Editing Alfred Lawson (section)

==Lawsonomy (1929–1954)==
In the 1920s, Lawson promoted health practices, including [[vegetarianism]], and claimed to have found the secret of living to 200. He also developed his own highly unusual theories of physics, according to which such concepts as "penetrability", "suction and pressure" and "zig-zag-and-swirl" were discoveries on par with [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]].<ref name="Gardner"/> He published numerous books on these concepts, all set in a distinctive typography.

He later propounded a philosophy, [[Lawsonomy,]] and the [[Lawsonian religion]]. He also developed, during the [[Great Depression]], the [[Populism|populist]] economic theory of "Direct Credits",<ref>{{cite web |title=Direct Credits |url=http://www.lawsonomy.org/DCEverybody100.html}}</ref> according to which banks are the cause of all economic woes, the oppressors of both capital and labor.<ref name="Henry">{{cite book |last1=Henry |first1=Lyell D. |title=Zig-Zag-and-Swirl: Alfred W. Lawson's Quest for Greatness |date=1991 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |id={{Project MUSE|3563|type=book}} |isbn=978-1-58729-108-1 |pages=128, 143, 183 }}</ref> Lawson believed that the government should replace banks as the provider of loans to business and workers. He predicted the worldwide adoption of Lawsonian principles once "everybody understands this subject".<ref name="Henry"/> His rallies and lectures attracted thousands of listeners in the early 1930s, mainly in the upper Midwest, but by the late 1930s the crowds had dwindled.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hoffmann|first=Gregg|date=15 December 2002|title=What in the heck is the University of Lawsonomy?|work=On Milwaukee|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/lawson.html}}</ref><ref name="felshman mission">{{Cite news|last=Felshman|first=Jeffrey|date=18 June 1998|title=Mission Implausible: The charismatic leader of one of the century's most popular utopian movements is remembered by a faithful few.|work=Chicago Reader|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mission-implausible/Content?oid=896586}}</ref>

His claims about his greatness became increasingly hyperbolic. The ''Lawsonomy trilogy'', which Lawson considered his intellectual masterpiece, is replete with such self-referential statements as "About every two thousand years a new teacher with advanced intellectual equipment appears upon earth to lead the people a step or two nearer the one God of everybody".<ref name="Henry"/>

In 1943, he founded the Humanity Benefactor Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rmoa.unm.edu/docviewer.php?docId=wyu-ah07504.xml#idm45473693341584|title = Alfred W. Lawson papers 1904-2004, (Bulk 1931-1989)}}</ref> and [[University of Lawsonomy]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], on the site of [[Des Moines University (1865–1929)|Des Moines University]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/323247306/?terms=%22University+of+Lawsonomy%22|title=List Details Of Lawson School: University to Teach Principles O. K.'d by Founder|page=1|work=Des Moines Tribune|date=November 30, 1943|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> to spread his teachings and offer the degree of "Knowledgian", but after various IRS and other investigations it was closed and finally sold in 1954, the year of Lawson's death. His financial arrangements remain mysterious to this day, and in later years, he seems to have owned little property, moving from city to city as a guest of his far-flung acolytes. In 1952, he testified before a [[United States Senate]] investigative committee on allegations that his organization had bought war surplus machines and then sold them for a profit despite claiming [[non-profit]] status. His attempt to explain Lawsonomy to the senators ended in mutual frustration and bafflement.<ref name="Gardner"/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Education: Zigzag & Swirl |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,816203,00.html |magazine=Time |date=24 March 1952 }}</ref>

A farm near [[Racine, Wisconsin]], is the only remaining university facility, although a tiny handful of churches may yet survive in places such as [[Wichita, Kansas]]. The large sign, formerly reading "University of Lawsonomy", was a familiar landmark for motorists in the region for many years and was visible from [[Interstate 94]] about {{convert|13|mi|km}} north of the [[Illinois]] state line, on the east side of the highway. A storm in the spring of 2009 destroyed the sign, although the supporting posts are still visible. On the northbound side of Interstate 94, a sign on the roof of the building nearest the freeway said "Study Natural Law" until being shingled over in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manlifethemovie.com/|title=Manlife|website=Manlife|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

In 2018, the Town of Mount Pleasant paid $933,000 to purchase the property on the northbound side of Interstate 94 for the Foxconn project. All remaining buildings were demolished and removed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/foxconn-just-bought-an-unusual-part-of-wisconsin-history-what/article_8217445a-1e19-5478-b8c8-b5e7551589db.html|title=Foxconn just bought an unusual part of Wisconsin history: What is Lawsonomy?|website=Racine Journal Times|date=28 April 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-07-14}}</ref> Lawsonomy maintains a small following to this day.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Strehlow|first=Mike|date=8 October 2017|title=Sunday Morning Spotlight: Milwaukee filmmakers preserve the legacy of Lawsonomy|work=CBS58|url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/sunday-morning-spotlight-milwaukee-filmmakers-preserve-the-legacy-of-lawsonomy}}</ref><ref name="felshman mission"/>