May 1, 1950
The eyes of the world were on Mosinee, May 1, 1950.
It was the day long talked about, and still talked about, when the city staged a one-day demonstration on how life would be under communism.
Although the local committee, in charge of the arrangements, and the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion, which had hoped for a modest amount of national publicity, it is doubtful whether they remotely dreamed of the tremendous press, newsreel, television and radio coverage, not only nation-wide, but world-wide, which attended the event.
No advance schedule of the day's program was released. The committee in charge wanted to avoid crowds of outside curiosity seekers.
In explaining this position of the sponsors, a Time editorial said on April 19:
"We would like to point out that there isn't going to be a great deal to see for the outsider. Communism isn't something that you SEE as much as you FEEL. The visitor to Mosinee just isn't going to see things that will make his trip worthwhile. The people who take part in the pageant will be the ones who get the benefit from the program. So if you will discourage visitors on this day you will be helping those who are planning the event and those were are taking part in it."
Yet, the news coverage for that day far exceeded any hopes or plans the originators ever wished for.
Nine newspapers and wire services covered the event, seven radio and television stations were on hand two magazines were represented and five news pictures and movie companies filmed the activities.
"Never in the history of this nation has a small community had the news coverage, except for a catastrophe, that Mosinee will have for their 'Day Under Communism' on Monday, May 1." announced General Chairman Schweigler in the April 26 issue of the Times.
The Times then gave a breakdown of the various news media who were going to cover the event:
"all of those have made necessary the most complete communication system ever set up in the community, according to Earl Bachman, manager of the local telephone company. Many of the organizations are taking over out-going lines for as much as two hours at one time. Others are asking for the direct lines to Milwaukee and Chicago. In addition to the telephone services, Western Union at the depot and the teletype at the Mill are being pressed into service.
"Some of the newspapers not depending upon either telephone or telegraph and are flying their pictures and stories out of Mosinee at intervals during the day.
When the actual day arrived, the scope of news coverage indicated was exceeded far beyond the broad pattern indicated.
The planning began in February, 1950. On April 12, 1950, Times Editor Francis F. Schweinler, general chairman of Mosinee's committee, announced the plan in his lead story.
"The idea for teaching Americanism by making use of a program of this type originated with John Decker, assistant city attorney for Milwaukee, who has served as Judge Advocate for the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion and has been active in the un-American activities work in the Legion.
"A group of local citizens consisting of E.C. Klug, Henry Decker, N.S. Stone, Henry Steffes, William Mayer, Howard Dessert, Earl Bachman, E.P. Wenstadt, Al Moldenhauler, C.M. Green, E.J. Oleson and Francis Schweinier were approached with this proposal last February when Mosinee was selected as the right type of community which to present a program to the nation.
"Since the time the group has met on two occasions with Paul Thielen, public relations director for the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion, to work out the broad plans for the day."
The date, May 1, is of particular significance to those who follow Communist ideology. Once observed as international Labor Day the Communist international took over the day in celebration of the "People's Revolution," which would one day engulf all of the world's remaining "capitalist nations."
The sponsor of Mosinee's May Day were thus turning the tables on the Communist ideology. The citizens of Mosinee would be subjected for one day to a Communist type government to demonstrate their blessings under a democratic form of government.
Not only were state legion officials in touch with the developments, but Jack Cenjar, chief of the press section of the national public relations division of the American Legion, sat in on some planning sessions, as did Joseph Kornfeder, Detroit, an ex-communist, who was to be commissar for the day.
By April 26, the planned event had captured the country's imagination.
Why was Mosinee selected as the site for the May 1 "Communist Coup"?
Charles Larson, Port Washington state American Legion commander, declared:
"Mosinee was selected by the Legion as the site of the demonstration because it is a typical American community, far removed from the scenes where Communists normally are active.
"Mosinee citizens, whose Americanism can never be questioned, are voluntarily surrendering their American heritage of freedom for a day as an object lesson to all Americans.
"Mosinee is about the right size for a staging of such a project. Wile others were considered as possible sites, Mosinee is the only one with which th Legion has helped discussion at any times."
The morning of Monday, May 1 dawned shiveringly cold and cloudy. Snow covered the ground on this unseasonably cold day.
At 6 a.m. a flying squad of 'Comrades" thundered on the door of the residence of Mayor Raiph E. Kronenwetter, 303 Third Street. He was placed under arrest. Cheif of police Carl Gewiss was seized shortly thereafter at his residence next door.
