Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-19
documentary Evidence Dis
poses Of Attack Of War
\ Record ! Of Independent
! Candidate Made by the
( Townley Kept Press.

Bismarck, N. D., May 1s.-That
asand Republican nominee for COVER
SSnor, twice tried to enlist during the
sslate war although he was exempted
sNfrom service by virtue of his state po->
sssaSttion, has been made public today
asln letter signed by E. p. keppel,
third assistant secretary of
ssMsRar, Washington, D. c.
boom for governor, which eliminated
pssfast Thursday in his being unani-
ssssnously nominated at the Minot' Re-
N N snnblican convention ito head the tick
Sset for the antiTownley forces; there
has been persistent, effort to dis
sscredit him by baseless lies concerning
assshts war record.
Atoday is decidedly interesting. When
SSthe world war broke out William
FGlanger offered to enlist. After TAX
ling the matter up with Judge L. r.
iSSBtrdzen chairman of the draft board
8And finding out that the war depart,
wished all state officials to keel,
SEtheir offices and not resign, and aftel
Il shaving been refused permission to en-
Sssllst, LANCER took up the matter with
ssaE. ssE. D. Keppel assistant secretary of
who also urged that LANCER
SMsSkeep on acting as attorney general,
SSsE Seretary's Letter.
5sssssy Recently while in Washington try
Il Ing cases for the state before the
;sIJnited States supreme court. Attorney
s#s9eneral LANCER called up Mr.. Keppel.
The following letter effectually dis
mot do his part in the war:
THE American Red Cross,
,,sSSsst washington, D. c., :,
SSSslsss April 49,, 1920.
Mr.. Langer:- y,
with reference to your inquiry of
ssfthis morning. recall receiving the
H$1etter dated August 8, 1913, of which
s#in the closing paragraph read as fol-
Flows:
'Ss$ ssss q Very likely you know of some
splace where l could do something for
@hthe government at this time. l am
desirous of going into some part
s of the forces of our government
s where | can do the most good, and
III If you can spare the time 1 would
NJ be exceedingly grateful if you would
4. Indicate where that is. Naturally,
E prefer to see active service, to go tC
s Ss France or Italy where can be in:the
sgsiI trenches and it is 1mmaterial to me
.sg whether l go as a private direct, OF
M first go to an officers training camp
dIff Should there be an occasion for wish.
w ing to send some fellows to- South
R America, China, Africa, or any Othel
u. part Of the. world, / would be GLAD
u to go wherever sent, on a private's
SEss pay, private'ss rank or any other way
NJ When l was in Washington figured
tha;t.,the war would end in three
nas,a,t44s tss aa<ss tepe Of THO .newspaper
d were hopeful, but eIAfeel> that / woul.
not be doing my duty towards m.
\ country IL I did not offer my services
II and Il do not write asking for an,
Il favor or any exertion of influence
% on my behalf. or anyt hing OF tha
VI kind. Isimply wish you to indicate
II where you, knowing me; believe
N could do the most good -
% II have no documentary record O
your personal visit earlierin the year
n but 1 remember the visit and shoult
judge that it took place about th'
~ date you mentioned, viz, March !
u 1918. 1 recall also that during you
pisl visit, told you that it was proba bl,
.s best for you to continue your worl
~a as attorney general in North Dakota
sa that il the government felt there wa
ssss greater need for you in military serr
81 ice it would not hesitate to call you
ION receipt of your letter of, Au
Ss gust ;, replied on August 49, ex
pressing my interest in your offer
sa$$ s$$ but explaining that at that time al
ss ss enlistments and commissions arc hell
ss up until after congress has enacte,
asa4 gssa the pending legislation with regar,
sss to the draft age.
ssses II myself. left for a short trip t
NH s France in October. 1918, and beGor
|SNlssSIny return the armistice had beel
MI! signed. Yours very truly,
Sssss ss''Former Third Assistant Secretary Q
iSsES War; a
The Brother Yarn. !,
R The Townley kept" newspaper
recently circulated tale charg
,SS ling LANCER with having attemptc
asys 31s to secure the exemption of his broth
sSSssIer from military service.
1Ss The best refutation of this is tn
&ESfact that no one has put forth
VHaSclaim for 81 900 reward offered by tn
attorney general to any one who ca
fsSSprope to a committee of America
xSELegion men. former boys wounded i
sSssza action, to be named by State Com
y$& y$&mander c.. l.. Dawson of Beach, tina
ever committed one singl
II 3Sunpatriotic act; that he sent an as
sistant attorney general anywhere q
gsthe expense of the state to secure ex
@ emption of his brother, or any othe
such charge. -
IL At the beginning Of the war. Fran
WA eL.anger was in partnership in Sun
Enyside. Wash. His partner enlisted
63tS Frank LANCER reported for service Q
seSsSa ss5Sa draft call; finally secured a coda
lAsf SS leave Of absence, Strengthened Up n
$sbusiness affairs, sold his business fo
n The best price obtainable. then enlist
Nd went to~France, saw action elsf
where and WAS finally wounded duf
IS Ing the fighting in the Argonne for
2by4slcf He laid nm the battlefield.