Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-01-26

was entirely without foundation.
"At the time that William LANCER
closed the Scandinavian American
bank the Courier-News charged that
he did it at the command of Wall St.
and for political glory" The Cour-
ier-News also charged that he "tipp-
ed off" people to the closing, that he
instituted run on the bank before
it was closed" that che was wreck
err of worse type than Jesse James,
and stated that LANCER ought to be
in the penitentiary. #
eve further stated that Mr.. Lam
ger was "a fool" if he believed that
he could convince the supreme court
that farmers and workers. postdated
checks were not excellent security.
We also charged that Mr.. LANCER was.
IAN enemy of the farmers and work.
ers" and stated that it was "too bad
that there was no recall in force with
which to recall him." The Courier
News exulted when the majority Of
the supreme court scathingly con-
demned him and ordered him person.
ally to pay the costs connected with
the closing of the bank. Recent
events have shown that Mr.. LANCER
did what he believed to be his duty
in the closing Of the bank and we
hereby retract any and all statements
made by US condemning or CRITICS.
ing him in regard thereto.
Not Railroad Attorney
"The Courier-News has several
times stated that Mr.. LANCER was a
corporation attorney working hand
and glove with the railroads operat-
ing in North Dakota but investiga-
ton shows that he has been the great
est enemy of railroad control that
the railroads have encountered in
North Dakota.
"As county attorney of Morton
county aided by the tax commission
he fought in the district and supreme
courts to a successful conclusion the
case Of the Northern Pacific Railway
company against Morton county and
compelled the railroads operating in
North Dakota to pay six years back
taxes on assessments aggregating
$50, 100000 consisting Of 2,03s licensed
elevator sites, 1000 lumber yards and
thir warehouse sites and 260 oil tank
station sites upon the right-of-way
of the railroad companies within this
state. The case is reported in volume
SO of the North Dakota reports, on
page 627. RI
"After Mr.. LANCER became attor-
ney general the railroads endeavored
to raise their freight rates Is per
cent. He called into conference the
railroad commissioners and together
with s. j. Aandahl, chairman Of the
board of railroad commissioners and
Mr.. Little, the rate expert, went to
Washington. At Washington they
found the. railroads well organized
and the various states disorganized.
The states were organized and Cliff
ford H. Thorne, now attorney for the
U. S. Grain Growers, and Professor
Norton of Yale University, an expert
on the Adamson law, were retained.
Later Mr.. LANCER and his assistant,
Judge Bronson personally spent three
weeks in Washington assisting Mr..
Thorne. He peronally conducted part
; Of the investigation before the inter-
state commerce commission and took
the testimony Of various witnesses.
"The final result was that the in
terstate commerce commission did
not allow the increase in freight rates
in North Dakota although they were
raised in some Of the eastern states
land based on the 1915 crop yield over
Isl, 100000 was saved to the farmers
and producers f,of North Dakota on
grain alone. a,.
with these facts of record as they
are the Courier-N News hereby retracts
any. statement made either directly
or indirectly that William LANCER is
"a tool of the. railroad interests" and
states that there was no foundation
for the charges thus made.
Regarding Lemke Letter
*s while Mr.. LANCER was a: candi-,
Edate for governor, VIM Lemke pub
fIfshed q letter IN the Courier-N News