John O'Connor during the height of his power in St. Paul, c.1912.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP8G_6bxETA

Michael Dowling, a Minnesota politician, newspaper publisher, businessmen, and spokesperson for those with physical disabilities lost both legs, most of one arm and part of another to frostbite when he was young. During and after World War I Dowling crusaded for the rehabilitation of veterans disabled during the war. This film clip, first shown at a meeting of the American Medical Association in 1918, graphically demonstrates how Mr. Dowling was able to function very successfully in spite of his handicap. He is shown driving a car, traveling, and conducting regular business operations.

Michael Dowling, a Minnesota politician, newspaper publisher, businessmen, and spokesperson for those with physical disabilities lost both legs, most of one arm and part of another to frostbite when he was young. During and after World War I Dowling crusaded for the rehabilitation of veterans disabled during the war. This film clip, first shown at a meeting of the American Medical Association in 1918, graphically demonstrates how Mr. Dowling was able to function very successfully in spite of his handicap. He is shown driving a car, traveling, and conducting regular business operations.

Michael Dowling, a Minnesota politician, newspaper publisher, businessmen, and spokesperson for those with physical disabilities lost both legs, most of one arm and part of another to frostbite when he was young. During and after World War I Dowling crusaded for the rehabilitation of veterans disabled during the war. This film clip, first shown at a meeting of the American Medical Association in 1918, graphically demonstrates how Mr. Dowling was able to function very successfully in spite of his handicap. He is shown driving a car, traveling, and conducting regular business operations.

Commission of Public Safety Order No. 37, June 4, 1918. This order mandated that every able bodied man in the state of Minnesota that was not in the military had to be employed in a useful occupation.

Members of the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety meeting at the Capitol in St. Paul, c.1918.

Members of the Home Guard, December, 1917. The Home Guard was created by an order of the Public Safety Commission after Minnesota's National Guard units were federalized. Though the Home Guard helped citizens in need, it was also used by the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety to break strikes and police the citizenry.

Governor Joseph A. A. Burnquist with a military group, c.1916.

Minnesota Commission of Public Safety members, c.1918.