Exhibit - "Education Not Politics": Election of 1918

In 1918, Neil C. Macdonald ran for re-election, and he again received the endorsement of the Nonpartisan League (NPL).

Between 1916 and 1918, the NPL's influence grew stronger, even expanding to surrounding states. In North Dakota, where the NPL's influence was strongest, the NPL was poised to take complete control of the state's government.

However, as the NPL's influence grew, so did their opposition. Macdonald and the NPL would face increased resistance during the 1918 campaign season. A political battle was brewing in the state between the NPL and their opposition. Various organizations had formed to stand against the NPL and its expansion, such as the Anti-Socialist League. The most successful organization to oppose the NPL was the Independent Voters Association (IVA). The IVA was formed in May 1918 and would later, in December, be chartered and incorporated. The IVA would have an uphill battle to challenge the NPL, but it would not take long for its influence to grow.

It was during this time that Minnie J. Nielson decided to run for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which was the only state office open to women at the time. Nielson was the current superintendent of schools in Barnes County, a role she had been serving in for 12 years. During her tenure in Barnes County, she became known for her frequent travels throughout the county in her bright red Maxwell automobile, which was one of the first automobiles in the area. Prior to being county superintendent, she taught physics and chemistry at Valley City High School, and she had experience with rural and grade schools.

The campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction heated up quickly and both sides went on the offensive.

Nielson was attacked by Macdonald and his NPL allies. Articles began appearing in pro-NPL newspapers questioning her legal qualifications for the position. The attacks focused on the fact that she had attended multiple colleges and universities (such as the University of North Dakota, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago), but she had not earned any degrees from them.

Nielson and her allies fired back and attacked Macdonald and the NPL for their alleged socialist leanings.

Macdonald rekindled his disdain for Nielson, which dated back several years. When Macdonald worked for the Department of Public Instruction and Nielson served as Barnes County superintendent, the two crossed paths professionally. Macdonald fostered a personal dislike for Nielson. In 1914, he wrote a letter to state superintendent Edwin J. Taylor calling into question Nielson's qualifications. Taylor responded with:

"There are some persons who hold that you are not friendly to Miss Nielson. I entertain the highest regard for Miss Nielson and her ability as an educator, and she has been very loyal to this department."

Taylor encouraged Macdonald to set aside his personal feelings and work in the best interest of the state’s schools by cooperating with Nielson.

Now in 1918, Macdonald focused his attacks on Nielson's qualifications, but in private he was much blunter. In a September 1918 letter, he wrote:

"They have a Miss Nielson after me; a dear, fat old maid, who is making a campaign on three issues, namely: One, that she is a woman, second, that she is poorly educated, and therefore anything and everything can teach school if she is elected, third, that she and her friends are against the League, and fourth that she is a Scandinavian; all of which is true except the last one, for it happens that her father and mother were born in Scotland. She is trying to work the nationality racket."

To settle the qualification issue once and for all, Nielson turned to an unlikely ally: William Langer, North Dakota Attorney General. About two weeks before the election, Nielson asked Langer to issue an opinion on whether she met the legal qualifications to serve as the state superintendent or not.

Although Langer was affiliated with the NPL, Nielson's request came at an opportune time. A rift had been forming between Langer and the NPL. Langer began distancing himself from the party and criticizing its leaders. Later, during the regular session of the legislature in 1919, Langer (and other state officials) were outspoken against certain NPL-supported legislation. Afterward, Langer would openly defect from the NPL.

On October 29, 1918, Attorney General Langer issued a statement validating Nielson as a legitimate candidate, declaring she met all the necessary criteria. Langer's support of Nielson may have been the deciding factor for the election.

After a tough campaign, Nielson defeated Macdonald by more than 5,500 votes. With this victory, Nielson was the only candidate not endorsed by the NPL to win a statewide position in 1918. And with this victory, she became the third woman to be elected to this office. The last woman to serve as state superintendent was Emma F. Bates in 1896.

Although she won the election, Nielson's troubles with Macdonald and the NPL were far from over.

After the 1918 election, the NPL gained control of the North Dakota Senate and widened its majority in the House. The NPL now had majority control over all three branches of state government.