Lex Anteinternet: Get the vaccination.

Lex Anteinternet: Get the vaccination.: 

Get the vaccination.

I don't have a photo of a shot record to post, but I received my first COVID 19 vaccination shot on Monday. I'll be looking forward to the second. Over the years, I've been vaccinated for every virus common and rare known to man (I've been vaccinated for small pox three times, twice after the disease was extinct) and the reaction to the vaccine was mild in comparison to to some prior vaccinations I've had (yellow fever was the worst one). Since the pandemic started one lawyer I've worked with and against died of COVID 19, the father of another one I know, and a court reporter that had reported in court for me before. I'm glad, for more than one reason, to have received the shot.

May 22

1804  The Corps of Discovery departed from St. Charles, Missouri.

1843   A wagon train, made up of 1,000 settlers and 1,000 head of cattle left Independence, Missouri.on the "Great Emigration," down the Oregon Trail. 

1882  Ft. Sanders abandoned. 

1891  The Lincoln Land Company purchased the land upon which Moorcroft would be built.

1902  Medicine Bow Forest Reserve established by President Theodore Roosevelt.

1918  Four hundred Belgian soldiers passed through Wyoming over the Union Pacific Railroad on their way to the war in Europe.  The men had been assigned to fight with the Russians and were evacuated from Russia to the United States across the Pacific. Their train trip across the United States was to send them to an Atlantic port so they could return to service in Europe.

They received warm welcomes in Wyoming as they passed through the state.  Their compliment included several wives of soldiers, likely Russian brides, and one infant.

1920  May 22, 1920. Carranza's Assassination hits the news, and Bergdoll's Departure. The Belmont Run, and Federal Employees get to Retire.

Postman, May 22, 1920.

The dramatic news that Carranza, who had been such a large figure in the Mexican Revolution, and the American Press, had been assassinated hit in the U.S.

Also taking headlines was the flight of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, a millionaire draft dodger.

Bergdoll had first been in the press as a pre World War One aviator, showing that he at least had an element of personal courage.  But when the war came, he skipped his draft physical and evaded the authorities for two years.  He was finally arrested in January, 1920.

He was tried and convicted, and then oddly allowed out of prison when he claimed the need to recover a cache of gold he'd buried while a fugitive.  On a stop at his home in Philadelphia, while under guard, he managed to escape and flea with his chauffeur.

He went, oddly enough, to Germany, where he further avoided attempts to kidnap him by American soldiers of fortune on two occasions, killing one of them.  He returned to the United States twice while a fugitive and even toured a bit on one occasion.  He finally surrendered to authorities in 1939 and served the remainder of his term plus added time, being released in 1944.  He remained under psychiatric care until his death in 1966.

The Belmont was run on this day in 1920.

United Hunts Racing Association meet at Belmont Park Terminal track, May 22, 1920.

Beatrice Clafin and M.M. Van Beuren at the United Hunts Racing Association meet at Belmont Park Terminal track, Belmont, New York, May 22, 1920.

The Civil Retirement Act went into effect on this day, providing retirement for employees of the United States government.  

We're so used to thinking of this as always having existed we fail to appreciate that in fact a century ago retirement was not only not a sure thing, it was contrary to the norm.

1942   President Roosevelt orders the Selective Service registration of all male Americans residents who reach the age of 18 or 19 before June 30th or has reached the age of 20 since December 31, 1941.

1965  John Terril reappointed U.S. Marshall.

1978  The Virginian Hotel, and the Riverton Railroad Depot added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

1987  The U.S. Post Offices in Powell and Greybull added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1987  Special Session of the Legislature concludes.

1991  The 1022nd Medical Company returned to State Control.

2020  Governor Gordon orders flag's at half staff until Sunday, May 24, in honor of the victimes of the Coronavirus.  The proclamation read:

Governor orders flags be flown at half staff statewide until May 24

in honor of the victims of the novel coronavirus pandemic

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Mark Gordon, pursuant to President Donald Trump's Proclamation, has ordered both the U.S. and State of Wyoming flags be flown at half-staff statewide until sunset on Sunday, May 24, 2020 in honor of the victims of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Presidential Proclamation follows: 

Our Nation mourns for every life lost to the coronavirus pandemic, and we share in the suffering of all those who endured pain and illness from the outbreak. Through our grief, America stands steadfast and united against the invisible enemy. May God be with the victims of this pandemic and bring aid and comfort to their families and friends. As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 24, 2020. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred forty-fourth.


