The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-24
Frazier, Secretary
Come to Open Break
Nelson A. Mason Attacks Both
Senior and Junior Sena.
tors in Statement
RESIGNS FROM HIS POSITION
Criticizes Former Employer For
'Laxity' in Senate Indian
Investigation
(By the Associated Press)


Nelson A. Mason Friday announced
his resignation as secretary to Unit
ed States Senator Lynn ]. Frazier
and issued statement in which he
directs criticism at the Senator.
The statement recounts an open
break between Mason and Frazier.
Mason said Frazier recently told him
his services would terminate in Sep
TENDER. but that he resigned instead
of waiting until that time.
In his statement, Mason takes a
stand against the denomination OF
U. S. Senator Gerald P. Nye, but
says he is not opposing the state
ticket of the Nonpartisan League,
with which Nye and Frazier are at
filiated.
Mason has served as Frazier's Sec
rotary for II years, from 1917 to
1921 while Frazier was Governor of
North Dakota, and from 1928, when
Frazier was elected senator, until
his resignation last Saturday.
Mason, in an eight-page typewrit-
ten statement, expresses dissatisfac-
ton with the policies pursued by
Frazier in handling the Indian AT.
fairs committee and charges the
senator employed his son on the
committee in preference to more
competent employee. He claimed that
when he disagreed with Frazier the
"word was passed along in the North
Dakota Nonpartisan League delega-
ton that I was too religious At
the time Mason was affiliated with
the Gospel Mission, and the District
of Columbia Christian Endeavor
Union.
Not the Same
Speaking of Nye, Mason's state
ment said: "Since he has been in the
Senate, Frazier has not been the
same"
After his resignation, Mason came
to North Dakota "by day coach, not
having sufficient funds to travel in
a drawing room, by blimp or other
WISE"
II am breathin., the free air of
North Dakota again-broke, but hap
py," Mason says in his statement.
The story told in Mason's state
ment, embracing affairs Of the In
dian Affairs committee and office
begins with a presentation
of extracts from the congressional
record.
Mason criticises Frazier for not
pressing for an appropriation to
carry on the Senate Indian investiga-
ton.
81 always felt" Mason said, "that
my kno-,ledge of the dilatory tactics
then used and efforts to bring about
action did not enhance my stock in
the office. Despite the evident eff
fort to force me out l was determin-
ed to stand by my guns until the
survey was completed. though it
nearly wrecked my health, the pres
sure was so great"
The committees work, Mason
claimed, was handicapped through
lack of stenographic help. The SEN
ator's son, an employee of the COM
mittee, Mason charged was ineffic-
lent and did not appear at the office
"for months at time, not showing
up except on payday"
Mason said the Indian sub-com-
mittee employed A. A. Grorud,
Montana attorney, at 5000 a month,
but later Frazier introduced a reso-
luton at the Indian Affairs COM
mittee to raise the salary to $40O.
Cuts Stenographer's Pay
The direct break between Frazier
and Mason came about at that time,
Mason said, "when the Senator mott
fled the stenographic assistant in
Grorud's office, young woman of
ability and attainments, that
her salary would be cut $35
month.
"Her salary" Mason continues,
had been the same as the name
sake's (Senator Frazier's SOM, and
she had been aiding a sick mother
and sister.
Every respectfully I asked the sem
ator if. with the contemplated pay
Continued on page eleven)