The Bismarck tribune., 1919-03-28

Official Statement.
In an official statement issued tn
the press last night by Governor Fra
zler ana Commissioner Hagan, who
constitute majority of the tommis-
SION, the following version of the al
fair Is given:
The industrial commission today
was forced to confront Mr.. LANCER, q
member of the commission and its
attorney under the Industrial commits.
sion act, with evidence proving that
MS office had been guilty of encour-
aging the circulation OF false. stories
Whlcl are OF the greatest possible
lamage to the industrial program OF
North Dakota, which this commission
Is instructed by the people to carry
out. The attorney general u week
ago had his attention called to this
situation, but the stories continued
to be circulated and finally got, into
the press hostile to the program. :fl.
mt. LANCER has assured us that, in
spite OF the stories that have been
printed In the anti-farmer newspapers.
ana IN spite of the fact that his as
slstant has been circulating insinua-
tlons against the bond acts, that so
far as he, Mr.. LANCER knows, the bond
acts are sufficient in every particu-
lar and that he is ready at all times
10 defend the acts and to protect the
interests OF the commission.
For What They Are Worth.
However, the industrial commits
sion is charged with a grave respons-
lb1llty in the carrying out of this pro-
gram for the people of North Dakota.
and we cannot assume that respons-
lbllity with any peace of mind while
our confidence in the attorneys who
are doing our legal work Is not COM
plete. We are willing to take Mr..
Langer's assurances that he viii dis
charge any assistant who again at
tacks the bond acts and that be-
means to act in good faith toward the
commission for what these state
ments are worth, but in addition to
the underhand work against the bonds
which the attorney generals assist
ant has been guilty of, we have OBJ
served with uneasiness the fact that
MIR. LANCER for some weeks has been
used by the interests and the press
opposed to the industrial program as
means of discrediting If possible the
commissions work and promoting the
referendum movement which those In
terests are working upon to finally
defeat the industrial program.
Would Hire League Lawyer. ~
Mr. LANCER at today's meeting of
the commission voluntarily offered to
employ in his office the attorneys
who assisted the legislature in draw
ing up the bond acts Games Manah an
and William Lemke) and to freely TO-
operate with them and back them up
IN every way in protecting the bond
issues and making the bond and the
lndustrlai program success We are
going to avail ourselves of MIR. Ian
gers offer to this extent: Without
re1lectlng upon his professions Of
bei1ef In the program or questioning
the honesty OF the statement he made
TO the board today, we are going to
appoint an attorney for the Bank E
North Dakota whose salary will be
provided for out of the bank abpro-
prlat1on. Although Mr.. LanKet Is
named in the commission, act 3 It.
torney for the commission, We have
the authority in the bank act to name
legal counsel for the bank. In view
~AA' ASoAAo0Ac ICCCAJ ACLlViLl6S 80U
the. confession of Mr.. Packard tina.
ne has been circulating stories dam
aging to the bond act, the industrial
commission feels that It must have
this special, independent legal advice
from now on in order to protect thor
oughly the interests of the people Of
North Dakota who have voted for this.
program, the legislature which has
provided the bond issues, ana other
necessary acts to carry It out. and
ourselves, on whom this tremendous
responsibility rests.
Assure the Psople.
We desire to assure ths people Of
North Dakota who have 90 lcyAtly and
faithfully spent their moner 6n0
worked for years fof - r6alaaaioa.
Of this progfam that ~ IN YGIII111
Continued On ta0s geN
j