The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-05-20

w Imam LANCER. attOIHey Selleidl, ana
! republican nominee for governor,
| twice tried to enlist during the late
war although he was exempted from
..ervce by virtue of his state position
has been made public today in letter
.. signed by E. Z. keppel, formerly
Third Assistant Secretary Of War,
Washington, D. {.
Since the launching Of the LANCER
boom for governor which eliminated
last Thursday in his being unanimous
" nominated at the Minot republican
convention to head the ticket for the
anti-Townley forces, there has been a
persistent effort to discredit him by
baseless lies concerning his war re-
cord.
LANCER, as a matter of fact, was the
only one out Of all the state officials
elected by the Townley forces origin
ally who, during the war made Lib
erty Loan speeches, who gave speech
es in behalf of the Red Cross and who
h.; bought Liberty Bonds Of every ISSUE
The correspondence made public to-
day is decidedly interesting. When
the world war broke out William
| LANCER offered to enlis.. After taking
! the matter up with Judge L. E. Bird
| zell. chairman of the draft board, and
! finding that the war department
wished all state officials to keep their
Offices and not resign, and after hav-
! ing been refused permission to enlist,
! LANCER took up the matter with F. D.
! kcppel, assistant secretary of war,
! who also urged that LANCER keep on
| acting as attorney general.
Recently while in Washington try
; ing cases for the state before the
! United States suprmc court, Attor-
ney General LANCER called up Mr..
! Keppel The following letter effect
ualiy disposes Of any charges that
+ LANCER did not do his part in the war:
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS"
/ Washington, D. c.,
April 10, 1920
Dear Mr.. LANCER:
: With reference to your inquiry Of
this morning, I recall receiving the
letter dated August 3, 1918, Of which
YOU showed me carbon copy wherein
the closing paragraph read as fol-
! lows:
Very likely you know Of some
place where could do something for
the government. at this time. | am
very DESTROYS of going into some part
of the forces Of our government
where I can do the most good, and if
YOU can spare the time I would be
, exceedingly grateful if you would
; ind;cat where that is. Naturally, l
prefer to see active service, to go to
France or Italy where I can be in the
trenches and it is inlmaterial to me
whether | 60 as a private direct, or
first 90 to an officers training camp.
| Should there be an occasion for wish
! ing to send some fellows to South
America, China, Africa, OF any other
part of the world, would be glad to
go wherever sent, on prlVate's pay,
private's rank or any other way.
When | was in Washington | figured
that the war would end in three
months; the tone of the newspapers
were hopeful. but l feel that ! would
not De doing my duty towards my
country if l did not offer my SER
Vices; and do not write asking for
favor or any eXertion Of influence on
my behalf. or anything of that kind.
| simply wish you to Indicate where
you, knowing me, believe | could do
the most good"
have no documentary record Of
your personal visit earlier in the year,
but | rmember the visit and should
Judge that it took place about the
date you mntioned, viz, March 1st,
1918. l recall also that during your
visit, told you that it was probably
best for you to continue your work
as attorney general in North Dakota;
chat if the government felt there was
greater need for you in military ser
vice, it would not hesitate to call you.
On receipt of your letter Of Au-
gust Bird, replied on August 18th ex-
pressing my interst in your offer, but
explained that at that time ''all en-
listments and commissions are held up
until after Congress has enacted the
pending Legislation with regard to
tilte draft age
! myself. left for short trip to
France in October, 1918, and before
my return the Armistice had been
signed.
Yours very truly,
F. p. KEPPEL,
Formerly Third Asst Sec. of War.