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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Letter From Oklahoma Governor Murray to Governor Langer Regarding Reforestation, October 23, 1933
William H. Murray
In this letter, dated October 23, 1933, from Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Murray thanks Langer for his Letter of October 11 regarding Reforestationand writes that Langer is "exactly correct in this matter."
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Telegraph to Gov. Langer from Oklahoma Governor regarding textbooks, 1933
William H. Murray
Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray sent this telegram to Governor William Langer regarding the cost of educational textbooks. Murray urged Langer to take a stand against "price fixing."
William H. Murray was Oklahoma's ninth governor and served from 1931 until 1935.
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1933 Inaugural Special Train for Governor-Elect Langer
Northern Pacific Railway
Governor-Elect William Langer was inaugurated on January 4, 1933. The Northern Pacific Railway scheduled a special train to transport people to and from the ceremony. The New Rockford Juvenile Band, listed as the "Governor's Band," provided music on the trip.
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1933 Special Train for the Inauguration of Governor-Elect Langer
Northern Pacific Railway
The Farmer-Labor League of Stark County sponsored this special train to Bismarck for the inauguration of Governor-Elect William Langer on January 4, 1933.
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Telegram from Minnesota Governor Floyd B. Olson To Governor Langer Regarding Regional Public Works Meeting, September 29, 1933
Floyd B. Olson
In this telegram, dated September 29, 1933, from Minnesota Governor Floyd B. Olson to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Olsen invites Langer to a meeting in St. Paul called by Frank W. Murphy, Regional Director of Public Works for North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa and Nebraska, for the purpose of considering public works within the district, and increasing understanding and cooperation on intra- and interstate projects. The meeting is to be held at Lowry Hotel in St. Paul on 3 October 1933.
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Letter from the American Tree Association to Governor Langer regarding Reforestation, 1933
Charles Lathrop Pack
Letter from Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Tree Association, to Governor Langer, dated February 9, 1933. Langer was scheduled to attend a governor's conference the following month and Pack sought to convince the Governor of the importance of forestry issues.
Langer responded in a letter four days later, on February 13, 1933.
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George Payne to Governor Langer regarding Hitler's Germany, 1933
George H. Payne
Writing on December 5, 1933, George Henry Payne asked Governor William Langer to join his committee "to express American resentment to Hitler, not only in this matter but in opposition to his unjust and insane war on the Jews."
George Henry Payne was the manager of Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 presdiential campaign and also served as a Federal Communications Commissioner.
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Letter from J.C. Penney, 1933
J. C. Penney
Famed business leader J.C. Penney sent a letter to Governor William Langer on September 11, 1933, thanking Langer for the return of brochures about chain store tax.
James Cash Penney founded the J.C. Penney stores in 1902.
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Telegram from Illinois Mayor to Governor Langer about Great Lakes Naval Training Station, 1933
Peter W. Peterson
A short telegram from Peter Peterson, the Mayor of Waukegan Illinois, to Governor William Langer regarding the potential closure of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois.
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Letter from Secretary of State to Governor Langer Regarding the Irish Free State, 1933
William Phillips
Letter from the Acting Secretary of State, William Phillips, to Governor William Langer regarding the appointment of Daniel McGrath as Consul for the Irish Free State. The letter is dated July 21, 1933.
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Good Roads Association to Governor Langer, 1933
J. A. Rountree
The Director-General of the United States Good Roads Association, J. A. Rountree, wrote to Governor Langer in October 1933 to report on their 21st annual convention. Although Langer was unable to attend, he was elected vice president for the year 1933-34.
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Letter from Wisconsin Governor regarding the Grain and Warehouse Commission, 1933
Albert G. Schmedeman
During the summer of 1933, Wisconsin Governor Albert Schmedeman wrote to Governor William Langer seeking a potential representative for the Grain and Warehouse Commission.
Albert G. Schmedeman served as the Governor of Wisconsin from 1933 to 1935. He was also the United States Minister to Norway from 1913 to 1921.
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Letter from Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge to Governor Langer Regarding Legal Representation in Extradition Proceedings, June 2, 1933
Eugene Talmadge
In this letter, dated June 2, 1933, from Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge to North Dakota Governor William Langer Talmadge suggest an arrangement for legal representation in extradition.
See also:
Letter from Governor Langer to Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge Regarding Legal Representation in Extradition Proceedings, June 5, 1933
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Letter from Florence M. Hurley to Governor Langer Requesting a Lake Entrance in Kidder County, ND, May 9, 1932
Florence M. Hurley
In this letter, dated May 9, 1932, from Florence M. Hurley on behalf of the Civic Improvement League of Pettibone, ND and Vicinity, to North Dakota Governor William Langer, Hurley requests a new access to Iowa Lake in Kidder County near the towns of Pettibone, Robinson, Lake Williams, and Woodworth. This new entrance would allow better access to the frequently visited lake and would be compatible with the planned construction of new bath houses near the lake as well.
