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.
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Letter from Foster County Sheriff Theron Cole to Attorney General Langer Raising Concern over State's Attorney's Handling of a Case Involving a Poor Girl, March 18, 1917
Theron Cole
In this letter, dated March 18, 1917, from Foster County Sheriff Theron Cole to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, Cole expresses his concern over the handling of a case involving a "poor girl" by the Foster county State's Attorney. Cole writes that the State's Attorney has advised him that he has settled the case by taking the normal sum of $200 from the defendant, without submitting the settlement to the county commissioners for approval or securing any bond. Cole adds that this is the way the majority of criminal cases are being handled and urges Langer to look into the case. He adds that he doesn't want trouble between himself and the States Attorney, "as he is a pleasant man," but thinks "he needs the once over, to make him do his duty."
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Letter from Foster County Sheriff Theron Cole to Attorney General Langer Regarding Sales of Malt and Tobacco, July 18, 1917
Theron Cole
In this letter, dated July 18, 1917, from Foster County Sheriff Theron Cole to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, Cole replies to Langer's recent request for information on beverages and tobacco being sold in his county.
Cole gives a few specifics in his letter, and also includes a separate detailed list of what is sold and by whom.
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Letter from Sheriff H. E. Collicott to Attorney General Langer Regarding Sales of Malt and Tobacco, July 17, 1917
H. E. Collicot
Letter dated July 17, 1917 from Sheriff H. E. Collicott and Deputy J. L. Clement to Attorney General Langer in reply to Langer's earlier request for a list of drinks and tobacco being sold.
Collicot and Clement provide a list of products sold in several towns, including the names of sellers, and mention a tobacco sample they sent under separate cover.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Sheriff H. E. Collicott Asking What Drinks Are Being Sold in His County, July 13, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Sheriff H. E. Collicott of Hettinger Requesting Samples of Malta, July 19, 1917
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Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Alcohol Shipment from Montana to Minot, September 3, 1917
Kersey E. Gowin
This letter, dated September 3, 1917, from Kersey Gowin to North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer reports that a shipment of alcohol is set to arrive in Minot, ND from Montana. Gowin writes that he has become acquainted with a local and asked for 200 to 400 quarts of alcohol, and is informed of 500 pints that were taken to Dad-Marsh's Place. The local also mentions a "dam squeaker" who, if caught, will be lucky to get out of town alive.
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Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Bootlegging and Prostitution in Minot, October 29, 1917
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Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Bootlegging and Prostitution in Minot, October 29, 1917
Kersey E. Gowin
This letter, dated October 29, 1917, from Kersey Gowin to North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer regarding Gowin's initial findings upon being stationed in Minot, ND. Gowin provides many names, locations and details related to ongoing alcohol shipments and sales and prostitution, describes the situation as dangerous and writes that he believes there are several there who would kill anyone who "told." He reports that the chief of police is a nightly drinker in one of the places, and requests that two men and one woman be assigned to work undercover, as he is a known person there.
See also:
Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General LangerLanger Regarding Alcohol Shipment from Montana to Minot, September 3, 1917
Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding the Recruitment of a "Girl" to Work "Inside" and a Translator, October 30, 1917
Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Payment for Snow, April 15, 1918
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Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Legality of Searching a Man's Suitcase, December 1, 1917
Kersey E. Gowin
In this letter, dated December 1, 1917, from Kersey Gowan to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, Gowan gives a general update on his activities and asks about the legality of "searching a man's suitcase or grip." He concludes saying he will be moving next to Crosby and Noonan.
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Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding the Recruitment of a "Girl" to Work "Inside" and a Translator, October 30, 1917
Kersey E. Gowin
This letter, dated October 30, 1917, from Kersey E. Gowin to Attorney General William Langer, reports on Gowin's efforts to recruit both an unnamed woman who Gowin feels is his "best chance to get on the inside" and a "frenchman" plasterer named Charles Fisher who speaks multiple languages and is also an outsider. Gowin also provides an update on several individuals who are bootlegging.
See also:
Letter from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding Bootlegging and Prostitution in Minot, October 29, 1917
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Telegram from Kersey Gowin to Attorney General Langer Regarding a "Live One" Taken "Off of No. 4," November 8, 1917
Kersey E. Gowin
Telegram dated November 8, 1917 from Kersey Gowin to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer.
Entire text:
"Got another live one off of regarding "a live one" off of No. 4 this morning.
K.E.G.
Taken by K."
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Kersey Gowin Regarding "Live One," November 8, 1917
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Notary Public Certificate, 1917
Thomas Hall and Lynn J. Frazier
Shortly after he was elected Attorney General in November 1917, William Langer became a notary public for the state of North Dakota. Notary publics officially witness the signing of important documents for legal purposes. Secretary of State Thomas Hall and Governor Lynn Frazier signed the certificate on November 28, 1917.
