Alexander McKenzie (American politician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander John McKenzie was a politician in early North Dakota
. He preferred not to serve in public office, but was highly influential in North Dakota
and in neighboring Montana
and Minnesota
. He was the Republican national committeeman from North Dakota
, directed a highly successful political machine, and was known as the “senator-maker.”
immigrants. He attended public school in Toronto
, but quit school at age 11 to seek his fortune.
in the United States
, and while still in his teens he became a scout for Custer’s
cavalry. He later worked in railroad construction, and then ran a factory making carbonated beverages.
from 1874 to 1886. He was later a deputy U.S. marshal. He became an influential figure in Dakota Territory, and later in the new state of North Dakota
, where he personally selected many Republican candidates for the state legislature, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the Republican National Committeeman for North Dakota
for 21 years.
McKenzie built and ran a powerful political organization in North Dakota
. However, the “McKenzie machine” was widely accused of stealing votes, intimidating voters, and physically beating opponents.
boom town of Nome, Alaska
. He then travelled to Nome with the federal law-enforcement apparatus at his command. His obedient judge took some gold mines from their rightful owners, and illegally appointed McKenzie as the receiver to operate the mines while the owners appealed.
While McKenzie mined their gold, the original owners of the gold mines took their case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
in far-away San Francisco
. The appeals court reversed the federal judge in Nome, but McKenzie refused to comply with the order of the appeals court, and continued taking gold out of the mines.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had McKenzie arrested, found him guilty of contempt of court, and sentenced him to one year in jail. McKenzie served three months of his jail sentence before he was pardoned by President William McKinley
in May 1901.
voted out the McKenzie machine in 1906. McKenzie retired from his position as party national committeeman in 1908.
McKenzie died June 22, 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He had six children from two marriages. McKenzie County, North Dakota
was named for him, as were the towns of Alexander, North Dakota
and McKenzie, North Dakota
.
’s 1906 novel The Spoilers
fictionalized McKenzie’s attempted theft of gold mines in Nome
. The novel portrayed McKenzie as the fictional character Alexander Macnamara. The novel was made into a stage play, and into five film versions. Randolph Scott
played the McKenzie/Macnamara character in the 1942 film
. James A. Michener
's novel Alaska bases a key fictional character of chapter 9 on McKenzie's Nome dealings .
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He preferred not to serve in public office, but was highly influential in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and in neighboring Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He was the Republican national committeeman from North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, directed a highly successful political machine, and was known as the “senator-maker.”
Biography
McKenzie was born April 3, 1850 in Ontario, Canada, the son of ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
immigrants. He attended public school in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, but quit school at age 11 to seek his fortune.
Early years in Dakota Territory
At age 16 he arrived in Dakota TerritoryDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and while still in his teens he became a scout for Custer’s
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
cavalry. He later worked in railroad construction, and then ran a factory making carbonated beverages.
Political career
McKenzie served as the sheriff of Burleigh County, North DakotaBurleigh County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Canfield Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
from 1874 to 1886. He was later a deputy U.S. marshal. He became an influential figure in Dakota Territory, and later in the new state of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, where he personally selected many Republican candidates for the state legislature, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the Republican National Committeeman for North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
for 21 years.
McKenzie built and ran a powerful political organization in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. However, the “McKenzie machine” was widely accused of stealing votes, intimidating voters, and physically beating opponents.
Alaska gold mines — and a jail sentence
In 1900, McKenzie secured the appointment of his hand-picked candidates for the federal judge, federal district attorney, and other government posts in the gold-rushGold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
boom town of Nome, Alaska
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
. He then travelled to Nome with the federal law-enforcement apparatus at his command. His obedient judge took some gold mines from their rightful owners, and illegally appointed McKenzie as the receiver to operate the mines while the owners appealed.
While McKenzie mined their gold, the original owners of the gold mines took their case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
in far-away San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The appeals court reversed the federal judge in Nome, but McKenzie refused to comply with the order of the appeals court, and continued taking gold out of the mines.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had McKenzie arrested, found him guilty of contempt of court, and sentenced him to one year in jail. McKenzie served three months of his jail sentence before he was pardoned by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in May 1901.
Later years
North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
voted out the McKenzie machine in 1906. McKenzie retired from his position as party national committeeman in 1908.
McKenzie died June 22, 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He had six children from two marriages. McKenzie County, North Dakota
McKenzie County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 85* North Dakota Highway 22* North Dakota Highway 23* North Dakota Highway 58* North Dakota Highway 68* North Dakota Highway 73* North Dakota Highway 200* North Dakota Highway 1806-National protected areas:...
was named for him, as were the towns of Alexander, North Dakota
Alexander, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 217 people, 87 households, and 60 families residing in the city. The population density was 150.6 people per square mile . There were 106 housing units at an average density of 73.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 93.55% White, 5.99% Native...
and McKenzie, North Dakota
McKenzie, North Dakota
McKenzie is an unincorporated community in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States. It lies about 20 miles east of Bismarck along I-94/US 83. The community was named after early North Dakota politician Alexander McKenzie. McKenzie's ZIP code is 58572....
.
Alexander McKenzie in fiction and film
Rex BeachRex Beach
Rex Ellingwood Beach was an American novelist, playwright, and Olympic water polo player.- Biography :...
’s 1906 novel The Spoilers
The Spoilers (novel)
The Spoilers is a novel written by English author Desmond Bagley, and was first published in 1969.-Plot introduction:When film tycoon, Sir Robert Hellier, loses his daughter to heroin, he declares war on the drug peddlers...
fictionalized McKenzie’s attempted theft of gold mines in Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
. The novel portrayed McKenzie as the fictional character Alexander Macnamara. The novel was made into a stage play, and into five film versions. Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was an American film actor whose career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of genres, including social dramas, crime dramas, comedies, musicals , adventure tales, war films, and even a few...
played the McKenzie/Macnamara character in the 1942 film
The Spoilers (1942 film)
The Spoilers is a 1942 film directed by Ray Enright. The movie is set in Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush, with Marlene Dietrich as Cherry Malotte, Randolph Scott as Alexander McNamara, and John Wayne as Roy Glennister, and culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between McNamara and...
. James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...
's novel Alaska bases a key fictional character of chapter 9 on McKenzie's Nome dealings .