The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-27
lNIlNNES0YAN ENTERS
n. D. POLITICS With
LANCER'S BACKING
Frank H. Nutter, Said to Be
Governors Advisor, Was
Dismissed BY Olson
IS MYSTERY MAN HERE
In Nsighboring State, However,
He Was Known as Reac.
tionary Supporter
(Special 70 Trlhunel

Especial 70 Tribune,
ct. Paul, Feb. 27.-Frank H. Nutter,
It Is reported here, has entered the
political arena Of North Dakota-and
thereby hangs q tale.
Soon after Gov. william hangers
election. 20 the story Is going in Mill
City political quarters, Mr.. Nutter
contacted Mr.. LANCER on the theory
that he could be Of great assistance
to him in building up q personal po-
litical machine. Mr.. Nutter has been
committing between Minneapolis and
Bismarck and the word has gone out
quietly that the one.time contact
man for the Christianson regime, now
supplanted by the Farmer-Labor set
up. has become close to Gov. LANCER
and was instructing him in state
craft, especially In the more subtle
features which have to do with hand
ling contracts, ct cetera and ct cetera.
Mr.. Nutter was . bitter opponent Of
the Farmer-Labor group In Mime
sofa and his tie-up with the Nom
partisan governor Of North Dakota
has been one Of the unexplicable
things here among the members Of
the Olson machine. Many leaders in
North Dakota such Is Senator Nye,
Congressman-elect william Lemke
and Senator Frazier are close po-
litical friends and allies of Gov. Oh
son.
The fact that Nutter has become
something Of mystery man in North
Dakota, according to advices reaching
here, has caused amusement among
those who know Minnesota politics.
He was no mystery here but out
In North Dakota, 30 the story goes,
he has been very much on the in
side-inside and few people know him.
Came Out Into Open
He played his cards very slillfully
until proposal to expend 100000 on
q power plant for the North Dakota
state prison brought him out into the
open.
This has had repercussions locally
In supply centers which look forward
to some big contracts to equip the
various industries at the penitentiary
on which, It Is reported here, Gov.
LANCER and Mr.. Nutter are working
together in close harmony.
Mr.. Nutter appeared before the
house appropriations committee .
week or 50 ago as the spokesman Of
Gov. LANCER on this bill. He has In
timated that he was working with
LANCER for some weeks. It Is reported
that he has gone 50 far q to say
that he will have considerable to say
on patronage matters. He has worked
with LANCER on his message and at
times has been used to carry mes
sages to North Dakota political lead.
ers. It was under his direction that
hangers first message was written
as well as the special message which
followed. after Gov. LANCER left the
hospital.
What do the records reveal in Min
nesota Is to the activities Of Mr.. Nut
teri It Is definitely established that
he was not with the progressives Of
the state but always aligned with the
reactionaries.
When the commission Of admins.
tration and finance was created. COM
monty known Is the big Three"
Nutter became its secretary under
the Christianson administration. This
act placed all purchases, budgeting.
personnel and expenditures control
under one commission.
Has Powerful Relatives
Mr.. Nutter, who Is . brother-in-
law Of Willis I. Norton, member Of
the Minnesota house Of representa-.
ttves for many years, and political
boss" Of the Christianson faction OF
stand.pat Republicans, became the
Big Threc's first secretary.
He held this place until Governor
Olson. In 1891, changed the personnel
Of the Big Three. Nutter was let out
and was replaced by Knud Wefald,
leader Of the Farmer-Labor faction.
All during the Christianson regime.
Nutter was regarded q confidential
man for Christianson while his
brother-in.law, Mr.. Norton. held the
whip hand q the governors closest
friend and confidant.
Nutter was the man sought out BY
who wished to bid on state
contracts or conduct other business
with the state. Although not Off.
cially connected with the state pur-
chasing commissioner, except Is secre-
tary q the entire commission, he WAS
recognised . welding 4 large In
fluence In state purchases Of supplies
and such items q did not require
thu tAkln9 az hida.
When Nutter was dismissed as
secretary Of the commission Of admin
istration and finance (the Big Three)
with the incoming Of Gov. Olson. he
Was employed BY the Pillsbury In
cheering Co., which company figured
In the preliminaries Of North Dakota's
two million dollar state-house pro-
ject.
THIS engineering company figured
In the handling OF con-
tracts on practically al Of the state
building contracts. The designation
q this company. however. was ini-
lnediately abrogated by Gov. Olson
when he took office and engineers
we're required to bid On III projects.