DONALD J. TRUMP

May 15

1872  Bill Cody tracked down three Indians committing "depredations" and killed them in the ensuing engagement near North Platte, Nebraska.

1885 Louis Riel surrenders to Middleton's troops; North West Rebellion ends after 100 days.

1888 Voters chose Douglas as the county seat of Converse County.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

1889  State mental hospital opened in Evanston.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

1898  Pioneer Jim Baker died.

1918  The news. . . Germans stall. .. Soviets react. . . .Airmail starts. . . Mayor Speer of Denver dies. . . The news from May 15, 1918.

A familiar name, even if most people don't recall who his was.  Mayor Speer, after whom Speer Blvd in Denver is named, passed.

One of the 1918 epidemic tally?

The Soviets had apparently had enough of German encroachment and were now fighting back.

Perhaps the Germans should have thought that through. It's not as if they had a lot of spare men, after all.

That Bisbee thing was back in the news.

And airmail was getting rolling!

1921  The Great Solar Storm of 1921 was impacting the region.

The Great Solar Storm, which impacted most notably New York state in the US, also impacted the Rocky Mountain Region, as of course it would, being a global event.

It didn't keep, however, Curtiss Flying Field from opening in Garden City, New York, even though flying during a solar storm in something made out of, basically, paper and wood seems like a bad idea.

1930 Ellen Church, the first airline stewardess, went on duty aboard a United Airlines flight from San Francisco and Cheyenne, Wyo.

1942   Gas rationing limits US motorist to 3 gallons per week, except for those in critical industries.

1944  It was announced that Italians soldiers brought into the US as POWs would receive technical training at Ft. F. E. Warren.  By this time, the Italians were no longer prisoners, as Italy had first surrendered and then declared war on the Axis powers.  A fair number of Italian POWs had been brought into the US due to combat in North Africa and Sicily.  In Wyoming, Italians were held in at least one location, that being the POW camp at Douglas.  They painted the murals there, which still exist in the one surviving building from the POW camp.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1944 USS Crook County commissioned.

1975  F. E. Warren (D. A. Russell) designated a National Historic Landmark District.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1978  Significant flooding occured throughout the state resulting in over $15,000,000  in damage in 1978 dollars.

1986  The Jack Creek Guard Station outside of Saratoga added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1990  The Remount Ranch in Laramie County added to the National Register of Historic Places.  It had been owned by Mary O'Hara, author of My Friend Flicka.  Her husband at the time had raised Remounts for sale to the Army, although the ranch largely raised sheep.

2020  The Legislature convened in a special session to deal with Coronavirus Pandemic emergency funding.

April 10

1803   Napoleon told his Treasury Minister that he was considering selling Louisiana to the United States. Attribution:  On This Day.

1768   The Marqués de Rubí filed a report recommending that Spain abandon East Texas, exterminate the Lipan Apaches and maintain only San Antonio and Santa Fe north of the Rio Grande.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1875  U. S. Cavalry escorts an illegal Black Hills mining party, the Gordon Party, to Ft. Laramie.

1878  John W. Hoyt appointed Territorial Governor.  Hoyt was a well educated polymath and had not sought the job.

1890  Red sandstone quarry opened at Iron Mountain.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

1892  The news of the invasion spread in Johnson County and the local population began to react.  Jack Flagg, after having nearly been caught by the invaders rode north spreading the news.  The invaders soon received news themselves that residents of the county were in alarm and armed men were on the way to counter them.  An argument ensued as to whether to take refuge at the T. A. Ranch and hole up in anticipation of an assault by Johnson County residents, and in order to wait for anticipated relief from Federal troops from Ft. McKinney or to proceed with the attack and head to Buffalo.  In the meantime, a posse lead by Sheriff "Red" Angus in fact arrived at the KC and found the dead bodies of Nate Champion and Nick Ray, and that the Nolan cabin, which had been leased by Champion, had been fired.  They the returned to Buffalo, a round trip of 120 miles.  The Johnson County Invaders begin to dig in and fortify at the T. A. Ranch.   The Invaders suffered two defections, who rode off towards Buffalo on their Western Union leased horses (horses from Western Union had been leased for the invasion.  They were arrested in Buffalo.  One of the men had been a reporter, and was released when Major Fechet, from Ft. McKinney, vouched for him.  In the mean time, Flagg and 49 men had traveled to the TA.

