William Langer graduated from UND in 1906 and had a long career in politics. He was North Dakota Attorney General from 1917 until 1920 and served twice as Governor: from 1933 to 1934 and from 1937 until 1939. Elected to the United States Senate in 1941, he served until his death in 1959.
The digitization of these papers has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Telegram from California Governor James Rolph, Jr. to Governor Langer Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, March 8, 1934
James Rolph Jr.
In this telegram, dated March 8, 1934, from California Governor James Rolph Jr. to Governor William Langer, Rolph advocates for the early passing of pending federal legislation authorizing states to tax incoming interstate shipments. Rolph urges Lager to wire his endorsement to North Dakota's legislative delegation.
James Rolph Jr. was Governor of California from January 6,1931 to June 2, 1934.
See also:
Letter from Governor Langer to California Governor James Rolph Regarding Sales Tax Legislation, March 15, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer California Governor James Rolph, Jr. Regarding Sales Tax on Incoming Interstate Shipments, March 22, 1934
Letter from Governor Langer to Lynn J. Frazier Supporting Regarding Pending Sales Tax Legislation, March 22, 1934
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Telegram from South Dakota Governor Tom Berry to Governor Langer Regarding a Minimum Price for Grain, Augusts 15, 1933
Tom Berry
In this letter, dated August 15, 1933 from South Dakota Governor Tom Berry to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Berry refers to Langer's telegram of August 5 regarding the grain prices and recommends waiting until the Farm Credit Administration's allotment plan for stabilizing farm product prices has gone into effect before making further suggestions.
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Telegram from Nebraska Governor to Governor Langer, 1933
Charles Wayland Bryan
Nebraska Governor Charles Wayland Bryan sent this telegram to Governor William Langer in October 1933 regarding the use of federal tax money to construct public roads. Governor Bryan believed that using funds from the Industrial Recovery Act was a great way to get money into the hands of laborers and that this area of the country needed updated roads.
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Telegram from Usher Burdick to Governor Langer, 1933
Usher L. Burdick
Usher Burdick, President of the Farmers' Holiday Association, sent this telegram to Governor William Langer in October 1933 regarding the loss of a farm owned by Mary Patterson of Westhope, North Dakota. The Association sought to end foreclosures on family farms and worked closely with Langer when the Governor enacted a moratorium on farm foreclosures in 1933.
Usher Burdick served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1959.
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NPL Picnic in Menoken with Govenor Langer, 1933
Capital Publishing Company
Poster advertising an all day Nonpartisan League picnic near Menoken on July 28, 1933. Governor William Langer and Senator Lynn Frazier were the featured speakers, while County Agent H. O. Putman spoke about the about the Farm Adjustment Act.
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Letter from A. M. Caya of California State Chamber of Commerce to Governor Langer's Letter to Ccalifornia State Journal, December 7, 1933
A. M. Caya
In this letter, dated December 7, 1933, from A. M. Caya of the Research Department of the California State Chamber of Commerce to North Dakota Governor William Langer. Caya writes that he believes Langer's letter has been mistakenly forwarded to his organization and recommends that Langer refer to the California State Journal for a more complete address.
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Letter from State Forester Francis E. Cobb to Governor Langer Regarding Arbor Day Observance, May 4, 1933
Francis E. Cobb
In this letter, dated May 4, 1933, from North Dakota State Forester and President of North Dakota State School of Forestry Francis E. Cobb to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Cobb recommends May 12th as the date for Arbor Day to be observed that year.
Cobb goes on to tell of the North Dakota School of Forestry's hopes and plans for planting more trees around the state.
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Letter to Governor Langer regarding Foreclosure Moratorium, 1933
Clyde Duffy
September 12, 1933, letter from Clyde Duffy of the Sinness and Duffy law firm in Devils Lake to Governor William Langer regarding the moratorium on farm foreclosures in North Dakota. Duffy wrote to Langer asking to be allowed to foreclose on a farm in Rock Lake.
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Letter from U.S. Senator (North Dakota) Lynn J. Frazier to Governor Langer urging him to attend planned governor conference. (1933)
Lynn J. Frazier
Letter to Governor Langer from U.S. Senator (North Dakota) Lynn Frazier. This letter mentions Langer's heath, notes newspaper reports of "interesting developments" brought out by the "investigation committee" and urges Langer to attend a conference of governors being called for by then-.President-Elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
See also:
Governor Langer's response to U.S. Senator Lynn Frasier's letter Regarding Governors' Conference, 1933.
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Farm Credit Association to Governor Langer, 1933
A. S. Gross
October 1933 letter from A. S. Gross of the Farm Credit Administration to Governor William Langer regarding land bank loans. Gross feared that waiving the usual $10 application fee would lead to a rise in "applications from those who were not in special need of financing."
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Telegram from King Haakon VII to Governor Langer, 1933
Haakon VII
Following an invitation to visit North Dakota from Governor William Langer, Haakon VII, King of Norway, responds by noting that a visit to the United States in 1933 would be impossible.
Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) eventually visited North Dakota in 1939.
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Congratulatory Telegram to President Roosevelt, 1933
William Langer
Governor Langer sent this telegram to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the eve of the future President's inauguration on March 3, 1933. The next day, Roosevelt delivered a historic speech and told Americans that the "only thing we have to fear is...fear itself."
