The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-19

shred OF competent evidence to prove
that he resisted the recall.
Then the governor dropped from
sight politically, devoting himself to
his law practice. As q general prac-
titioner he took whatever business he
icould get. Most Of his clients were
farmers, and in his dealings with
them the governor acquired 1000
acres OF land. At the same time he
managed to live well and provide for
the needs OF growing family. 1t
may have been a little hard on the
farmer clients, but Attorney LANCER
did quite we'll by himself. In many
cases representation OF q client by
LANCER was closely followed by the
transfer to LANCER OF the clients
farm.
At the same time, he accepted what
business he could get from corpora
lions, even though he condemned cor
porations in his initial campaign ad-
dress. Proof that he was corpora
ton lawyer is offered by the recent
suit OF one James Buckley against
the governor and others. Buckley
claimed that the governor defrauded
him of money. The case was thrown
out of court on the ground that
LANCER was attorney for an insur-
ance company, a corporation, rather
than for Buckley.
| \ X X
At the same time the governor re.
entered politics, trying to reinstate
himself In the good graces Of the
Nonpartisan League. At first he was
regarded much the same as political
leper, but time healed some Of the
wounds caused by the campaign of
1920 and the governor assiduously cul-
tivated friendships In the League. BY
1928 he was sufficiently reestablished
to become the candidate for attorney
general. He was defeated by mar
row margin, largely because many in
the League refused to support him at
the polls.
He was not an aspirant for office !
in 1880, but In 1882 was endorsed as
the Nonpartisan candidate for gov
ernor In q convention unparalleled
for the devious methods by which the
gathering was coerced. He was en-
dorsed by margin Of one vote and
it has since been definitely shown
that the man who cast the deciding |
ballot had no more business in that
convention as delegate than II he
lived in Timbuctoo. The delegate In
question claimed to be from the Fargo
Trades and Labor Assembly. Union
men claim he never was designated
by them and never held union card
in his life. He was produced In that
convention in much the same man
ner that q magician takes q rabbit |
out of q hat, but he won the day for
LANCER.
The spring campaign was success |
full. though LANCER fell far behind
the rest Of the Nonpartisan ticket,
another evidence that the people at
large had little faith in him. He won
out by narrow margin In the fall,
largely because his fellow Republican
candidates gave him their loyal sup
port. They won by large majorities.
What has happened since his In
duction into office Is history which
has not yet cooled. It constitutes the
most lurid chapter Of skullduggery in
the history Of North Dakota. It reeks
with corruption and the effort to pro-
mote his own interests at the expense
OF the public and OF the party which
elected him.
Now consider, briefly, the men who
have condemned him as political
fakir and charlatan, as man unre-
sponsive to the public interest and
seeking only his own advancement.
Lieutenant Governor Ole H. Olson
Is and always has been farmer For
nearly 40 years he has lived and
worked on the same piece of land In
Eddy county. Politically he has been
Nonpartisan from the beginning Of
the League. Before that he was ac-
tive In the Equity Association and
other farm movements. He has never
asked anything for himself, but has
given generously of both his talent
and money to advancement Of every
movement which he felt was in the
farmers interest. His honesty has
never been questioned, even by his
bitterest enemy. His word Is regarded
as the equivalent OF IN ron-clad
bond. He has been In every fight
the Nonpartisan League has ever had,
regardless Of whether or not he was
a candidate for office. He, and others
like him, formed the bulwark Of
the League during the years after
Langer's attack in 1920, which led up
to the recall Of 1921. He is an inde-
pendent thinker and q believer In
horse sense: has never compromised
on . principle and would rather lose
In q good cause than win In q poor
one.
= + =
Secretary Of State Robert Byrne
was . member Of the first Nonparti-
san League legislature. having been
elected from Mckenzie county. where
The was . farmer. ne was drafted to
run for secretary Of state and was
elected. Since then he has been re-
elected BY ever-increasiug majorities.