We’ll end this fairly long Installment 9 with a short story about Governor Schricker and how his heart was softened by a cow.
Jennifer Thomas Hoston tells a story involving her father and Governor Schricker. Her father, Leroy Thomas, was a black man who was accused of stealing a cow in Arkansas and fleeing to Indiana. In fact, he seems to have stolen the cow, but the circumstances mitigated the offense somewhat. He was caring for the cow in exchange for rent and, among other things, he faced a sudden need to move to Indiana to care for his father-in-law.
That was no matter in Arkansas where a black man stealing from white people might well face the death penalty. He was facing extradition from Indiana to Arkansas. A Bishop Davis intervened on Thomas’ behalf. Initially, Schricker was against providing any assistance. The law was the law and he was not inclined to deviate from the law for a sad story. But, Davis prevailed upon Governor Schricker to at least meet Thomas’ wife. Mrs. Thomas was apparently pleasant, charming, elegant, and beautiful.
On the second meeting, Bishop Davis again pleaded Thomas’ case, but the governor was implacable. He showed some sympathy when he tried to reassure Mrs. Thomas that the governor from Arkansas was a fair man. Mrs. Thomas responded that Mr. Thomas would probably never reach Arkansas. The sheriff extraditing Thomas could and probably would kill him with impunity. She explained that Governor Schricker did not know how things were in the South. She said:
Your Honor, please have mercy on me and my five little children. They need their father, and I need my husband. A cow is not worth him losing his life over. I don’t want my husband to be killed over a cow, Your Honor.
The Governor responded by having her tell him a little bit about the cow; then telling a story about how he had met his wife in Knox, Indiana — as he walked to work at the Clerk’s office and she was out in the morning milking a cow as one of her chores before going to her job as a teacher. The governor eventually softened, refused the extradition, and arranged for Thomas to be charged with a minor crime. Ultimately Thomas served one day and paid $30.
Reportedly FDR inquired as to whether Governor Schricker would run for Vice-President with him. Schricker apparently declined, saying “a man ought to know his limitations.” I’m not entirely certain of my source on that story. FDR seems to have supported everyone and no one for Vice-President. So, for him to come right out and invite someone to the job seems a little out of character. But the quote from Schricker about knowing one’s limitations seems in character for his simple Hoosier persona. So, maybe.
I don’t think I’m spoiling too much by mentioning that we’ll see Governor Schricker in the next installment. He sat out a term and then was re-elected.
That brings this installment 9 to a close. Next time, we’ll inch ever closer to the present with the post-war era, 1945-1961.
Great story ,where did you research Gov.Schricker? As a member of the Starke County Historical Society I find
Gov.Schricker stories very Interesting.
In this case, it was some random Googling. I found a book called “Will there be any coffee in heaven?” by Jennifer Thomas Hoston.