The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-20
Statement Comes From FERA
Official as Warning to
Political Agitators
n. D. DEPENDENT ON U. S.
Edmunds Charges LANCER Ad-
hsrents Responsible for
Local Demonstration


turned to st. Paul Friday after = two
day investigation Of conditions in that
state on orders from Washington.
THE situation in North Dakota Is
exceedingly critical" asserted Mr.. Ed
munds. Everything will have to be
watched very carefully. There are
lot Of legal tangles, and with the
in session now. In defiance
OF the acting governor, Ole Olson. the
legal tangle undoubtedly will become
more seriously tangled as action is
taken by that group"
Edmunds said that he, indirectly,
was threatened with violence by irate
supporters Of william LANCER. ousted
governor. at q relief meeting Thurs
day when $50 persons packed into the
court room Of the Burleigh county
court house at Bismarck. E. A. Wilson
of Bismarck, North Dakota relief exc
cutive, previously was threatened with
tar and feathers.
Puts Blame on Agitatofs
North Dakota is more Of q federal
dependency than q state" Mr.. Ed
munds added. "On the basis Of pop
ulation. that state already has re-
ceived five times as much govern
ment financial aid as any state In the
union. I have asked for more funds
for North Dakota. but doubt serious
~ whether additional aid Is forth
coming.
1.-THE farmers themselves realize that
the federal government Is doing
things for them. but the agitators-
most of them LANCER. supporters
have attempted to incite them to vio-
lence.
"A naturopath was the ring leader
Of the meeting Eat the Burleigh coun-
ty courthouse Thursday afternoon)
and they weren't even relief clients.
They wanted to meet at the state
capitol, where the troops were sta
toned, but I requested that I meet
them on their own ground. SO we
went to the courthouse and $50 per-
sons packed into room that normal
ly accommodates about 200.
II told them that Justice Christian
son Of the supreme court and Mr..
Wilson, the relief executive, were
responsible for getting them consider
able federal monies for relief I told
them that in Washington they had
confidence in the recon-
mendations Of Mr.. Wilson. who was
instrumental in getting them SO much
relief"
Leaders Stir Up Crowd
The leaders Of the relief meeting,
Mr.. Edmunds said, were getting the
crowd "all stirred up" with remarks
Of violence when he slipped note to
the naturopath when he was speak
ing.
They were getting all excited"
Mr.. Edmunds said, 80 I thought I
would help pacify them by making
some recommendations Of my own.
'As the note was handed to the
speaker. the crowd naturally was in
In its contents. The speaker
unfolded it and it read: II you will
formulate your demands in brief form
to be put in q telegram / will be glad
to send them to Washington This
broke the tension Of the crowd.
"A motion was put that q commit
tee be appointed to meet the federal
in Mr.. wilson's office. The
committee later met him there but,
inasmuch IS my train time was near
Ing, I was unable to be present.
Mr.. Wilson Will take
care Of their demands by sending
them to Washington"
Mr.. Edmunds said he issued orders
last Monday, when the political
situation became critical In North Da-
kota. to discontinue the work program
in the city Of Bismarck.
Cash Relief Withdrawn Here
I'VE will not have them working In
Bismarck where they would Be dis
turbed so frequently because Of the
chaotic conditions" Mr.. Edmunds
said. Bismarck Is on direct relief,
IN the rural sections the
work program II continuing"
Substantiating his charge that the
relief meeting WAS packed with Lang
or adherents, Mr.. Edmunds said:
Every time the name Of LANCER was
mentioned. the crowd would burst In.
to vociferous cheers.
There u no one starving, In fact
no one Is hungry. In North Dakota,"
le said. The federal government Is
taking care Of them"
Mr.. Edmunds said that the federal
government Il bearing . large share