The events of April 10 are illuminating in showing how badly lead the expedition was.  In the several days that had passed since the invaders disembarked in Casper, they had been delayed by weather near Casper, and had only managed to launch an assault on the Champion cabin.  In spite of  grossly outnumbering the cabin defenders, defeating Champion had taken all day, and the decision to attack the cabin, and Champions stalwart defense of it, had resulted in the invading party loosing a critical day.  Their leased horses were being depleted, rumors were rife as to what was going on, and their presence had been discovered in Johnson County near the southern end of the county.  Authorities in Buffalo, on the other hand, together with Johnson County residents, were reacting swiftly.  Sheriff Angus, unlike the invaders, managed to ride to the Champion cabin and back, a whopping 120 mile round trip, and put together a posse, inside of 24 hours.  Johnson County residents, for their part, managed to actually form an ad hoc armed band equally as large as the invading party and, by the end of this day, besiege the invaders.

1909  News of the Spring Creek raid hit the papers.

1980  The Chapel of the Transfiguration added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

1994  A 4.6 earthquake happens in southwestern Wyoming.

2020  Good Friday, which was proclaimed by Governor Gordon as a Day of Prayer in light of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

April 9

1682 Robert La Salle reached the Mississippi River.

1867  The Senate approved the purchase of Alaska.

1884  Death, on the Wind River Reservation of an elderly Shoshone woman whose grave marker lists her as Sacajawea.  She almost certainly was not, but at the time of this woman's death there were those championing that idea, and some still adhere to it.

1890  F. E. Warren inaugurated as first governor of the State of Wyoming.  Warren was a Civil War recipient of the Medal of Honor, and would shortly become Wyoming's Senator.  His daughter married John F. Pershing, and his name was later given to Cheyenne's Warren Air Force Base, which was first Ft. F. E. Warren.  He is not wholly without controversy, as he was closely associated with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association at the time of the Invasion, and it is fairly clear that he had at least some tangential involvement with the events of that time.  His association with events nearly cost him his Senatorial seat.

1890  Government conducts auction of buildings and furniture at Ft. Laramie.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1892  The siege of the Champion cabin at the KC Ranch commenced at 4:00 AM when the men built sagebrush fires for heat near the point of their intended assault. The invasion was already going badly, as in the three days since it had commenced it had advanced only 50 miles and taken no action other than to rip down a series of telegraph lines, a tactic that would be adopted by their opponents who would take it up to keep the news of the failure of the action from happening later.  Weather was playing a factor, as snowy weather took the imported Texas gunmen off guard, as they had not dressed for winter, April still being a winter month in Wyoming.  The siege at the KC would last all day long, in spite of the defenders number only three men, only one of whom was wanted by the invaders.  The invaders numbered about 50.  The invaders ultimately killed Nate Champion, who was one of their prime opponents by their reasoning, but the end of the action would see an invader casualty as well, when one of them suffered an ultimately fatal gunshot wound when his horse objected to his mounting.  Grossly overweight, the Wyoming cow pony blew up upon his attempting to re mount, ultimately throwing the rider and taking off his rifle at the same time, which discharged.  Nick Ray, who as at the Champion cabin at the time of the assault, was also killed in the battle. Two trappers who were present were basically removed from the fighting.

 Nate Champion, center, and Dud Champion, far right.  Dud Champion would be murdered by an unknown killer the following year.

Some Gave All: Last Stand of Nate Champion, Buffalo Wyoming: A monument on the corner of Big Horn and Main in Buffalo Wyoming, commemorating Nate Champions attempted dash from his cabin.

