The Saloonkeeper’s Misrepresented Nationality
A group of Norwegian citizens in Tacoma take a public stand against a local businessman claiming their heritage for political gain.
A petition signed by President V. Nord, of the Scandinavian Democratic Club, has been issued: 'Tacoma, Washington—As citizens of Tacoma, we protest against A. G. Foster, owner of a saloon on Pacific Avenue. It is stated he is a Norwegian inspector and that he is a good and fair representative of the Norwegians of this city. We, the undersigned Norwegians, citizens of Tacoma, Pierce County, hereby most emphatically protest against that said person being in any way either a representative of the Norwegians or any other class in this land. As to his claim of being a Norwegian, he has worked shorter in Norwegian than in Democratic interests.'
“We hereby most emphatically protest against that said person being in any way either a representative of the Norwegians.”
Identity politics and concerns over 'authentic' representation are not modern inventions. This 1893 protest highlights the deep civic engagement and skepticism of local immigrant communities regarding the use of their ethnicity for political maneuvering.
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