The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-11-01
Cong. L. B. Hanna
Broke Gov. Laws
Persistently Violates Law After Be-
ing Told Not to do so by the
Postmaster General

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Postmaster General
The following article was published
in the Fargo Courier-News last Satur-
day:
Congressman L. B. Hanna heeced
the government and consequently, the
people, out of SIS, ESQ in postage and
stationery with the illegal use of his
official frank and official stationery
during the primary election to advance
his personal political interests according
to mathematical calculations based dupon
the distributions of five separate cir
cular letters sent to 1875, 600 tax payers
in North Dakota. Figure it yourself.
Base the value of the stationery used
at one cent, then add two cents for
postage. 1t would cost S3,75O to mail
l25, 900 letters, and to mail five letters
it would cost five times So, $50, or S18,-
$50.
When complaint was made by a
North Dakota tax payer about Con-
gresham Hanna illegally using his
franking privilege to promote his po-
litical interests in the primary elec-
tion to nominate Republican governor,
Postmaster General Hitchcock tried to
shut Congressman Hanna off, but Mr..
Hanna flooded North Dakota with his
political literature under his official
frank.
Here is copy of letter from Con-
gresham Hanna to Mr.. w. H. Cabaniss,
Grove, N. D., written on official sta
tionery and sent under official frank,
the letter that caused Mr.. Cabaniss to
complain of the way Congressman
Hanna was illegally using his official
frank:
"House of Representatives.
washington, March II, 1912.
"Mr. w. H. Cabaniss,
"Grove, N. D.
my dear sir:
II am in receipt of your favor ask
ing for certain Farmers Bulletins.
81 am very glad indeed to comply
with your request and have ordered the
bulletins sent on to you and you
should receive them within the next
two weeks. l feel sure that they will
be help and benefit to you. If for
any reason the bulletins do not reach
you, advise me, and l will have them
traced up. If at any time in the near
future there should be anything further
that l can do for you in any way, l
shall be pleased to have you write me.
"With best wishes, am
Sincerely,
(Sipned) ''L. B. Hanna.
"P. S. am candidate for governor
of our state and would very much ap-
preciate the help and support of your
self and friends"
This is a copy of the letter Mr..
Cabaniss received from Postmaster
General Hitchehock in response to his
complaint abodt Congressman Hanna's
illegal use of his official frank:
s'Postofiice Department
Omitted States of America.
coffee of the postmaster general.
washington, March. q 1912.
'.Mr. w. H. Cabaniss,
"Grove, N. D.
Dear sir:
'.In reply to your letter of the 18th
inst, which the President has referred
to me, inclosing circular letter dated
March IL, 1912, addressed to you by
Congressman L. B. Hanna, beg to
inform you that the law, embodied in
section 500 of the postal laws and regu-
lations, restricts the correspondence
which member of Congress may send
in the mails, free of postage, under his
frank, to that which is .'upon official or
department business. =
..The postscript, referring to Mr..
Hanna's candidacy for governor of
your state, at the bottom Of the cir
cular letter, cannot be regarded as
upon. official or departmental business. ;
Mr.. Hanna was advised on the 18th
inst, that such circular letters when
mailed, were subject to postage.
..The envelope and letter submitted
by you are herewith returned.
Respectfully
(Signed) .'F. H. Hitchcock
Postmaster general.
Although this correspondence was in
March and Congressman Hanna was
notified by the postmaster general that
he was violating the law in using his
official frank for correspondence other
than Official or departmental busines, :"
Congressman Hanna continued TO violate
the law, q provided by the following
circular letter sent out to the voters in
North Dakota:
I House Of Representatives,
Washington May 20. 1912.