. person
associatedWith Minnesota. Adjutant General's Office corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. Game and Fish Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota. National Guard. corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota War Records Commission corporateBody
associatedWith Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. corporateBody
associatedWith National Nonpartisan League. corporateBody
associatedWith Quigley, Walter Eli, 1890-1962. person
associatedWith Schaper, William August, 1869-1955. person
associatedWith St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press (Saint Paul, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press (Saint Paul, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Wattson, Marshman S., 1912-1962. person
associatedWith White, Thomas P. person
associatedWith Winter, T.G. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota--New Ulm
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
New Ulm (Minn.)
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Welcome (Minn.)
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Trosky (Minn.)
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Koochiching County (Minn.)
Caylon (Minn.)
Triumph (Minn.)
Minnesota
Blooming Prairie (Minn.)
Subject
Agriculture
Alcoholic beverage industry
Aliens
Aliens
Americanization
American newspapers
Bounties, Military
Choral singing
Coal
Community music
Draft
Draft
Employment agencies
Enforcing
Feeds
Feeds
Food industry and trade
Food prices
Food supply
Foreign language publications
Forest fires
Forest fires
Fuel
Fuel
Hay trade
Hotels, taverns, etc.
Immigrants
Industrial relations
Industrial relations
Influenza
Investigating
Lectures and lecturing
Liquor industry
Liquor traffic
Manpower policy
Manpower policy
Marketing
Minnesota
Misconduct in office
Naturalization
Onion industry
Patriotism
Propaganda, Anti
Propaganda, Anti
Publicizing
Rationing
Rationing
Shipment of goods
Subversive activities
Subversive activities
Veterans
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
Women orators
Occupation
Activity
Accounting
Coordinating
Disbursing
employing
Enforcing
Investigating
Publicizing
Recording
Registering
Researching

Corporate Body

Active 1917

Active 1924

Information

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