Changes

==Career==

==Career==

White was born and lived nearly his entire life in Emporia, Kansas. While attending the University of Kansas (1886-1890) he worked for the Lawrence ''Journal.'' In 1890 he joined the El Dorado ''Republican,'' in 1891 went to the Kansas City ''Journal,'' and between 1892 and 1895 worked for the  

White was born and lived nearly his entire life in Emporia, Kansas. While attending the University of Kansas (1886-1890) he worked for the Lawrence ''Journal.'' In 1890 he joined the El Dorado ''Republican,'' in 1891 went to the Kansas City ''Journal,'' and between 1892 and 1895 worked for the  

Kansas City ''Star.'' In 1895 White became owner and editor of the Emporia ''Gazette.'' With his warm sense of humor, a facile editorial pen, and a commonsense approach to life, he soon became known throughout the country.<ref> See [http://www.emporia.com/waw/index.html]</ref> His ''Gazette'' editorials were widely reprinted; he wrote syndicated stories on politics; and he published many books, including biographies of [[Woodrow Wilson]] and [[Calvin Coolidge]].

Kansas City ''Star.'' In 1895 White became owner and editor of the Emporia ''Gazette.'' With his warm sense of humor, a facile editorial pen, and a commonsense approach to life, he soon became known throughout the country.<ref>[http://www.emporia.com/waw/index.html See]</ref> His ''Gazette'' editorials were widely reprinted; he wrote syndicated stories on politics; and he published many books, including biographies of [[Woodrow Wilson]] and [[Calvin Coolidge]].

==What's the matter with Kansas?" (1896)==

==What's the matter with Kansas?" (1896)==

In 1896 White attracted national attention with a  

In 1896 White attracted national attention with a  

scathing attack on [[William Jennings Bryan]], the Democrats, and the Populists entitled "What's the Matter With Kansas?"<ref> See [http://www.emporia.com/waw/kansas.html online edition]

scathing attack on [[William Jennings Bryan]], the Democrats, and the Populists entitled "What's the Matter With Kansas?"<ref>See [http://www.emporia.com/waw/kansas.html online edition]

</ref> It was a satirical attack that blamed the crackpot Populist leadership for the state's declining population and prestige, <ref>http://www.h-net.org/~shgape/internet/kansas.html</ref>.

</ref> It was a satirical attack that blamed the crackpot Populist leadership for the state's declining population and prestige,.<ref>http://www.h-net.org/~shgape/internet/kansas.html</ref>  

The [[Republican Party]] distributed millions of copies of White's editorial.  In 2004, liberal author [[Thomas Frank]] wrote a bestselling book with the same title that bitterly attacked conservatives and Republicans for their contributions to Kansas politics. <ref>http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/apr/25/whats_the_matter/</ref> (Frank maintains that by supporting a party which he claims is beholden to the richest classes, the working class of Kansas is voting against its own economic interests when it supports the Republican party.)  

The [[Republican Party]] distributed millions of copies of White's editorial.  In 2004, liberal author [[Thomas Frank]] wrote a bestselling book with the same title that bitterly attacked conservatives and Republicans for their contributions to Kansas politics.<ref>http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/apr/25/whats_the_matter/</ref> (Frank maintains that by supporting a party which he claims is beholden to the richest classes, the working class of Kansas is voting against its own economic interests when it supports the Republican party.)  

==Politics==

==Politics==

Party.  

Party.  

In 1924, White ran for governor of Kansas as an independent on an anti-[[Ku Klux Klan]] platform, and came in third. <ref>http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1976/76_2_traylor.htm</ref>

In 1924, White ran for governor of Kansas as an independent on an anti-[[Ku Klux Klan]] platform, and came in third.<ref>http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1976/76_2_traylor.htm</ref>

==Small town values==

==Small town values==

the 1896 editorial and "Mary White"--a beautiful tribute to his 17-year-old daughter on her death in 1921, portrayed her as an anti-flapper--were his best-known writings. Locally he was known as the greatest booster for Emporia.

the 1896 editorial and "Mary White"—a beautiful tribute to his 17-year-old daughter on her death in 1921, portrayed her as an anti-flapper—were his best-known writings. Locally he was known as the greatest booster for Emporia.

In his novels and short stories, White developed his idea of the small town as a metaphor for understanding social change and for preaching the necessity of community. While he expressed his views in terms of the small town, he tailored his rhetoric to the needs and values of emerging urban America. The cynicism of the post-World War I world stilled his imaginary literature, but for the remainder of his life he continued to propagate his vision of small-town community.  He opposed chain stores and mail order firms as a threat to the business owner on Main Street. The [[Great Depression]] shook his faith in a cooperative, selfless, middle-class America. Like most old Progressives his attitude toward the New Deal was ambivalent: President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] cared for the country and was personally attractive, but White considered his solutions haphazard. White seemed to see the country uniting behind old ideals by 1940 in the face of foreign threats.<ref> Agran (1998)</ref>

In his novels and short stories, White developed his idea of the small town as a metaphor for understanding social change and for preaching the necessity of community. While he expressed his views in terms of the small town, he tailored his rhetoric to the needs and values of emerging urban America. The cynicism of the post-World War I world stilled his imaginary literature, but for the remainder of his life he continued to propagate his vision of small-town community.  He opposed chain stores and mail order firms as a threat to the business owner on Main Street. The [[Great Depression]] shook his faith in a cooperative, selfless, middle-class America. Like most old Progressives his attitude toward the New Deal was ambivalent: President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] cared for the country and was personally attractive, but White considered his solutions haphazard. White seemed to see the country uniting behind old ideals by 1940 in the face of foreign threats.<ref>Agran (1998)</ref>

White sought to encourage a viable moral order that would provide the nation with a sense of community. White recognized the powerful forces of corruption but called for slow, remedial change having its origin in the middle class. In the 'Heart of a Fool' (1918), White fully developed the idea that reform remained the soundest ally of property rights. He felt that the Spanish American War fostered political unity, and believed that a moral victory and an advance in civilization would be compensation for the devastation of World War I. White concluded that democracy in the New Era inevitably lacked direction, and the New Deal found him a baffled spectator. Nevertheless, he clung to his vision of a cooperative society until his death in 1944.<ref> Richard W. Resh, "A Vision in Emporia: William Allen White's Search for Community,"  ''Mid-continent American Studies Journal'' 1969 10(2): 19-35</ref>

White sought to encourage a viable moral order that would provide the nation with a sense of community. White recognized the powerful forces of corruption but called for slow, remedial change having its origin in the middle class. In the 'Heart of a Fool' (1918), White fully developed the idea that reform remained the soundest ally of property rights. He felt that the Spanish American War fostered political unity, and believed that a moral victory and an advance in civilization would be compensation for the devastation of World War I. White concluded that democracy in the New Era inevitably lacked direction, and the New Deal found him a baffled spectator. Nevertheless, he clung to his vision of a cooperative society until his death in 1944.<ref>Richard W. Resh, "A Vision in Emporia: William Allen White's Search for Community,"  ''Mid-continent American Studies Journal'' 1969 10(2): 19-35</ref>

==References==

==References==

* White, William Allen. '' Selected Letters of William Allen White, 1899-1943'' (1947), 460pp Edited by Walter Johnson

* White, William Allen. '' Selected Letters of William Allen White, 1899-1943'' (1947), 460pp Edited by Walter Johnson

[[category:Progressive Era]]

[[Category:Progressive Era]]

[[category:New Deal]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[category:journalists]]

[[Category:Journalists]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, William Allen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, William Allen}}