The Law and the People

The Law and the people of North Dakota violently disagreed last week. Last month Governor William Langer was found guilty of conspiring to defraud the U. S. Government by soliciting party funds, in the guise of subscriptions to his administration newspaper, from Federal employes (TIME, June 25). A stay of sentence was granted by Federal Judge Andrew Miller pending the forthcoming primary elections, in which Governor Langer was a candidate to succeed himself.

When they went to the polls last week, North Dakota Republicans had the choice of three slates: Independent Voters Association, "Real Non-Partisan League" and Governor Langer's Non-Partisan League proper. While his enemies bitterly cried for his defeat as "a convicted criminal." William Langer stood on his record. Was it not better, asked friends of "the poor man's Governor," to accept campaign funds from the rank-&-file than to solicit them from rich corporations which would expect fat State favors? On their ballots. North Dakotans, rich & poor, thundered "Yes!" Governor Langer was renominated with 115,000 votes, a majority of 15,000 over all other candidates, including Democrats.

Two days later, Governor Langer went to Fargo to be sentenced by Judge Miller. The Law had not changed its mind. William Langer was sentenced to 18 months in prison, $10,000 fine. Taking the sentence with a smile, he planned to file an appeal.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.