The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-13
'CHRISYIANSON TRIED
REPEATEDLY T00U|T
STATE RELIEF WORK
Federal Administrator Refused
to Accept His Resignation
From FERA
URGED TO STAY ON JOB
Hopkins Pays Him High Tribute
when Withdrawal d Final.
" Accomplished

$500 eAS0SDoA00AA
sought to resign Is federal relief ID
ninistrator Of North Dakota and each
time Harry L. Hopkins, In charge Of
the nations relief set-up, refused to
accept It. the Judge revealed Friday
In IN interview explaining his resig-
ration Is relief administrator.
The Judge resigned Wednesday 10
give his full time to his supreme court
duties.
"On ct least two different occasions
I requested Mr.. Hopkins to release
me from my duties" Judge Christian
son said. Each time he did me the
honor to intimate In no uncertain
terms his reluctance to even contem-
plate my retirement"
Asked II his resignation resulted
from any disagreement between HIM
self and Hopkins or the latter's rep
resentatives, the Judge replied by dis
playing letter from T. J. Edmunds,
regional head OF relief activities In
the area embracing North Dakota.
Wouldn't Allow Resignation
In this letter, under date OF June
II Of this year, Edmunds comments
on the judges desire to resign.
Some days ago I wired YOU" Ed.
Iaunds' letter said, ION explicit In
structtpng Of Mr.. Hopkins. asking You
retain ~ state misunderstanding .
hong 9 possible. I understand from
M. Wilson q. A. Wilson, then dep
uty, and nov successor TO Christian
son) that you will not be able to ac-
cede to Mr.. Hopkins wish.
Il am instructed by Mr.. Hopkins to
state that 1t IS with greatest regret
that he will accept under unavoidable
necessity your resignation as federal
administrator for North
Dakota. He wishes me to remind you
Of the fact that 1t was upon his urg-
ent request that you accepted the po-
sition, and that you did 50 as Z public
service. He also wishes me to express
his deep appreciation Of the fact that
you have served without pay. He Is
aware Of the fact that you have
worked day and night on this Job.
He states that II there were any way
OF preventing you from resigning he
would find that way.
All that Mr.. Hopkins has said /
wish TO record as my own opinion.
We both feel your work has been not
only to the welfare Of the people Of
North Dakota, but to the whole cause
which the FERA represents through
out the country. We have had at Ill
times, with regard to the work In
North Dakota, . feeling Of security
and confidence. Your administration
has been marked with efficiency and
lnquestionable integrity, and 1 deep
sympathy for the people Of your
state"
High Regard For Hopkins
Christianson commented he had
only the highest regard and admir-
alton for Mr.. Hopkins. He IS . prac-
ttcal tdealist, who lives In the here
and now"
Edmunds' letter. he said, should
'dispel any possible notion Of lack Of
harmony"
The Judge was asked to outline how
&c came 70 % associated with the re-
lief administration, which he UNDER
took without compensation and car
Red on. at the same time, hts duties
. justice Of the state supreme court.
when accepted the chairmansh.r
Of the state emergency relief commit
tee In January. lo33," he explained
1T was with the understanding that
I would not b required to serve
longer than the coming April. At
that time It was thought that the
need for federal relief Was purely tenn
porarily and that such need probably
would end with the arrival Of sum-
mer. But the subsequent drouth
and resultant distress In our state
made It necessary not only to continue
federal relief but TO expand the pro-
gram far beyond its original hope"
ChristianSon said when the FERA
came into existence In May, 1853, he
was asked BY Hopkins to continue to
Derve.
lGentienS Court Injunction
The federal courts have issued In
functions q the request OF the utility