The "Secret Police" and strong arm squads were mostly local legionnaires and ex-servicemen.Both men and women were taken to the City Hall. When Chief Gewiss refused to comply with Communist demands, he was "summarily dealt with," presumably "Liquidated."
The power plant of the Mosinee Paper Mills company was seized at about the same time. Local clergymen were rounded up and placed in a concentration camp.
Road blocks were set up and manned. "Activists" put up many kinds of banners and placards. The "Hammer and sickle" flag was hoisted over City Hall.
A parade was now organized by the party workers at the high school. Waving banners and placards, hailing the new regime and damning the old, adults and schoolchildren paraded along the streets.
The parade finally terminated at the intersection of Main and Third streets, 'Red Square' where a mass meeting followed.
Here the captive mayor was forced to make a statement - introduced Joseph Z. Kornfeder, "Chairman of the Council of Peoples' Commissors"who read a brief proclamation citing what the people of Mosinee MUST do.
Kornfeder's proclamation in turn was followed by a "brief" address on "The role of the Communist Party." by Benjamin Gittow, another prominent ex-communist who assisted the sponsors of the Mosniee program on the American Legion's invitation.
Seizure of Dessert Public Library was organized at the high school in the afternoon. "Commie Squads" then turned their attention to paper mill executives, prominent businessmen and other public officials. These were arrested and put in the concentration camp.
Homes were raided here and there for anti-communist literature. The Mosinee Theatre was raided. Instead of the scheduled film, "guilty of Treason," the theatre management was forced to show communist propaganda films.
Ration card were required to buy food. Paper "rubles" were the only acceptable currency. Mosinee merchants added a most graphic touch to "Life Under Communism" by advertising in their windows items commonplace to Americans at the astronomical prices such goods commanded in Communist countries.
The Mosinee Times was seized. Editor Schweinler was hustled off to an unknown fate. Emil Manney, shop superintendent, was forced to operate the printing press for publication of "The Red Star" proclaimed as the "new official newspaper of Mosinee's United Soviet States of America."
A "Council of People's Commissors" was proclaimed.
A 7 p.m. the community put off its mask of communism and wound up the day with an old fashioned Americanism rally at Dessert Park, which was climaxed by an address by State Legion Commander in which he said:
"We believe in the dignity of every human being in our United States of America regardless of his social or economic position; we believe in the existence of God and that all of the blessings we enjoy flow from God.
The emotions of 1,500 people were deeply stirred when Old Glory was run up the pole with a spotlight on it, and the high school band played the "Star Spangled Banner." The big day under Communism was over.
☭ The Red Star ☭
Official Soviet Proclamation!
Instructions To Citizens Released
History of Stalin, Our Valiant Leader
Joseph V. Stalin, real name Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili also known and loved as Kobom the Bandit who robbed banks during Tsarist days to supply money to the Russian Communist Party was born of tough Stock in Georgia.
In his early youth Stalin studied for the priesthood. But he was outraged by the Tsarists and capitalist injustice, which was supported by the priests. He rejected the religious nonsense being taught him, became an atheist and joined the Communist Party and together with Lenin planned the Communist Revolution of Russia.
Stalin early demonstrated his great qualities as a fearless revolutionary leader of dauntless courage and a physique and will of resilient steel.
Stalin, the revolutionist, headed a band a revolutionary desperadoes who defied the law, robbed and killed at will.
Sent to Prison Stalin defied the prison authorities, delivered communist speeches to the prisoners and organized cells of communist conspirators all over Siberia.
He broke the chains of his imprisonment and escaped to carry on his revolutionary activities all over Russia, delivering fiery speeches, organizing the Communist Party Underground strikes, robbing banks and preparing the strung arm gangs and military squads of hardened revolutionists for the overthrow of the Tsarists regime and the seizure of power.
Together with Lenin, the architect of the Proletarian Revolution he led the armed uprising on November 7, 1017 that overthrew the Russian government and established the Soviet Government of Russia.
Lenin called Stalin his partner and the greatest organizer the Proletarian Revolution had produced.
After Lenin died Stalin made short shrift of the old Bolsheviks traitors who threatened his power. They were all purged and Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico.
Truly the greatest leader the world has ever known is our beloved Stalin, the man of steel with a heart of cold granite.
He is the supreme commander of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, its general secretary.
Generalissimo Stalin is the world's greatest general and military genius.
Communism will soon conquer the world and then Stalin will be the supreme leader of the world and all its people.
