The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-18

DuL they neeQe0 their JoOS ana. as
was subsequently shown, those whom
LANCER could reach we're afraid. They
fretted-but they paid. That began
In July.
AS time wore on the burden grew
heavier and finally Personals was
moved to the action which subsequ-
emily led to his dismissal from the
department. He wrote letter to
one Roseman, head of the engineers,
architects and draftsman's union at
washington. D. c., telling him Of the
situation and asking what could be
done. The engineers In the highway
department had been trying to or
ganize a union to fight the five-per-
cent racket and Personals knew of
Roseman by reason OF this activity.
Washington Man Got Busy
With Roseman the seed took root
He carried the complaint to the fed
eral bureau of public roads. which
was supplying the money for the con-
struction of highways in North Da-
kota. The bureau was spending
money from the public works fund
and so the matter came to the at
tention Of Interior Secretary Harold
yckes.
What happened at Washington Is
rot known to local observers, but the
first leaf appeared on the plant when
Mcdonald and a man named Knox,
investigators for the interior depart
ment. appeared in Bismarck and In
se,viewed Personals. The latter refer
red him to fellow employees whom he
felt he could trust and number
gave affidavits as to what had been
going on. The list included H. c.
McCready. Joe Clifford. Bert LaDue
Harold Pike and Frank Cave, all EN-
oloyes in the highway department.
The agents took the affidavits and
returned to Washington. That was
In February. Knox became Ill after
a day here and another agent came
to take his place. but he also left
rsesI few days.
Sdpn the agents returned and real
~ wAnt to work on the investigaf =
which, eventually turned up the e.
IN tile case. How they workd 1,
something Of mystery, but ~ !.
known that they interviewed hun.
dreds Of persons, asking each as tc
certain details of the case. Gradual
". piece by piece, the puzzle was put
together. The plant was growing.
About April. it would appear, the
agents reported that there appeared
to be cause for prosecution and Dis
trict Attorney p. w. Lanier was Of
ficially informed of the status of az
fairs, although he had known about
it almost from the first. The depart
ment OF justice was interested, ap-
parently directed Lanier to keep an
eye on the development Of the case.
Lanier Checked Evidence
As evidence was uncovered Lanier
checked 1t and soon the matter be-
came more clear. The prosecution
began to take shape.
Activity Of the government agents
became intense between the time 1t
was announced that grand jury
would be called and the date that
body convened. Witnesses were
checked and re-checked. New ones
were interviewed Along about that
time. 1t would appear. the evidence as
to Governor Langer's operations in
the grain and stock markets came to
light and, In some manner, informa-
ton was obtained on the financial
operations Of The Leader" At
least it Is presumed that this EVIL
dence was available when the grand
jury met.
Meanwhile other sensations were
crowding the spotlight. Investigators
disclosed that persons in the state
relief administration had been squeez-
ed for THE Leader" and a report
was made to Federal Director Harry
Hopkins.
His reaction was curt telegram
"firing" LANCER from his ex-officio
position as head of the state relief
organization. which was spending
federal money. That was March I.
On the same day Senator Gerald
p. Nye demanded an investigation on
the floor Of the senate. This was In
April. just before the opening Of the
political convention season and the
LANCER reaction was to charge "po-
Ntics" and to demand the inyestiga-
tion for which Nye already had
called.
Thus the plant had begun to bud
when the grand jury went into ses-
sion behind closed doors at Fargo on
April 10. Before the grand jury went
the witnesses were rounded up by the
Some $50 were called but
not all were chosen to appear. Among
them were r. M. atangler. manager Of
the Bank Of North Dakota; P. G.
Remington, Jr., local broker, and J.
=. Davis, president Of the Dakota
National Bank and Trust company,
III OF whom testified. presumably,
about Leader" finances. Into the
picture. also, popped George Lideck.
or Of St. Paul. the governments "1ig-
ure man" who evidently had been
digging into the LANCER accounts.
LANCER Demands Airing
Secrecy surrounded the grand Jury
session. Scores Of witnesses cooled
thar heels In the waiting rooms.
Finally, It was III over. The decision
va1 % in6ict LANCER and tho four
conyleted With him, along With J. A.
Kin3er, q. A. Hample and r. A.
Yeater, I'll state employees. These
subsequently were dismiased when
The prosecution completed it, case
durin9 the trial here.
Immediately LAnger raised : de-
H. 49,