April 9, 1916:   Sunday State Leader: April 9, 1916
 

April 9 was a Sunday in 1916.  The Casper papers didn't print an edition on Sundays at that time.  Indeed, the big paper, if we'd call it that, for the Casper Daily Press was the Friday edition, which recapped the news of the week.

The Cheyenne paper, which Casperites would likely not be getting, did print a Sunday edition however.  This is it, for that day.

1937   Nina Moran appointed State Librarian and exofficio State Historian.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

1938  These Mason's photographed in Hanna. Fraternal organizations had much broader membership at this time, and also were much more important in community life.

1942  The Wartime Civilian Control Agency established to administer wartime internment.

1992  Gale McGee, Wyoming's Senator from 1959 to 1977, and later U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, died.

2004  Marine Corps Lance Corporal Chance Phelps killed in action in Iraq.

2016:   Our entry for this date on Lex Anteinternet.

Tracking the Presidential Election, 2016, Part II

I started this thread at the commencement of the 2016 Election Season:

Tracking the Presidential Election, 2016

The focus of this blog, at least theoretically, is on events of a century ago.  Indeed, the event that really motivated the concept of a novel and hence this support blog occurred 100 years ago, and is coming right up.  So we should be looking at the 1916 Presidential election.

That election, as the readers here well know, featured Woodrow Wilson in a contest against Charles E. Hughes. Wilson, of course, campaigning on "He kept us out of war" won.

President Woodrow Wilson.

Charles E. Hughes.  Maybe the beard, in the post bearded era, did in his chances.

I can't compare that election to the current one, as it was nothing like it.  I can compare, and often have, President Obama with President Wilson (without Wilson's racism, however) as in my view they're both guilty of confusing talk with action.

When I did that it was my intent to run that thread all the way through to the end of the campaign.

It's proven to be impossible, however, as the thread has grown impossibly large, and now when I update it the effect is to wipe out all of the other posts on the first page of the blog.  It's basically threatening to suck the life out of the blog, the same way this election is sucking the life out of the country, or so it seems.

So, I've decided to stop trying to update one single entry and start a part two.  There may be more parts later on, depending upon how things go.  There probably will be.

And this is a good point at which to do this, as the race really seems to have turned a corner recently.  It isn't the same race that the pundits were declaring inevitable results for just a couple of weeks ago, although it should be noted that we never did that here.

So, here's part two.

First, the tell of the tape as of today, following the Wisconsin victory for Cruz and Sanders, and the Colorado victory for Sanders.

Democrats (needed to win 2,383)

Clinton:  1,740, or 1,739 (469 Superdelegates)

Sanders:  1055 or 1070 (31 Superdelegates).

Martin O'Malley:  1 (now out)

Republicans (needed to win, 1,237)

Donald Trump:  737 or 753 (1 of which is an unpledged delegate)

Ted Cruz: 505 or 478 (12 of which are unpledged).

Marco Rubio: 171 or 173  (now out)
John Kasich: 143 or 144

Ben Carson: 8  (now out)

Jeb Bush: 4  (now out).

Carly Fiorina:  1 (now out)

Ron Paul:  1 (now out).

Commentary. 

First let us note that the Trump tallies have gone down, that's right, down, since the last tally.

And Marco Rubio's have gone up.  Yes, up, even though he's out.

This race is far from over.

Now, I've been saying that all along, in spite of the press treatment of this race as being over and Trump and Clinton as being the nominees.  They aren't the nominees yet.

And there's more than a fair chance they won't be.

Indeed the pundits have now stated that the race is up in the air.  Last weekend one of them actually blew up at the assertion that Sanders couldn't win the Democratic nomination and that Trump had won the Republican nomination.  And there's suddenly a lot of discussion of the convention rules and what they mean, or the fact that there really aren't any rules.

A lot of things have gone into this, including a sharper focus in the GOP race on the various positions and statements of the candidates. And in spite of the assertions to the contrary, Kasich remaining in the race appears to be hurting Trump but not helping Cruz.  On the Democratic side discontent with Clinton and a surprisingly broad appeal for Sanders is making it far from certain that Clinton will gain enough delegates to prevent a contested convention.

