The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-11

the people. felt that In order to gel
the administration side it would b
necessary to have q newspaper. Of
| all the newspapers, not one wa
friendly to the administration"
did you have legislative pro-
gram you wanted put through"
I'm line with the Nonpartisar'
League program7"
Eyes, SIR" ..-.
Lanier objected to the question, but
Judge Miller explained: 4 am going
t. be as liberal as possible; I am not
even going to be technical: but ask
that defense counsel be as confirming
as possible. The objection Is over
ruled"
LANCER said he figured out the plan
o. financing THE Leader" by him.
self. ~@.-.. ...~=.
II had 1t definitely worked out by
March, 1893. While I was in the hos
pital Frank vogel came to see me and
he had q report from the executive
committee. showing the amount Of
money contributed to the campaign
fund In November. found, to my
surprise. there had been contributions
from corporations. I hadn't known
about that.
I'm the legislative program after
June. 1888, I had sent for George
Wallace Of st. Paul. Wallace came
up and spent week formulating q
tax program, we drew uD Is bills to be
initiated at the November election in
1888" He described meeting Of poll
tical heads at the Mardan fair. at
which the bills were considered, and
a. which it was decided not to place
them on initiative because they felt
tho bills would pass the legislature.
LANCER again explained he did not
know the fund had received contri-
buttons from corporations In Novem-
Der, and again the prosecution OBJ
jected but was overruled. LANCER con-
tinued referring to various corpora
tons. I'VE raised their taxes from
five to II per cent, giving half
million, dollars more In taxes" As he
attempted to continue on this line
his own attorney interrupted and
drew him into the testimony relative
to five per cent solicitations.
Back to Five Per Cent
There was the five per cent plan
tell what was in your mind" Hanley
urged.
"Well-I had had a good many
years experience with the organtza-
ton of newspapers" LANCER began,
only to be halted by prosecution OBJ
lection which was overruled-"stnce
the League first came into power In
1915. I knew there were four or five
things essential II the newspaper was
to be a success and bring before the
people of North Dakota the real pur-
poses of the administration. It must
have proper financing and the right
kind of management. and would have
no value unless 1t had an enormous
II knew of no way to get the cir
and get financing unless !
got all the employees to subscribe and
sell subscriptions"
He said he called in E. J. Conrad.
publisher of scmi-weekly, and dis
cussed costs Of production and the
question Of mailing privilege. He said
he came to the conclusion that the
best way was to buy newspaper.
LANCER said he felt 1.-The employees
who had positions under the state
government owed at least support as a
duty to the government to go out and
secure a large circulation for week
~ newspaper.
Il felt If they sold an amount equal
to five per cent OF their annual salary
it would not be asking too much.
Especially in view Of the fact that
officials had been reduced
20 per cent in their salaries"
He said he appointed Oscar Erick-
son as publisher of the paper because
a committee could not efficiently run
a newspaper
LANCER said he sent for Erickson
and the two discussed the newspaper.
Did you have any other confer
ences at any time or place with any
Of the defendants. after your talk
with Conrad?"
mo sir-except I talked to vogel
one night
Ewing Issued Warning
when Ewing came, was anything
said about state relief employees be-
ing solicited?" Hanley continued.
YES
up to that time had you known
such solicitations were being nader"
II had not"
Did Ewing say anthing to the ef-
feet that he saw Judge Christtanson?'
YES
"You say you learned about it the
same timer"
It heard about 1t the same day.
I told Ewing would take care OF It
and tried to get Judge Christensen.
I couldn't get him, and took the mat
ter up with Stangler. ! told him the
same I had told Ewing. ! said Clean
it up immediately"
LANCER testified that he saw Nichols
the next morning and gave him the
same instructions, and added that he
wanted post-dated cheeks given As
Leader" pledges to be returned to
the relief employees.
Had the solicitations from employ
es in the state emergency relief office
been part Of plans for raising funds
or selling subscriptions"
mo sir"
Had No knowledge
IN connection with sending In ap-
plications for funds, did you know
that there had been solicitation Of
employees in the state emergency re-
lief offices?"
Il did not"
did you have anything to do with
the details Of applications for relief
funds2"
II did not. had nothing to do
with any application at any time. ex-
cept to sign my name. Without ex-
ception, at no time did ask to change
figures on applications I was about