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 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.
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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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"The Nonpartisan League: Its Birth, Activities and Leaders" by William Langer, 1920
William Langer
North Dakota Attorney General William Langer published "The Nonpartisan League: Its Birth, Activities and Leaders" in 1920. Printed by the Morton County Farmers Press in Mandan, the book is 240 pages in length. In it, Langer promises to provide "THE REAL FACTS" regarding the Nonpartisan League.
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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
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Letter from J. H. Newton to William Langer Regarding Order to Grant New Trial in State v. Stepp Case, June 16, 1920
J. H. Newton
In this letter, dated June 16, 1920, from J. H. Newton, Clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court, to ND Attorney General William Langer, Newton informs Langer that on that same day an order by the District Court of Cavalier County in the case of State v. Stepp was reversed and a new trial for the case was granted.
He adds that the defeated party has 20 days from the day of the order to file six copies of petition for rehearing.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 25, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets writes that he is pleased to hear that Traynor was satisfied with the Court's decision on the motion presented by Traynor to dismiss Hiram Stepp's appeal. Sheets also notifies Traynor that despite some confusion due to a misprinted date, the opposing briefs arrived on time.
See also:
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 15, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to attorney Fred J. Traynor, who is representing F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets informs Traynor that Judge Nuchols had to leave for Philadelphia and Sheets himself will be presenting the motion for dismissal of Hiram Stepp's appeal. Sheets explains that, while he will present the motion, he is of the opinion that the case should not be dismissed, and gives his reasons.
Note: In this letter, Sheets references a letter from Traynor to S. L. Nuchols dated May 10, 1920 in which Traynor informs Nuchols of a second proposal to dismiss Stepp's appeal. No copy of this letter has been found in Langer's papers as of this writing.
See also:
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding the Clerk's Notice Letter for State v. Stepp, June 1, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 1, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets explains to Traynor that his stenographer failed to enclose the notice letter from the Clerk of the Supreme Court that Sheets had mentioned in his letter of May 25, 1920. Sheets writes that he is enclosing the letter in this mailing.
Sheets also informs Traynor that, because the Court is up to date on their calendar, the case of State v. Stepp will be brought to trial shortly after the respondent's briefs are filed.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to O'Conner and Johnson Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp Case, May 15, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 15, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to attorneys O'Conner and Johnson, who are representing Hiram Stepp in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets refers to an enclosed a copy of the State's argument concerning the proposed motion to dismiss Stepp's appeal.
The enclosed argument was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to S. L. Nuchols Regarding State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding New Trial for State v. Stepp Case, June 18, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 18, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to Fred. J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, Sheet informs Traynor of his discovery that the Supreme Court had already ruled to reverse the lower court's ruling in the State v. Stepp case and send the case back for a new trial.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 29, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case, Sheets writes that he is enclosing a notice he has received from the clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court, "in compliance with request I received from you some time ago."
The notice Sheets refers to as being enclosed was not found with this letter in the Langer Collection.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Wording of Supreme Court Decision in State v. Stepp Case, July 22, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Wording of Supreme Court Decision in State v. Stepp Case, July 22, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated July 22, 1920, from North Dakota Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case, Sheets discusses details of the trial and the court's decision to have the case retried, and says he would be glad to write to the Court on Traynor's behalf to ask that the word "misconduct" be removed from the rationale for the retrial.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated May 28, 1920, from Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, to ND Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Traynor writes that he doesn't understand Sheets's reference to a misprinted date in Sheets's letter of May 25. Traynor adds that he has not received word of a due date for filing briefs or a notice of when the hearings will take place in the State v. Stepp case, but that the briefs are being printed and should be with the clerk in a few days. He asks Sheets to notify him as soon as he recieves notice of when the hearing will take place.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding the Clerk's Notice Letter for State v. Stepp, June 1, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated June 19, 1920, from Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case, to North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Traynor informs Sheets that he has received a copy of the Supreme Court's decision on State v. Stepp and that he is not surprised by their decision and has no criticism of the ruling.
Traynor makes reference to the use of the word "misconduct" in the written opinion to describe what Traynor writes was unwitting error he made in the trial, and asks Sheets to talk to Clerk of Court J. H. Newton regarding whether it would be "considered proper" for Traynor to write to the members of the Supreme Court requesting that they remove the word "misconduct" from their characterization of the reasons for ordering a new trial, as he feels it implies willful wrongdoing, whereas the error he made, while admittedly prejudicial, was unwitting and unintentional.
See also:
Letter from J. H. Newton to William Langer Regarding Order to Grant New Trial in State v. Stepp Case, June 16, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated May 22, 1920, from Fred Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, to Albert E. Sheets, North Dakota Assistant Attorney General, Traynor thanks Sheets for his letters regarding the case and congratulates him on the order made by the North Dakota Supreme Court. Traynor writes that he has no doubt that Stepp's lawyers will file their papers by the appropriate date and he is therefore preparing a brief on the merits of the case.
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 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
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
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Letter from H. J. Baird to Attorney General Langer Regarding Illegal Activities in Wishek, Dawson and Other Towns, September 22, 1919
H j. Baird
In this letter, dated September 22, 1919, handwritten on Ashley Hotel stationery, from H. J. Baird to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, Baird reports on tobacco and alcohol sales and other illegal activities in Wishek, Burnstad, Napoleon (misspelled as "Neapoealin") Dawson and Ashley, ND. Baird says he was unable to find the still north of Napoleon without putting a good deal of time into it, and describes poker games in Ashley played for matches that are then cashed in. He also tells of two men in town from St. Paul to organize a bank.