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Beverage Label--Dempsey Extra from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
W. C. Heath
Beverage label--Dempsey Extra--sent by W. C. Heath to Attorney General William Langer in July of 1917.
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Beverage Label--Nontoxo from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
Beverage Label--Malta from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
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Beverage Label--Malta from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
W. C. Heath
Beverage label--Malta--sent by W. C. Heath to Attorney General William Langer in July of 1917.
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Beverage Label--Dempsey Extra from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
Beverage Label--Nontoxo from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to W. C. Heath Requesting Samples of Malta, 1917
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Beverage Label--Nontoxo from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
W. C. Heath
Beverage label--Nontoxo--sent by W. C. Heath to Attorney General William Langer in July of 1917
See also:
Dempsey Extra from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
Beverage Label--Malta from W. C. Heath to Attorney General Langer, 1917
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Herbert Hoover to Edwin Ladd on arrest of Powers Elevator Agent, 1917
Herbert Hoover
In 1917, North Dakota Attorney General William Langer called for the arrest of a Powers Elevator Agent for complying with a United States Food Administrations guideline that forbid the storage of wheat for more than thirty days. In this letter dated September 7, 1917, Herbert Hoover, Director of the Food Administration, wrote to Dr. Edwin Ladd, an administrator of North Dakota's food laws, to ask Ladd to intercede with Governor Lynn Frazer and the Attorney General to stop the prosecution. Hoover quoted extensively from a letter he recently sent to Representative George Young regarding the situation.
Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States and served one term from 1929 until 1933.
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Letter from F. H. Huggins to Attorney General Langer Regarding What Malt Beverages May Legally Be Sold, July 16, 1917
F. H. Huggins
In this letter, dated July 16, 1917, from F. H. Huggins, proprietor of Haynes Pool Room and Barber Shop in Haynes, North Dakota (ND) to ND Attorney General William Langer, Huggins asks "what kind of malt isn't to be sold in North Dak [sic]," adding that he always tries to be a law-abiding citizen.
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Letter from Salvation Army Ensign to Ensign Marshall Requesting that Marshall Find and Speak to Oscar Lindstrom, November 15, 1917
Illegible
This letter, dated November 15, 1917, from J. Arthur [Illegible, possibly "Young"] to Ensign Marshall of the Salvation Army asks Marshall to travel to Noonan, North Dakota (ND) to speak with ND Senator Oscar Lindstrom, or, alternatively, to speak with Lindstrom when he returns to Bismarck, in order to persuade Lindstrom to contact his wife in Norway and send money for her return voyage to ND, and to "secure his word that he will support his wife as becomes a man of his station in life."
Arthur also suggests that there may be another woman involved in the case and that he should look into this possibility.
See also:
File of Correspondence About the Oscar Lindstrom Case from 1917 and 1918
Letter from Oscar Lindstrom to Attorney General Langer Regarding a Time to Meet, December 3, 1917
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Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Beverage Analysis, July 20, 1917
E. F. Ladd
Letter dated July 20, 1917 from North Dakota (ND) State Food Commissioner and ND Agricultural College president E. F. Ladd to ND Attorney General Langer replying to letter sent to W. C. Heath concerning various beverages. Ladd indicates he would be "very glad" to have an analysis made of the beverages, and encloses a copy of a recent analysis of various soft drink beverages currently on sale in the state, adding that there are a few that he has not been able to acquire, among them a product sold as Bevo.
The list of soft drinks mentioned as being enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Malta Test Results, July 19, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Regarding Feasibility of a Lawsuit Barring Sale of Malta and "Kindred Drinks," July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking Whether Ladd Has Examined the Sample Langer Has Sent Him, July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking for Names of Manufacturers of Beverages Ladd Has Analyzed and Listed for Langer, July 23, 1917
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Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Malta Test Results, July 19, 1917
E. F. Ladd
Letter dated July 19, 1917 from North Dakota (ND) State Food Commissioner and ND Agricultural College president E. F. Ladd to ND Attorney General Langer regarding analysis of samples of malt beverage "Malta." Ladd explains that earlier samples showed as high as 0.45% alchohol content, but that more recent samples have shown around 0.10%, leading him to believe that the manufacturer has been cutting down that alcohol in their manufacturing process.
Ladd adds that he "should be very glad to make analysis of any samples that you might submit because of the variations that have been found in the the samples [...] during the past three months."
See also:
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Beverage Analysis, July 20, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Regarding Feasibility of a Lawsuit Barring Sale of Malta and "Kindred Drinks," July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking Whether Ladd Has Examined the Sample Langer Has Sent Him, July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking for Names of Manufacturers of Beverages Ladd Has Analyzed and Listed for Langer, July 23, 1917
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Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner Herbert Hoover, 1917
William Langer
Letter from North Dakota Attorney General William Langer to Herbert Hoover, Director of the United States Food Administration, dated August 21, 1917. Noting that one cannot "expect patriotism on an empty stomach," Langer asks for a higher price for wheat. The Food Administration set the price of wheat on the United States market during the First World War.