And, as one of the pundits this past weekend finally admitted, there really is no prior convention or even election that provides a useful guild, as up until recently the conventions weren't dominated by primary elections, but by state conventions. So, we may be back, oddly enough, to the old free form convention of old.  Indeed, I suspect we are.

So, given that, my prediction right now is that neither the GOP or the Democrats enter conventions with the result of the race determined.

And if that occurs, on the GOP side Trump will not be the nominee.  He lacks a majority of the delegates now, and that may still be the case by the convention.  And, if he has a plurality, it will not matter.  I'd give Cruz less than a 50% chance of being the nominee as well.  Kasich, maybe, but more likely than that a candidate not currently running.

And while I think it more likely that Clinton take the nomination in a contested convention, I don't think its a guaranteed result by any means.  Sanders still stands a chance, as does a candidate not running at the present time, including Biden.  Sanders is actually within striking distance of Clinton on pledged delegates, and if his tally exceeds that of Clinton's the Superdelegates may truly being to fall apart for Clinton. At least some will defect, or being to look for a compromise candidate.

For the first time in a very long time, it's actually possible that the candidates in the fall might not be those who ran prior to the conventions.

First Commentary Followup

The real nature of the national contests this year is showing up in a surprising way locally. Wyoming is actually getting a lot of attention from the various campaigns, save for the Kasich campaign, which might tell us something about it. 

The Democrats hold their county conventions this Saturday.  The vote at the county level will determine the elected delegates.  The Superdelegates have already pledged for Clinton in spite of the strong state wide general dislike of Clinton. 

Demonstrating how tight this race really is, at the local and national level, both campaigns have sent representatives of surprising nature here recently.  Earlier this week Jane Sanders spoke in Casper.  On the same day, Bernie Sanders spoke in Laramie.  The choice of Laramie, Wyoming's most liberal town (omitted Jackson, whose demographics don't reflect the state very well) was a wise one showing some knowledge of demographics in the state on the part of somebody.

And Sanders has been running television ads. These may be the first Democratic pre convention ads to be ever run in the state.

The Clinton's sent Bill Clinton to Cheyenne.  In Cheyenne he gave a speech where he mentioned the plight of coal.  That shows that they're paying attention to what is going on in the state, but it's also the sort of thing that is fueling the sort of cynicism that is drawing in a lot of people to Trump and Sanders this year.  I doubt very much that anyone here thinks the Clinton's really feel that coal has a long term future in the national energy picture.  Sanders is opposed to fracking, which is part of his national plank, which will mean than in a general election he'll be a flop here, amongst other reasons, but at least he's honest about it.

The Republican state convention is on April 12.  The GOP system is odd as the county conventions have already been held and chose delegates, with nine out of twelve going for Cruz.  The remainder of the twenty-nine total will be chosen at the state convention.

Cruz will come and address the convention, again showing how tight the national election is.  The Trump campaign is sending Sarah Palin to address the GOP convention.  Idaho Governor Butch Otter will cross the state lines to address the delegates for Kasich.

On the Kasich campaign, their choice is the oddest and saddest, and they basically haven't mounted a campaign here. Perhaps that's because they felt that they didn't have a chance here, or perhaps they don't have the cash or the base. There were Rubio supporters in Wyoming although Rubio did not show well at the county conventions.  This is all odd as Cruz is vulnerable for his stated views, in Idaho, about public lands.  Public lands in public hands is a huge issue here and the vast majority of Wyomingites are hugely in favor of keeping it that way.  Trump is known to favor keeping the lands in public hands, Cruz actually favors privatizing them.  Kasich's views are unknown, but if his views on this issue mirrored Trump's, Clinton's and Sander's, he'd have an opening I suspect.  A lot of the votes going to Cruz here now are simply going to him as he's not Sanders.  Otherwise I suspect the support isn't deep.  Cruz is definitely running the best, and most politically astute, campaign here on the GOP side.

___________________________________________________________________________________

April 8, 2016

Updated totals following Colorado.

Democrats (needed to win 2,383)

Clinton:  1,767 (469 Superdelegates)

Sanders:  1 110 (31 Superdelegates)

Martin O'Malley:  1 (now out)

Republicans (needed to win, 1,237)

Donald Trump:  743 (1 of which is an unpledged delegate)

Ted Cruz: 520 (12 of which are unpledged).

