Tornado Alley (PROG)

[easymoney101]

Hugo N. Frye

In 1930 letters were mailed to Republican leaders throughout the United States inviting them to a May 26 party in honor of the birthday anniversary of the esteemed Hugo Norris Frye (aka Hugo N. Frye), the founder of the Republican party in New York State and coiner of the immortal phrase "Freedom in the land of the free." Mr. Frye would have been 150 if he were still alive. If their attendance were not possible, the leaders were asked instead to send their written thoughts about Frye's historical significance.

None of the politicians could make it to the event, but almost all of them sent back letters expressing their sincere admiration for Frye. For instance, Secretary of Labor James Davis wrote, "It is a pleasure to testify to the career of that sturdy patriot who first planted the ideals of our party in this region of the country... If he were living today he would be the first to rejoice in evidence everywhere present that our government is still safe in the hands of the people." Others who responded included senators, congressmen, and even the Vice President himself, Charles Curtis. All had warm words for Frye.

When May 26 arrived, the Hugo N. Frye Sesquicentennial Committee hosted a large celebration in honor of the man at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The laudatory comments written by the many politicians who had responded were solemnly read out. Riotous laughter ensued.

The joke was that Hugo N. Frye didn't exist. He was the sarcastic creation of two student editors at the Cornell Sun, Lester Blumner and Edward Horn. Hugo N. Frye was shorthand for "You go and fry!"

Within a day news of the prank was leaked to the press and for a week Republican leaders were the brunt of jokes throughout the nation. In the Senate, red-faced Republicans had to endure a week of humiliation as their Democratic colleagues reminded them, again and again, of the great example set by that "sturdy patriot" Hugo N. Frye.

For a while Horn and Blumner basked in the national appreciation of their prank. But soon Cornell's administration decided it shouldn't appear tolerant of such activity and pressured the pair into sending a letter of apology to their victims. The abject letter that followed read, in part, "We regret that what was intended as a campus prank should have been given such wide publicity. We intended no disrespect to you, your office, or the Republican party, and sincerely apologize for any annoyance we may have caused. We appreciate your good sportsmanship."

Reportedly the Hearst newspapers offered Horn and Blumner $500 for the originals of the letters, but fearing Cornell's reaction should the prank continue on any further, the two turned down the money and ceremonially burned the letters as a crowd looked on.

Horn and Blumner's prank would have fallen on its face if any of the politicans involved had bothered to do some research before gushing forth effusive praise of Hugo N. Frye. But the two gambled that no self-respecting politician would waste their time actually checking facts. Their gamble paid off (though perhaps betting against a politician's passion for the truth is a sure thing). Whatever the case, because the prank went beyond the walls of its own campus and cast some well-needed satirical light on the insincerity of political glad-handing, it earns a place in the top ten college pranks of all time.

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/pranks/hugofrye.html