Herbert Hoover was the 31st President of the United States and served one term from 1929 until 1933.
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Letter from Assistant Attorney General to Sheriff T. V. Meinhover of Linton Requesting Investigation of Alcohol Use in Braddock and Linton, and Enforcement of the Laws, June 30, 19171917
William Langer
Letter, dated June 30, 1917 from Assistant Attorney General to Sheriff T. V. Meinhover of Linton, ND regarding indications that Braddock is planning a 4th of July celebration and assembling quantities of intoxicating liquor for the celebration.Furthermore, there are indications that liquor is being freely used in that communuty and in Linton. Langer tasks Meinhover specifically with investigating the situation and enforcing the laws.
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Bowman County Sheriff Alex Norem to Attorney General Langer Regarding Legality of Certain Brands of Tobacco, July 10, 1917
William Langer
Letter dated July 10, 1917 from Attorney General William Langer to Bowman County Sheriff Alex M. Norem regarding legality of certain brands of tobacco. Langer is replying to Norem's letter of July 3 asking for clarification regarding the legality of certain brands of tobacco and the need for a peddler's license, and addresses the questions Norem has asked.
See also:
Letter from Bowman County Sheriff Alex Norem to Attorney General Langer Requesting Clarification Regarding Legality of Certain Brands of Tobacco, July 3, 1917
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Cavalier County Sheriff regarding Enforcement of Liquor Laws, July 5, 1917
William Langer
In this letter, dated July 5, 1917, from North Dakota Attorney General William Langer to Cavalier County Sheriff Fred Thompson, Langer acknowledges Thompson's letter of July 3 and thanks him for his cooperation "in the enforcement of the laws on the liquor question."
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Deputy Sheriff E. M. Prentiss Regarding Limitations on the Shipping in of Alcohol, May 15, 1917
William Langer
Letter dated May 15, 1917 from Attorney General William Langer to Deputy Sheriff E. M. Prentiss of Robinson, ND replying to Prentiss's inquiry of May 14 regarding limitations on the shipping in of alcohol. Langer says that prior to July 1, 1917, there is no specific amount that can be shipped in, and gives Prentiss some guidelines on which to base his individual judgment regarding whether amounts being shipped in are excessive.
See also:
Letter from Deputy Sheriff E. M. Prentiss to Attorney General Langer Requesting Information on Limitations on the Shipping In of Alcohol, May 14, 1917
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking for Names of Manufacturers of Beverages Ladd Has Analyzed and Listed for Langer, July 23, 1917
William Langer
Letter dated July 23, 1917 from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to ND State Food Commissioner and ND Agricultural College president E. F. Ladd regarding the list of 43 beverages analyzed by Ladd. Langer encloses the list and asks Ladd to "put down after each one the name of the manufacturer which is absolutely in these cases [sic] as far as this office is concerned."
The list of beverages mentioned as enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Malta Test Results, July 19, 1917
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Beverage Analysis, July 20, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Regarding Feasibility of a Lawsuit Barring Sale of Malta and "Kindred Drinks," July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking Whether Ladd Has Examined the Sample Langer Has Sent Him, July 23, 1917
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking Whether Ladd Has Examined the Sample Langer Has Sent Him, July 23, 1917
William Langer
Letter dated July 23, 1917 from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General Langer to ND State Food Commissioner and ND Agricultural College president E. F. Ladd explaining that Langer has decided to arrest everyone who sells W. B. chewing tobacco, provided that Ladd has examined the sample Langer has sent him. Langer calls Ladd's attention to a recent Supreme Court case involving a tobacco called W. B. Right Cut chewing tobacco, whereas the sample Langer sent to Ladd is called W. B. Cut chewing tobacco. Langer asks Ladd whether he has examined the sample and whether in his opinion it is the same as snuff.
See also:
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Malta Test Results, July 19, 1917
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Beverage Analysis, July 20, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Regarding Feasibility of a Lawsuit Barring Sale of Malta and "Kindred Drinks," July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking for Names of Manufacturers of Beverages Ladd Has Analyzed and Listed for Langer, July 23, 1917
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Regarding Feasibility of a Lawsuit Barring Sale of Malta and "Kindred Drinks," July 23, 1917
William Langer
Letter dated July 23, 1917 from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to ND State Food Commissioner and ND Agricultural College president E. F. Ladd asking Ladd's private opinion on whether a lawsuit barring sale of Malta and "kindred drinks" with trace amounts of alcohol would stand up.
See also:
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Malta Test Results, July 19, 1917
Letter from Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd to Attorney General Langer Regarding Beverage Analysis, July 20, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking Whether Ladd Has Examined the Sample Langer Has Sent Him, July 23, 1917
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Food Commissioner E. F. Ladd Asking for Names of Manufacturers of Beverages Ladd Has Analyzed and Listed for Langer, July 23, 1917