Different Federal administrations have deemed it wise to "recognize" the Scandinavian among other elements of the political population, in making appointments in the diplomatic and consular services of the United States. One of the most notable instances is that of the selection of John Lind, the former governor of Minnesota, as the personal representative of President Wilson in Mexico during the troubled months of 1913 and 1914 and as adviser to the United States embassy in Mexico City during the period following the recall of Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson. Another instance of appointment in this service is that of Lauritz Selmer Swenson, a Norwegian of the second generation, born in Minnesota, who was minister to Denmark from 1897 to 1906, and later received appointments as minister to Switzerland and to Norway, terminating the latter in 1913.[386] Rasmus B. Anderson represented the United States at the Danish court from 1885 to 1889, being at that time a Democrat. He was born in Wisconsin of pure Norse parentage, and had served as professor of the Scandinavian languages in the University of Wisconsin.[387] [386] _Who's Who in America_, 1914-5. [387] _Ibid._; Anderson, _Norwegian Immigration_, quoting from the _Madison Democrat_. The appointment of Nicolay A. Grevstad as minister to Uruguay and Paraguay in 1911 was a fitting recognition of ability combined with long and able service to the people of the older, or middle, Northwest as editor of the _Minneapolis Tribune_, the _Minneapolis Times_, and the great Chicago daily, _Skandinaven_ (1902-1911). Hans Mattson, a Swedish veteran of the Civil War, was consul general at Calcutta from 1883 to 1885;[388] Soren Listoe, the Danish editor of _Nordvesten_ of St. Paul, Minnesota, was consul at Düsseldorf, 1882-3, consul at Rotterdam, 1897-1902, and consul general at the same city, 1902-1914.[389] At Rotterdam he succeeded L. S. Reque, a Norwegian from Iowa. Several other men have served for long terms in minor positions in the foreign service.[390] [388] Mattson, _The Story of an Emigrant_, 143-145. [389] _Congressional Directory_, 1897, 1907, 1914; Nelson, _History of the Scandinavians_, I, 435, 480, 503; II, 195. [390] Peterson, _Svenskarne i Illinois_, 389. CHAPTER XII. PARTY PREFERENCES AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP The great majority of the Scandinavians, prior to 1884, were thoro-going and uncompromising Republicans, and tho the party still holds most of them, profiting largely from their natural conservatism and their loyalty to a principle, it can by no means depend upon them with the assurance it had in the "good old days" when to find a Scandinavian voter in the Northwest was to find a Republican.