Stalin commands a fifth column of 15,000,000 members of Communist Parties in the capitalist countries on imperialist dominated colonies.
He has guided us on this day, of our glorious and victorious proletarian revolution.
Hail Stalin the greatest political genius!
Stalinism is the beacon of the world!
We will follow Stalin until the world is ours!
Long live Proletarian Dictatorship!
Long Live the greatest of all dictators, the Almighty Stalin, the Red Star of the Universe, beloved of all humanity!!!
Legion Now Is Entirely Dead
The United Soviet States of America government is happy to announce the complete annihilation of one of its foremost traditional enemies - The American Legion.
This filthy pro-Fascist group has for many years opposed every method at its disposal to thwart our progress. This so-called "Legion" has been composed of dirty swine, who now find themselves at the mercy of the people, whose interests they have fought for so long.
All Legion officials and many individual Legionnaires are now treated as "Enemies of the People",Their arrest is hereby announced, and a complete and speedy trial is assured.
Confiscation of Autos Ordered
Automobiles formerly owned by individuals have been confiscated by the new government of the United Soviet States of America, Mosinee citizens who were able to obtain automobiles by shackling of the workers will discover that their former privileges no longer exist.
Under the new people's government, all men are equal, except in the case of the higher order of Communist officials. No one is permitted to own an automobile and thereby attach the stigma of foul capitalistic dogma to himself. Automobiles may be used only to further the progress of the United Soviet Stales of America.
Mosinee YCL Set to Meet
The Mosinee Young Communists League will meet in the High School Gymnasium at 3:00pm Monday, May 1, Joseph Z. Kornfeder, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, announce.
Speaking to the fine, Soviet-American youth will be Benjamin Gitlow, General Secretary of the Communist Party, who will explain the rele of young people under the new Communist government.
Secretary Gitlow will point out the fallacies of the imperialist capitalist rule, which had been in effect before the glorius revolution, and instruct the high school students what will be expected of them now.NOTICE!
This is the new official publication of Mosinee's United Soviet States of America government. It is published, in connection with the program as an extra edition of the Mosinee Times.
Published on Wednesday at Mosinee, in marathon county, Wisconsin, and entered as second class mail matter in the post office at Mosinee, Wis, under art of congress of March 3, 1879.United Soviet States of America
Proclamation
Issued this day, May 1, 1950, under the SUPREME
AUTHORITY of the COUNCIL OF PEOPLES
COMMISSARS
The people of the workers, farmers, and soldiers of America who have this day triumphed over capitalistic rule, overthrown the bourgeois government of the United States and seized power in their own hands, hereby decree with the full and unlimited authority of the COUNCIL OF PEOPLES COMMISSARS the following:
1. All private property is hereby abolished in the means of production and distribution, title to such property is immediately invested in the UNITED SOVIET STATES OF AMERICA which becomes its sole owner.
2. All land and subsoil resources are hereby nationalized without compensation to their former owners.
3. All industrial establishments, commercial enterprises, transportation facilities on land, sea and in the air and all communication services are hereby nationalized.
4. All water resources and facilities connected with industry, transportation, commerce and communication are hereby nationalized.
5. Ownership title to land is vested only in the UNITED SOVIET STATES OF AMERICA. All dwellings large and small, structures and edifices if all kinds wherever situated, including religious structures of all kinds, like churches, synagogues, convents, monasteries, religious schools, homes, hospitals and all humanitarian institutions and so forth conducted by religious organizations are hereby nationalized.
The COUNCIL OF PEOPLES COMMISSARS, by the authority vested in it by the newly established Socialist Government enacts the following measures in order....
Fuck it, you get the point...
Ughhh.....
Sources:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/7312/s7300695.jpg
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2184/s7300696.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1151/s7300697.jpg
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wmh/archives/search.aspx?area=browse&volume=77&articleID=39191
Assuming this has ties with McCarthy, who Zeno hates rather immensely, and the American Legion, who Zeno also doesn't like. To Zeno the whole article seems to be about bashing people's political and economic beliefs or whatever by hosting a pageant about "Life Under Communism." Than they say this... 'We believe in the dignity of every human being in our United States of America regardless of his social or economic position''.... what...? As a lefist Zeno finds this rather... confusing and offensive. Somewhat-somehow.
This issue of Americanism and how it was enforced by these.... freaks is just... eck. It's all propaganda, but alas, what do you guys think?
Keep in mind Zeno hardly ever makes own threads, so the OP and Zeno's opinion might be shitty, but... eh.