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Speech Delivered by William Langer over KFYR Radio, August 11, 1931
William Langer
In this speech, given by William Langer over the KFYR radio station on August 11, 1931, Langer briefly discusses the crisis of farmers facing bankruptcy, and transitions into how this crisis can be avoided if farmers organize into cooperative groups. He praises the Farmers Union for allowing farmers to own stocks in the cooperative, while criticizing the old grain trade companies for the negative influence that they have had on farmers. The speech ultimately praises the cooperative channels that producers and farmers can use to get their products on the market and the leaders of the Farmers Union and the organization itself for serving farmers rather than investors.
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Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Retrying of State v. Stepp Case, June 30, 1920
G. Grimson
In this letter, dated June 30, 1920, from Cavalier County, North Dakota (ND) State's Attorney G. Grimson to ND Attorney General William Langer, Grimson asks whether Langer could arrange to get Judge Nuchols up again to help in trying the State v. Stepp case, since the D**s object to paying Devils Lake Attorney Fred Traynor.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. L. D** Regarding State v. Stepp Case, July 6, 1920
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Advertisement for Langer's book on the Nonpartisan League, 1920
William Langer
In 1920, Attorney General Langer wrote "The Nonpartisan League: its birth, activities and leaders." The book "reveals [the] trail of graft" which led to the forming of the League by A.C. Townley in 1915. This advertsement is dated October 8, 1920 and refers to the author as "General Langer."
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Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
William Langer
In this letter, dated May 19, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert Sheets to attorney Fred Traynor, who is representing F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets writes that he is enclosing a copy of the minutes entered by the Supreme Court when he presented the Motion to Dismiss the appeal of Hiram Stepp in the case of State v. Stepp on May 15, 1920.
See also:
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. H. Tostevin Regarding Minors in a Pool Hall in Tower City, March 25, 1920
William Langer
In this letter, dated March 25, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to ND State Pool Hall Inspector Earle H. Tostevin, Langer requests an investigation of the White Front Pool Hall in Tower City, ND, citing a complaint from Mrs. E. J. Hagen that minors are being allowed inside the pool hall.
See also:
Letter from William Langer to E. H. Tostevin Regarding Pool Hall License in Tower City, April 5, 1920
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. H. Tostevin Regarding Pool Hall License in Tower City, April 5, 1920
William Langer
In this letter, dated April 5, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to ND State Pool Hall Inspector Earle H. Tostevin, Langer makes reference to an attached anonymous letter he has received from Tower City, ND and writes "this pool hall man was arrested a few days ago" and urges Tostevin to find out of the arrested man had pled guilty, and, if so, to revoke his pool hall license.
The letter mentioned as attached was not found with this document in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. H. Tostevin Regarding Minors in a Pool Hall in Tower City, March 25, 1920
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. H. Tostevin Regarding Possible Pool Hall Violations in Kintyre, March 25, 1920
William Langer
In this letter, dated March 25, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to ND State Pool Hall Inspector Earle H. Tostevin, Langer makes reference to two enclosed complaints from residents of "Kinture" (likely Kintyre, ND) that Langer asks Tostevin to investigate and see whether they are related to pool halls.
The letters mentioned as being enclosed were not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. L. D** Regarding State v. Stepp Case, July 6, 1920
William Langer
In this letter, dated July 6, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to Mr. E. L. D** of Sarles, ND, father of the complainant in the State v. Stepp statutory rape case, Langer makes reference to an enclosed copy of a letter he has written to Cavalier County, ND State's Attorney G. Grimson in reply to Grimson's request to get Judge Nuchols to help in re-trying State v. Stepp. Langer says he wishes he could send Judge Nuchols to help with the case.
The letter Langer refers to as being enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Retrying of State v. Stepp Case, June 30, 1920
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Attorney General Langer's Nonpartisan League book Ad, 1920
Morton County Farmers Press
1920 advertisement by the Morton County Farmers Press for Attorney General William Langer's book, "The Nonpartisan League: its birth, activities and leaders." The ad promises that Langer will be jailed for a year if either Lynn Frazier or A. C. Townley can find false statements in the book.
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Letter from Clerk of ND Supreme Court J. H. Newton to Attorney General Langer Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp Case, May 17, 1920
J. H. Newton
In this letter, dated May 17, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court clerk J. H. Newton to ND Attorney General William Langer, Newton informs Langer that an order was entered on May 17, 1920 in the case of State v. Stepp to dismiss the appeal unless the records and necessary documents from the appellant are on file in the court by May 25, 1920.
See also:
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
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Letter from J. H. Newton to Attorney General Langer Regarding Langer's Presence in Court for State v. Stepp Arguments, June 5, 1920
J. H. Newton
In this letter, dated June 5, 1920, from J. H. Newton, clerk for the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, to ND Attorney General William Langer, Newton informs Langer that on June 10th the Supreme Court "will call for argument the case of State v. Stepp" and asks Langer to "please advise if you will be present."
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding the Clerk's Notice Letter for State v. Stepp, June 1, 1920