Marco Rubio: 171 or 173  (now out)
John Kasich: 143 or 144

Ben Carson: 8  (now out)

Jeb Bush: 4  (now out).

Carly Fiorina:  1 (now out)

Ron Paul:  1 (now out).

Commentary

Why is a Clinton victory regarded as inevitable, when she has over 600 delegates left to capture, while a brokered convention in the GOP is regarded as likely when Trump is about 500 delegates away from securing the GOP nomination?

I'm not saying that a Trump victory is inevitable. Rather, I"m saying that a Clinton victory isn't.

April 10, 2016

Yesterday the Wyoming Democratic Caucus was held.  Here's the new table:

Democrats:  Needed to win, 2,383.

Clinton: 1,774 (469 of which are Superdelegates)

Sanders:  1,117 (31 of which are Superdelegates)

Republicans:  Needed to win, 1,237.

Trump:  743 (of which 1 is an unpledged delegates).

Cruz:  532 (of which 12 are unpledged delegates)

Rubio:  171.  Rubio has suspended his campaign.

Kasich:  143.

Carson:  8  Carson has suspended his campaign.

Bush:  4  Carson has suspended his campaign.

Fiorina:  1  Fiorina has dropped out of the race.

Paul:  1  Paul has dropped out of the race.

Commentary

Okay, a couple of comments.

First of all, these tallies are based on those kept by the New York Times.  You can find alternate ones that vary, sometimes quite significantly.  None of the alternate tallies impact who is the front runner, but they truly are different.  The Times is generally a lower tally.

Part of this might be based on the fact that there's actually more doubt in who takes what in terms of delegates than might initially appear to be the case.  So at any one time time, there could be a 20 delegate swing in the top contenders.  Indeed, these tallies tend to change a bit days after an election is supposedly concluded as the actual picking of the delegates commences.

Next, the Wyoming Democratic vote was yesterday.  This vote is very illustrative of a couple of things.  One of them is that Hillary Clinton has a huge likeability problem.  The second one is that Sanders has a very difficult time getting to where he needs to be even "winning" a state.

You'd have expected that a well established candidate link Clinton would have blown the doors off the Sanders campaign bus against Sanders.  Wyoming's basic outlook on things tends towards the Libertarian, and Sanders Socialist world outlook is about as far from the average Wyomingites as can be imagined.  None the less, Sanders took over 50% of the Democratic vote.  A lot of that is simply because people don't like Hillary Clinton.  Even with the endorsement of one of the state's former governors Clinton couldn't take the state in terms of the popular vote.

None the less, in delegate breakdown, she took the same number of elected delegates that Sanders did.  They each took seven. So if its a "victory", it's a Pyrrhic victory.  The real result is a wash.  Neither candidate really pulled ahead.  If Sanders can really pull ahead somehow, the seven delegates he took in Wyoming might matter.  But right now they surely do not.  Moreover, all of the state's superdelegates are presently pledged to Clinton, giving us an example of exactly what Sanders has been saying shouldn't happen. The majority of Wyoming Democrats, barely, might want Sanders, but the majority of the state's delegates, after the superdelegates are considered, are going to Clinton.

How the Democrats got themselves into this mess is interesting, but then both parties are in a mess right now.  The Democrats are set to nominate the most unlikable candidate they've run in a century.  She is so unlikable that she should be easy pickings for the GOP, but for the fact that the GOP seems to be heading towards nominating the least electable candidate of their own since 1964.  The parties, if their front runners win the nomination, will pit two candidates against each other that are hugely unpopular with large segments of the American public.  Perhaps, in an odd way, that wouldn't be a bad result as none of the front runners is likely to have much truck with Congress.  And that would include those in second position.  Cruz is barely more liked by average Americans than Trump.  Sanders is generally liked but his positions on almost everything are not going to be taken seriously by Congress.

