The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-23
LANCER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
FOR GOVERNOR; DECLARESSTAND
FOR SQUARE DEAL ALL AROUND

TODAY in Letter to Farmers
Organizations - Asserts He
Can Best Continue Fight on
Townley Bossism by Shying
Hat into Ring
The long expected announcement or
Attorney General William Langer's
candidacy for goyern0r was made to-
day in a letter addressed to three Of
ficers of the Farmers Federated clubs
and the North Dakota LANCER Tor
Governor clubs.
Three years tago," says Attorney
General LANCER in his letter, when
a candidate for attorney general J
publicly pledged my hest efforts 70
serve all Of the people OF the state.
That pledge have kept. J have beeh
the attorney general for all OF the
neople, and have not permitted M;
SELF to become the chattel, rubber
stamp, nlaything or tool of A.sC. TOWN.
lev or any other political boss.
. a-F 4 k -. (. ~
..The time has come for the
people Of North Dakota to decide
whether the seat Of government
Of North Dakota shall be brought
h0ck to Bismarck from st. Paul
and whether the people OF Town
lev shall rlle. The people must
decide whether a state 0fifclal
nnder a solemn oath to serve the
people must be the object tool
Of Townley or be sacrificed. ).
"More than a year ago dedicated
myself to the defeat of Townley ami
his ring of imported politicians. MY
tours through the state and the peti.
tions of thousands OF farmers and
others have convinced me that the
fight can hest he continued by my be-
coming candidate for governor at
this time.
Il stand today as q candidate for
governor, advocating the same Things
l did three years ago and one year
ago. Among them: H.,
Rural credit banks operated
s'State owned -four mills and
terminal elevators under non,
political expert management and
limited to reasonable expendi- Il
lures.
IA more practical and efficient
haif insurance law. ~.
..An extensive system Of irriga-
tiOn in western North Dakota
....Pntactio of Legitimate pris
vate interests, IA Il
III. Increased salaries for teach a
ers and better school conditions.
Reduction OF high cost Of liv- #
: ing.
"A square deal for the lalorer.
the farmer. the business and pro-
fessiOnal man.
~ Decentralization OF the execu-
tive power not lodged In the
hands of the governor.
independent aud impartial au-
dit of state industries.
''Such assistance to returned
service men BY bonus and other
wise as will express to them the
gratitude Of grateful state.
e. estate assistance to cooperate
enterprises. >t
-. Farmer representation on all
boards. r
Protection Of the farmer and
his property from the l. w. W.,
''Protecttb1 Of the people from
the profiteer.
'sWhole-time health officer resi-
ding at the capital.
Return Of powers to the state
superintendent Of instruction.
Impartial enforcement of laws.
Lower taxes.
Freedom Of speech. q
Government Of North Dakota
by North Dakota men and
women
Mr.. I.anger's letter is addressed tc
Victor Anderson, Simon j. Nagel. AMI
J. w. Evans. officers lof the Farmers
Federated clubs and LANCER for Gov
ernor clubs. Mr.. I.alrser's letter ir
part follows
. In reply to the resolutions passed
by the Farmers Federated clubs re
questing that I become candidate
for governor. and also Influenced by
the petitions from more than twenty
thousand citizens Of the state who
have banded themselves together ir
LANCER for Governor clubs, ! accede
to your wishes and will become q
Progressive Republican candidate fol
governor, provided my platform Of
principles prove to be satisfactory K
both organizations.
Three years ago when candidat,
for attorney general. publicly pled2et
my best efforts to serve all Of th'
people Of the state. That pledge
have kept. I have been the Attorne!
General for all of the people and have
not permitted myself to become thu
chattel, rubber stamp, plaything o.
tool of A. C. Townley, or any othe
political boss.
II have honestly used my utmos
endeavor to carry out the platform
upon which was elected. On tn
other hand TOwnley has made nj
honest effort to carry out that pro
gram but has acted at all times from
selfish motives and has built up i
personal political machine. which !
controlled absolutely by him, AM
which not only extends to the news
papers and banks which he has organ
lied. but extends into the very legis
lative halls Of the state and even col
trolls many state officials"
( . E.