Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-21
Demand Made on Crawford
and Associates That
They Get Out.
MET REFUSAL THEN
TALKED OF WEATHER
Frazier's Board Will Now
Make Fight in Supreme
Court for the Jobs.

Bismarck, N. D., Marcn 21-f1ls
appointees as a board Of regents hav-
ing organized by electing DR.. w: G.
Brown Of Fargo president and Her
bert A. Hard Of Fargo temporary sec
retary, Governor Frazier today
marched his board down stairs to the
offices of the board on the ground
floor, made formal demand upon
President Crawford and other men,
bers of the de facto board Of regents
in session there, for possession OF Of
fees; records and other appurtenanc.
es thereto; was as formally denled
said possession by President Craw-
ford and then solemnly marched his
board back upstairs again. The whole
proceeding consumed less than fifteen
minutes.
There was no bloodshed. Every
thing was very courteous, dlgnlneo,
polite and good natured.
Gov. Frazier headed the line when
it reached the door Of the regents Of
fee. He marched his board into the
private sanctum, where the old board
words advised them the regents whom
he had appointed and commissioned
had organized, that they were ready
to assume charge of their office. and
that as governor of North Dakota, ne
demanded that offices, records and
keys be turned over to his board.
Crawford Flatly Refused
President Crawford, in behalf of
the old board, responded:
"Mr. Governor: AS president of the
board of regents, I shall have to re-
ply to your request for US to turn over
our office to your appointees, that the
present board was appointed for def
mite terms and the members will
hold offices for the terms specified in
their appointments. or until such time
as court of competent jurisdiction
may determine.
1--WE were appointed in good faith,
and have served in good faith. Our
attitude Is most friendly toward mem
recognize that they are not RESPONSE
BILE for the embarrassing position in
which they are placed, and likewise
in which their appointments place us.
1--WE feel we would not be repre-
senting either the intelligence or dig
nifty Of the state of North Dakota If
we permitted the office to be turned
over to any board. however compe-
tent, until our rights to the offices
have been adversely determined"
Dan V. Brennan, assistant attorney
general, who accompanied the govG
ernor's party, then asked where Au-
brey Lawrence, chief of counsel for
the old board. could be found. Bren-
nan proceeded at once to the supreme
court room, where the justices de-
rs3erred their luncheon long enough to
receive an application in quo war
Tanto, with petition for order, against
President Lewis F. Crawford and 9TH
or members of the present board OF
regents to show cause why a writ of
custer should not be issued, on
grounds that they have unlawfully
seized and are holding upon public
offices and property, and rights to
which they are not legally entitled.
To Rush tho Hearing.
The court suggested that Mr.. Law
romeo Immediately be communicated
with, in order that date for hearing
Of arguments on this petition might
be set with as little delay as possible.
The entire procedure was good
natured. The proposed regents and
the present regents were introduced
all around, and exchanged conpli-
ments and remarks on the weather
tust as any other friends and neigh
5ors would do. No one became excit-
ed and the incident passed with COM
paratively few about the capitol build
ing knowing that demand had been
made.
1t is anticipated there will be little
!'elay in bringing the custer proceed
ing to head in the supreme court
Both sides have been prepared for
some time for the legal battle. Dan "
Brennan has been directly in charge
for the attorney generals office, Mr.
LANCER having been in Washington
for the greater part of the time since