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Govenor Langer to Usher Burdick regarding Financial Difficulties of the Odegaards, 1933
William Langer
This letter from October 2, 1933, from Governor Langer to Usher Burdick examines the financial difficulties of the Nils Odegaard of Pekin, as well as the challenges faced trying to overcome them.
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Governor Langer's response to U.S. Senator Lynn Frasier's letter Regarding Governors' Conference, 1933.
William Langer
Governor Langer responds to Lynn Frazier's letter of 13 February 1933 urging him to attend President-Elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt's governor conference. Langer notes that Roosevelt associate James A. Farley had also contacted him expressing Roosevelt's desire to have all 48 governors present.
See also:
Letter from U.S. Senator (North Dakota) Lynn J. Frazier to Governor Langer urging him to attend planned governor conference,1933.
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Governor Langer to Representative Sinclair regarding Culver Ladd, 1933
William Langer
Letter from Governor William Langer on February 6, 1933, to U.S. Representative J.H. Sinclair regarding the continued appointment of Culver Ladd. The Governor remarks that neither Ladd nor his wife have supported the Nonpartisan League "cause."
James H. Sinclair (1871-1943) served North Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 1919 until 1935.
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Governor Langer to the American Tree Association, 1933
William Langer
Governor William Langer wrote to Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Tree Association, on February 13, 1933. Langer reported that he was interested in reforestation, as North Dakota has much land that could be used for that purpose.
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Governor Langer to the National Drainage Association regarding Farm Foreclosures, 1933
William Langer
Letter from Governor William Langer to H.H. Dick of the National Drainage Association, dated February 6, 1933. Langer alludes to the agricultural situation in North Dakota, reporting that a ban on deficiency judgement liens has been passed and that a moratorium on foreclosures is forthcoming.
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Letter from Governor Langer to Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge Regarding Legal Representation in Extradition Proceedings, June 5, 1933
William Langer
This letter, dated June 5, 1933, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge is Langer's reply to Talmadge's letter of June 2 regarding legal representation in extradition proceedings. Langer writes that he is happy to reciprocate along the lines Talmadge has suggested.
See also:
Letter from Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge to Governor Langer Regarding Legal Representation in Extradition Proceedings, June 2, 1933
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Letter from Governor Langer to M. L. Beckman regarding a visit to Clay Center, Kansas, December 7, 1933.
William Langer
In this letter, dated 7 December 1933, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to M. L. Beckman, Langer agrees to speak in Clay Center, Kansas, and thanks Beckman for desiring his presence there.
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Letter from Governor Langer to Montana Governor Cooney Regarding Missouri River Diversion and Reforestation, October 17, 1933
William langer
In this letter, dated October 17, 1933, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to Montana Governor Frank Cooney, Langer acknowledges Cooneys efforts on behalf of the Missouri River Diversion, and for the building of dams and reforestation. Langer refers to an enclosed copy of a letter Langer wrote to Nebraska Governor Charles W. Bryan in response to a telegram Bryan wrote to Langer. Langer ends by encouraging Cooney's support for dams and reforestation.
The letter Langer mentions enclosing was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
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Letter from Governor Langer to Usher Burdick Regarding Farm Foreclosure, October 6, 1933
William Langer
In this letter, dated October 6, 1933, from North Dakota Governor William Langer to Usher Burdick, President of the Farmers' Holiday Association, Langer refers to an unnamed man, writing, "I don't know how this man can possibly stay on the place, but maybe you have some other scheme worked out.
The Farmer's Holiday Association sought to end foreclosures on family farms and worked closely with Langer when the Governor enacted a moratorium on farm foreclosures in 1933.
Usher Burdick later served in the United States House of Representatives from 1935 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1959.
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Letter regarding Water Issues from Governor Langer to Nebraska Governor Bryan, 1933
William Langer
Governor William Langer sent this letter to the Governor of Nebraska, Charles W. Bryan, on October 11, 1933. Langer agreed with Bryan regarding the need for federal funding for road construction, while also suggesting the need for water diversion projects in the Midwest.
Charles Wayland Bryan served two terms as Governor of Nebraska, from 1925 to 1925 and from 1931 until 1935.
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Telegram from Governor Langer to King Haakon VII of Norway, 1933
William Langer
In this cablegram from May 1933, Governor William Langer invited King Haakon VII of Norway to visit the state. Langer reported that:
"I believe that the people and the prairies of North Dakota are worth while meeting and seeing. The growth of the state during a generation's time is in itself a chapter of Norway's glorious saga; and the Norse contributions to progress and independence, worthy of the sons and daughters of Vikings."
Haakon VII replied the next day and reported that a visit in 1933 was not possible.
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Letter from US Representative William Lemke to Governor Langer Regarding Building of Check Dams, "Mexican Property," May 10, 1933
William Lemke
In this letter, dated May 10, 1933, from United States Congressman William Lemke to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Lemke raises the possibility of building a number of check dams to impounding water for lakes. Lemke also makes reference to "the Mexican property" and appeals to Langer to respond with funding to "protect this property until the situation changes."
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H. A. Merrick to Governor Langer, 1933
H. A. Merrick
In this letter dated December 4, 1933, H. A. Merrick praises Governor William Langer for his progressive leadership, particularly for his proclamation against foreclosures. H.A. Merrick was the President of Superior Service Laundries in Seattle.