The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-21
DEMANDS PROBE OF
FELONY CONVICTION
IN FEDERAL court
Begins Speaking at $50 P. NJ;
Strikes at Foes, Par.
ticu|arIy Nye
PERSECUTION IS DEFENSE
Wants Assembly To Impeach
Me- II Charges of U. s.
Are Just
PERSECUTION IS DEFENSE

Before the state house Of represen-
tatives which took steps to consider
his impeachment, william LANCER,
deposed governor, appeared at $50
p. m. Saturday, charged his convic-
ton by federal jury was political
persecution" and called for an inves-
LEGATION of the events that led to his
conviction.
II his conviction by federal court
jury is found proper and Just"
LANCER said, he wanted the assembly
ITO impeach and remove me from
Office
Speaking before the assembly,
convened under doubt as to its le-
gality but friendly to LANCER, the
ousted executive struck out at his
political foes and especially at U. s.
Senator Gerald p. Nye.
Il want this legislative assembly
to investigate how the federal gov
eminent and officials have perse-
cuted me with the advice and aid Of
Senator Gerald p. Nye to the end
that they might destroy not only me
but our Nonpartisan organization In
this state.
Il want this assembly to investi-
gate how the federal grand jury wax
drawn, how the indictment was re-
turned, how the jury itself was drawn
out, how the court acted during the
course Of my trial"
He was received with cheers BY the
legislators who stood az he entered,
escorted by a committee Of the as
sembly that still recognized him as
the states chief executive, although
the state supreme court disqualified
him from holding office.
AS the cheers for LANCER resounded
through the house, Mrs. Minnie q.
Craig, speaker of the assembly, called
for quiet, declaring, I'VE viii now
listen to the message Of Gov.
LANCER
Members settled down to quiet and
LANCER began his talk.
The supreme court" he began,
said was disqualified as to the
powers of governor, but I am still
your governor
He reviewed the powers the leRis-
lative assembly possessed, and out
lined the powers Of the assembly
relative to any impeachment pro-
ceedings they might take.
III have been guilty of any cor
rupt conduct" he said, IF the verdict
OF guilty returned by the federal
court jury and the sentence given
me IS proper and just, I want this
legislative assembly to impeach and
to remove me from office. want no
uncertainty about this matter"
Text Of Langer's Speech
The text Of William Langer's mes
sage to the house of representatives:
I issued proclamation to call you
IN special session. Then the supreme
court said that was disqualified to
exercise the powers of governor.
Then Ole Olson, lieutenant governor.
told you that you should not meet
took charge Of the militia and locked
the doors Of the legislative halls
then changed his mind-so here you
are and here am, still your gov
ernor but Sheared Of my powers by
the supreme court. Four members Of
the supreme court: Chief Justice
Burr, Justices Nuessle, Burke and
Judge McKenna, say that I cannot
perform the duties Of my office.
Judge Moellring has dissented. They
say / am disqualified because have
been convicted Of crime in the fed
eral court. They do not say that I
have been disqualified because I have
committed any crime under the laws
Of this state or because Of anything
I have done in performing my duties
Is governor under the laws Of this
state. They say that these duties
which had as governor have devolv-
ed upon the lieutenant governor.
But / am still your governor.
have said to the supreme court In
my defense, and say to you, that this
legislative assembly possesses and has
the sole power to take the perform
ance Of my duties g governor away
from me and has the sole power UNI
der the constitution OF our state to
investigate concerning any crimes or
any corrupt conduct on my part and
has the sole power TO remove me from
office and take my duties away from
me Is governor. have said 70 the
supreme court that the Judiciary caIl-
not take sway from you this power
which the constitution has given 70
you. When they do. they are ~
Stunning q power which you alone p0e-
sess and they aSo assuming . WIT
power which gieee to them tlae en-
thority not only q remove goVegnQI94
and other state o91iceFs but also n