Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-18
Senate Committee
Votes, 1873, Against
Seating Of LANCER
Entire Membership Must
Vote Finally on Charges
Facing North Dokoton

racing North Dukoton
Chairman Hatch announced today
the Senate Elections Committee
voted, Is to 8, in favor of a resolu-
ton recommending that Senator
LANCER, Republican, of North Da-
kota be denied seat in the Senate
The action climaxed a years con-
sideration of charges in 'olving
moral turpitude which grew out of
Senator Langer's actions as an at
torney and former Governor of
North Dakota.
Senator LANCER has been serving
In his post since last January 3,
pending final outcome of the pro-
ceedings. The Senate membership
must finally decide whether he shall
be unseated
Senator Hatch said the commit
tees report would be made to the
Senate as soon as possible, but de-
clared 1t was his understanding the
case would not be taken up by the
Senate until after the holiday
season.
Senators Lucas, Democrat, of IL
linoiS, chairman of the subcommit-
tee which handled preliminary in
vestigations. and Senator Austin,
Republican, of Vermont we're APP
pointed by Senator Hatch to pre-
pare the report for the committee
and to take charge of the matter
in the Senate.
Smith Supports LANCER.
Voting for Senator LANCER were
Senators Connally. Democrat. Texas;
Murdoch, Democrat, of Utah, and
Smith, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima. Senator Nye, Republican, Of
North Dakota disqualified himself.
Voting to deny him seat were
Senators Hatch. George, Democrats,
of Georgia; Green Democrat, of
Rhode Island; Mead Democrat. of
New York; Lucas, Democrat. of IL
linois; Stewart, Democrat, of Ten
nessee; Chandler, Democrat, of Ken
lucky; Tunnel, Democrat. of Della
ware; Kngore, Democrat, of West
Virginia; Austin. Republican, of Ver-
mont; Bridges, Republican. of New
Hampshire; Wiley, Republican, Of
Wisconsin; Butler, Republican, of
Nebraska.
Senator Hatch said the committee
decided to recommend that Senator
LANCER be denied his seat. He ex-
planned that a simple Senate major
ity was sufficient to do this whereas
to eXpel him would require two
thirds vote.
Elected in 1910.
The North Dakotan was seated
without prejudice" to himself or
the Senate following his election in
1910
Senator Connally, explaining his
stand. told reporters that Mr. LANCER
was elected by the people at time
subsequent to all the transactions
involved.
Il cannot vote to unseat him."
Senator Conna1ly declared, with
out the clearest and unequiy ocal
testimony as to his guilt. i must
give him and the people of North
Dakota the benefit of any doubt"
Senator Hatch said that pending
final action by the Senate itself Mr..
LANCER would continue to serve with
all the privileges of a Senator.
He added it was expected that
arguments on the Senate floor
would be conducted in public. but
that the final Senate vote would be
taken in closed session.
Year After Petition.
The committees decision came
almost one year after a group of
North Dakota petitioners headed by
c. r. Very of Minot protested the
seating of Mr.. LANCER. charging
irregularities in the 1910 election
and alleging he was guilty of moral
turpitude.
Consideration of the election al
legations was dropped upon rec
concentration of subcommittee
but public hearings were conducted
on Mr.. Langer's fitness for Office.
Mr.. LANCER spent five days on the
witness stand replying to 81
charges the committee decided to
consider He denied that several
business transactions in which he
engaged Influenced his decisions as
Governor.
He testified that most of the pc
titionerS we're his longtime politi-
cal enemies and asserted the
charges had generally been aired
in North Dakota political cam
paignS.
Denies Connections.
He asserted there was no connec-
ton between his $4,000 sale of
land to Gregory Brunk, Des Moines
GoWa) attorney, and a profit of ap-
proximately S250000 from North
Dakota bond transactions by a COM
pany in which Brunk was interested.
He also declared there was no
connection between his sale of land
finance company stock for SOS, 900
to Thomas Sullivan, Chicago at
torney representing the Great
Northern Railroad, and the fact that
the following year the railroads
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