The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-01-29
LANCER SCORES
LEAGUE HEADS
Delivers Red Hot Political Speech in
Oakes Last Thursday Before
..... Crowded House
RoAsTs oy,R REPRESENTATIVES
Sc By Paying Trib-
.ator Zisman
ned house at the C.
thursday evening, VIM.
I ne Of the most fiery
syer heard here

"~sS essA.s SvUS uSAtO mere.
tba ss,lntrs NJ me II speaker
to appear. Hi the avan able seats in
the opera house were occupied and
standing room was at premium. In
fact, many were turned away at the
door, because the hall was packed
to the limit.
1t was not necessary to listen to
Mr.. LANCER more than ten minutes be-
fore one learned the reason he il
called "the fighting attorney general"
of North Dakota. While he is far
from being . finished orator in the
accepted use of the term, for pure
force of delivery and ability to drive
home the salient points Of his argu-
ment, this same LANCER has 1t on
any political speaker who has appear
ed here in many long day.
All through his speech Mr.. LANCER
made it plain that he is in favor Of
the farmefs' program as originally
promulgated, but he is decidedly op-
posed to the present leadership Of
the Nonpartisan league.
He took up the Valley City bank
deal and described the action taken
in detail, justifying the procedure Of
his Office in every particular. Find
ing that the promoters were pulling
off a big steal, he and his assistants
took matters into their own hands
and compelled them to refund several
thousand dollars to hoodwinked farm
ers, who put up their money in good
faith ONLY to be cheated out of it.
The closing of the Scandinavian
American bank at Fargo was explain
ed thoroughly, the speaker stating
that bank examiners appointed by the
governor had reported the institution
to be insolvent and recommended that
it be closed in order to protect the
interests of everybody connected with
it. Mr.. LANCER claimed that if his
office had failed 10 net on this report
he would have been criminally liable
for neglecting to do his sworn duty,
and he does not propose to allow Mr..
Townley or any one else to get any
thing criminal on him. He showed
where the president, cashier, A. C.
Townley and others in the ring had
misappropriated the banks funds and
produced affidavits to prove it. He
also claimed that money has been sent
to this institution from the Bank of
North Dakota to help it out of diff
fiulties in which it has become involv-
ed. That his statements were con-
vincing was evidenced by the hearty
applause which interrupted him at diff
ferent points in his speech.
Messrs. johnson and Marshall, rep
resentatives from Dickey county, were
roundly scored by LANCER, who accus-
ed them of being crooked and made
numerous uncomplimentary references
to their record. It seems likely that
the speaker must shave the goods" on
them if his statements go unchalleng-
ed. The attorney general expressed
the hope that these two men were in
the audience, but said that if they
were not he hoped some of their
friends were and that his message
would be conveyed to them.
Senator Zieman, who was in the
gathering, was the recipient of glow
ing tribute at the hands of LANCER,
who claimed that only for the sena-
tors vote at the special session he
(Langer) would have been impeached
by the legislature. He bowed his head
in gratitude to one of the men who
refused to heed when Townley crack
ed his whip.
Numerous other phases of the po
litical situation were discussed by the
speaker, who was roundly applauded
at the close of his address.
People from all parts of the county
were present, despite the cold weather
and bad roads, and many Nonpartisan
voters were sprinkled through the
audience.
The most convincing thing about the
whole speech is the fact that LANCER
certainly would not dare to publicly
make his charges unless he could
prove them.
The voters present listened in rapt
attention to Mr.. Langer's address for
over three hours without a sign of
becoming tired or nervous, which is
q most eloquent tribute to the plat
form powers Of the attorney general.
Norwegian Lutheran services in
Clement February at IL O'Clock. ].
H. Lindland.