For these reasons, oddly, the best hope for both parties are contested conventions resulting in the picking of somebody other than somebody now running.  There's a relatively good chance of that happening with the GOP and a slight chance of that happening with the Democrats.  With the Republicans, basically, if the current trend in the primaries continues that will happen.  With the Democrats, it's unlikely unless the Superdelegates bolt in mass, which perhaps would be the best service they could offer their party at this time.

On one final item, there's now a building movement to draft Gen. James Mattis as a GOP candidate or even as a Third Party candidate.  This hasn't gone far enough yet to regard there being a high likelihood of it happening, but there's definitely talk of it occurring.  The retired Marine Corps general was popular with servicemen who served with him, and he's not a professional politician.  He reportedly has some big money behind a campaign to draft him, although there's no evidence that he's supporting the movement himself.  It's an interesting development that should be watched.

2020  Governor Gordon requested a Federal disaster declaration for Wyoming. The Governor’s press release on the request stated.

Gov. Gordon requests federal disaster declaration for Wyoming  

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has submitted a request to President Trump asking for a major disaster declaration for Wyoming. The declaration would allow all 23 of Wyoming’s counties and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes to access funding and services for crucial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Though Wyoming has not reached the dire situations of some states, this declaration will help us to prepare and mobilize resources when we need them,” Governor Gordon said. “I look forward to a swift response to our request from the federal government.” 

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act allows states to request a Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Disaster Declaration to respond to incidents that exceed capabilities of a state to respond effectively.  

The declaration provides Wyoming the opportunity to access assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction of temporary medical facilities, if needed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing sites in Wyoming to identify extra space for overflow patients and healthcare workers should it be needed.  

“This requested declaration will help ensure Wyoming gains access to critical assistance as we continue our mission to respond to this pandemic,” Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Director Lynn Budd said. “Providing individual assistance programs will be vital to help our residents recover from this crisis.” 

The declaration also allows the state to receive additional federal resources and services for Wyoming residents, including crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, legal services, disaster case management and Small Business Administration disaster assistance.  

As of April 9, Wyoming has 230 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 18 counties.

On the same day, he proclaimed Good Friday, April 10, a Day of Prayer.

Governor Gordon proclaims April 10 Day of Prayer  

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon will sign a proclamation tomorrow declaring Friday, April 10, 2020 a Day of Prayer in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The day of prayer is cross-denominational with the intent to unify people of many faiths during the crisis. 

“Across all faiths and beliefs, we can all come together at this time of year to find a sense of peace and purpose,” Governor Gordon said. “I invite our leaders and citizens to pray that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, our soldiers and their families watched over, the economy strengthened and life normalized.” 

April 10 is Good Friday and is observed by many denominations as a day of prayer and fasting. Joining the Governor in this effort is the National Association of Evangelicals and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People of all faiths are welcome to participate.

In Casper, on the same day, a small group of libertarian protesters gathered in Pioneer Park to protest the Governor’s emergency orders and seeking to have them lifted as being harmful to business.  The National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander also announced layoffs given the COVID 19 Pandemic and its impact on their school.

April 3

1043. Edward the Confessor crowned King of England. His death without heirs would lead to the 1066 invasions by King Harald Haadraadada and Duke William of Normandy. Edward is recognized as a Saint by the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Communion churches.

This may seem like a strange post here, but Duke William's invasion and defeat of Harold Godwinson would bring the Norman system of law to England, which in turn would become English Common Law.  English Common Law is the basic system of law in every US state except for Louisiana, and is the system of law by statutory adoption in Wyoming. 

1860   The Pony Express service began between St. Joseph, Missouri and San Francisco, California. In Wyoming the mail route followed the Oregon Trail.

I have to note that starting this in the month of April, given the weather on the plains, was odd.

1863  Utes attacked station garrisoned by 6th Ohio Cavalry at Sweetwater Utah.

1868  Wood cutting party near Rock Creek attacked by Indians.

1869  John A. Campbell appointed Territorial Governor by President U. S. Grant.

1897  This photograph of heavy snow and equine transportation taken by Laramie geology professor S. H. Knight.

1916   The Punitive Expedtion. Casper Daily Press for April 3, 1916
 

1917   The Cheyenne State Leader for April 3, 1917: US to declare war today (actually, it wouldn't).
 

The Cheyenne State Leader was predicting that war was going to be declared today.  They hadn't counted on Senator LaFollette delaying the vote.

