William L. Harding
Encyclopedia
William Lloyd Harding was from Sioux City, Iowa
and the 22nd Governor of Iowa from 1917 to 1921.
, Harding opposed extending voting rights for women
and road improvements. He garnered support from German-American voters who did not like Woodrow Wilson
's pro-British
positions in order to win election.
One of his more infamous acts was to issue the Babel Proclamation
in 1918. This act, which is widely believed to have been unconstitutional
, forbade the use of foreign language
s in public, over the telephone, in school, and in religious services. It came about due to the large Anti-German sentiment during the First World War
. In addition to the Babel Proclamation, his time in office was marred by other scandals. In addition to his hostility towards people of German descent, he was also hostile towards other ethnic groups, such as Iowans of Norwegian descent. He is buried in a mausoleum at the Graceland Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa
.
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
and the 22nd Governor of Iowa from 1917 to 1921.
Biography
Born in 1877 in Sibley, IowaSibley, Iowa
Sibley is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Osceola County. It is named after Henry Hastings Sibley, a prominent General during the Dakota War of 1862, who eventually became the first territorial governor of...
, Harding opposed extending voting rights for women
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and road improvements. He garnered support from German-American voters who did not like Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's pro-British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
positions in order to win election.
One of his more infamous acts was to issue the Babel Proclamation
Babel Proclamation
The Babel Proclamation was issued by Iowa's Governor William L. Harding on May 14, 1918, when he took the Anti-German Sentiment in the wake of World War I further than any other state...
in 1918. This act, which is widely believed to have been unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
, forbade the use of foreign language
Foreign language
A foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...
s in public, over the telephone, in school, and in religious services. It came about due to the large Anti-German sentiment during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In addition to the Babel Proclamation, his time in office was marred by other scandals. In addition to his hostility towards people of German descent, he was also hostile towards other ethnic groups, such as Iowans of Norwegian descent. He is buried in a mausoleum at the Graceland Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
.