The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-05-27
PROOFS OF ATTY.-GEN,
LANGER'S PATRIOTISM


for governor, twice tried to enlist
during the late war although he vas
exempted from service by virtue of
his state position has been made
public today in a letter signed by
&. P. Keppel, formerly Third AS
sistant Secretary of War, Washing
ton, D. G.
Since the launching of the LANCER
boom for governor which culminat-
ed last Thursday in his being unani-
mously nominated at the Minot Re-
publican convention to head the
ticket for the anti-pownley forces,
there has been a.persistant effort to
discredit him by baseless lies con-
corning his war record.
LANCER, as a matter of fact, was
the only one out of all the state
officials elected by the Townley
forces originally who, during the
war made Liberty Loan speeches,
who gave speeches in behalf of the
Red Gross and who bought Liberty
Bonds of every issue.
The correspondence made public
today is decidedly interesting. When
the world war broke out William
LANCER offered to enlist. After tax
ing the matter up with Judge L. E.
Birdsell, chairman Of the draft
board, and finding that the war de-
partment wished all state officials to
keep their state Offices and not to re-
sign, and after having been refused
permission to enlist, LANCER took up
the matter with F. D. Keppel, Asst.
secretary of war, who also urged
that LANCER keep on acting as at
torney general.
Recently while in Washington try
ing cases for the state before the
United States Supreme court, Attor-
ney General LANCER called up Mr..
Kepple. The following letter eff
fectually disposes of any charges
that LANCER did not do his part dur
ing the war:
"THE AMERICAN RED CROSS"
Washington, D. c.,
April, 10, 1920.
Dear Mr.. LANCER:
With reference to your inquiry of
this moning, I recall receiving the
letter dated August 8, 1918, of which
you showed me a carbon copy where
in the closing paragraph read as fol
lows:
very likely you know of
some place where I could do
something for the government
at this time. 1 am very desir-
GUS of going into some part of
the forces of u government
where I can do the most good,
and if you can spare the time
l would be exceedingly CRATE
full if you would indicate where
that is. Naturally, I prefer to
see active service, to go to
France or Italy where I can be
in the trenches and it is imma-
terial to me whether I go as a
private dirct, or first to go to an
officers training camp. Should
there be an occasion for wishing
to send some fellows to South
America, China, Africa or any
other part of the world, I would
be glad to go wherever sent, on
a private's pay, private's rank
or any other way. When 1 was
in Washington I figured that the
war would end in three months
the tone of the newspapers
were hopeful, but I feel that I
would not be doing my duty to-
wards my country if I did not
offer my services; and I do not
write asking for any favor or
any exertion of influence on my
behalf, or anything of that
kind. I simply wish to indicate
where you, knowing me, believe
could do the most good"
1 have no documentary record of
your personal visit earlier in the
year, but I remember the visit and
should judge that it took place about
the date you mentioned, viz, March
lst' 1918. I recall also that during
your visit, I told you that it was
probably best for you to continue
your work as Attorney General in
North Dakota; that if the govern
ment felt that there was greater
need for you in the military service,
it would not hesitate to call on you.
On receipt of your letter of Aug
ust 3rd, I replied on August 18th
expressing my interest in your Of
fer, but explaining that at that time
"all enlistments and commissions
are held I'M until after Con oroce no,