President Wilson was reported as asking for a 500,000 men army. . . a fraction of what would prove to be needed in the end.  Wyoming was ready to contribute.

The Lodge scuffle of yesterday hit the Cheyenne news.

It appeared that two companies of the Wyoming National Guard were to start off the impending war guarding the Union Pacific. . . things would soon change.

The Laramie Boomerang for April 3, 1917: Senator LaFollette a Traitor?

 

Given the stories I've been focusing on, this one is a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist the headline declaring "Battling Bob" LaFollette a traitor for using a parliamentary move to delay the vote on President Wilson's request for a declaration of war. Seems a bit much.

The scarlet fever outbreak in Laramie seemed under control.

Winter wouldn't leave.

The Wyoming Tribune. April 3, 1917: War Action Blocked

 

"Battling Bob" LaFollette used a procedural move to keep the vote on Wilson's request for a Declaration of War from occurring. The vote would of course occur. Something like that was a mere delay.

Governor Houx was pleading that the state a "contingent of rough riders" to the war.  Of course, given the way the war news was reading, a person might debate if that was to fight Germany or Mexico.  But anyhow, Wyoming was looking to supply cavalry.

West Point was going to follow the Navy's lead and graduate the 1917 class of officers early.

The Casper Record. April 3, 1917: Villa is to Fight US if War with Germany

 

Hmmm. . . . interesting speculation on what our relationship with Mexico, or in this case one segment of Mexico, would be if war was to be declared.

And young men were being urged to joint up to fight on the high seas.

The price of sheep, important to Wyoming, was up.  And Casper was getting a new big office building as part of the World War One boom and an ice processing company.

Anyone know what building that is, by the way?  Whatever it was, it's no longer there.

The scuffle Senator Lodge had yesterday hit the headlines, giving the typesetters the rare chance to use the word "biff".

1918  

When Laramie discontinued the teaching of the German language

Getting upset with all things German had gone a bit far. 

1941  Former Governor Frank Houx died in Cody.

1970  The Point of Rocks Stage Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1970  Register Cliff added to the National Register of Historic Place.

1973  The T E Ranch Headquarters, near Cody, WY, which William F. Cody had owned, was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

2020  Governor Gordon extended his Coronavirus emergency orders through April 30, and broadened their scope.  His announcement stated:

Governor, State Health Officer extend statewide Public Health Orders through April 30

Governor also Directs 14-Day Quarantine for Travelers Arriving in Wyoming from another State or Country

CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist have extended the three existing statewide health orders through April 30 to slow community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect lives.

The Governor continues to emphatically state that people need to stay home whenever possible to prevent or slow the spread of the virus. These orders are meant to enforce that direction through April. Specifically, the current orders closing public places including schools, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space (including outdoors) and closing bars, restaurants, coffee shops and some personal services businesses will continue through April 30. Food establishments can continue to provide delivery services, but carry-out service is now required to take place curbside.

“The decision to extend these orders was made to save lives and keep people at home,” Governor Gordon said. “We are seeing community transmission of COVID-19 occur around the state and we will continue to see more confirmed cases in the weeks to come. This action will help lower the rate of transmission and protect both our healthcare system and the healthcare workers we all rely on.”

The Governor has also issued a directive requiring any individual coming to Wyoming from another state or country for a non-work-related purpose to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. For visits fewer than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of the visit. The directive is intended to discourage out-of-state visitation during the pandemic and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“We know that travel from another state or country is a source of COVID-19 infections in Wyoming," Governor Gordon said. “Visitors from neighboring states have strained the resources of many Wyoming communities so we are asking them to do the right thing to protect the health of our citizens and the resources of our rural healthcare facilities.”

Dr. Harrist noted Wyoming continues to see community spread of COVID-19 and social distancing measures remain the most effective means to slow the spread of the virus.

“We need everyone to stay home as much as possible,” Harrist said. “Anyone can spread this disease, even if they don’t yet realize they are ill.”

The updated orders and the Governor's directive can be found on the Governor's website. The directive is also attached. 

The actual order stated: