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

for the purpose of publicity and
"the limelight."
Investigation shows that he raid
ed the city of Minot solely because
the men and public officials there
would not do their duty or were in
competent to do it. The records show
that several dozen bawdy houses were
locked up; that there were scores of
liquor prosecutions; that the two lodg
es were closed; that the mayor re-
signed; that the district Judge refus-
ed to testify because he might incrim-
mate himself; that the chief of po-
lice soon afterwards left; that rich
and poor were treated alike, and that
no one with any influence could make
that influence felt on Mr.. LANCER and
that there was no scandal about the
men with money going free.
Mr.. Langer's assistants were at
Minot prosecuting cases for three
months and out of all the men and
women arrested only three did not
result in convictions. The records al
SO show that conditions in Minot had
ben rotten for years. .s
I'm view of all these facts, the
Courier-News gladly retracts all char
ges against Mr.. LANCER in this con-
nection and states that the publicity
and 'limelight' that resulted only
came naturally because he performed
his duty and the raid was pulled off
honestly and with deadly efficiency.
No Extravaganza
"The CoYrier-News very frequently
charged that William LANCER con-
Quoted his Office extravagantly and
spent money with free hand and
that he spent much Of it for political
purposes.
"The records show that when Will
liam LANCER went out of Office he left
for the use Of his successor, VIM.
Lemke, $4,000 in the pool hall fund,
and also approximately one-fourth
Of his two years appropriation. This
was available to Mr.. .Lemke to use
for the six months before his appro-
priation would become available. In
other words, Mr.. Lemke received his
proportionate share and any charges
by anyone that Mr.. LANCER squander-
ed money so as to hamper Mr.. Lem
Ike is unqualified and absolutely false.
"The Courier-News hereby retracts
all the charges made in connection
Herewith and especially the charge
that Mr.. LANCER was crazy and
ought to be sent to :Jimtown' because
Of his recommendations to the budget
committee. The records show that
he recommended for. Mr.. Lemke ex-
actly the same amount that he had
himself received the year before on
Mr.. Lemke's recommendation.
Bowen Murder Case a
"The Courier-News desires espe-
cially to apologize to William LANCER
fer it's attitude in the Bowen murder
case. It now freely admits that it
was wrong and that the full disclose
ure of facts that has now occurred
shows that he acted honestly and in
good faith.
Several times during the last two
years the Courier-News accused Will
liam LANCER Of selling; out to the
Standard Oil company. He was charg.
ed with not appearing in court when
their case came up and with being in
j .'cahoots' with Judge Young, who rep.
resented the Standard Oil company,
The Courier News has now made q
thorough and painstaking .inyestiga.
ton IN the Standard Oil company
case and In this .retraction we give 3
heading across the front page Of the
Gourier-N News Of exactly the :samt
size as we did when we accused Mr..
! LANCER falsely in that case.sa, 4: /;
The legislature passed a law which
taxed Red Crown gasoline about 8
iicent gallon. The Standard Oil com,
lpany aseine months. after the Law
went into efectarefused to pay, ap
!,proximatley $500 900 of this tax ane
brought ian action in federal courl
to prohibit the state Of North. 4Dako
I ia from collecting it and claimed tina;