Town Constable Admonishes Governor
by Don Mortenson
Governor Bill Langer was in Hampden campaigning. He had a stem winding speech going in the Community Hall. As his speech climaxed he pounded his fist on the podium hard enough that the podium seemed to bounce on the floor. John Neilson, who was the town constable and custodian of the Community hall, took his jobs seriously. Concerned about the podium, he yelled from the back of the Hall “Stop that, goddamit! Governor or not, if you bust that podium you gotta pay for it!” There was silence in the Hall, and the Governor had lost his stride. John rendered remarkable service to his town while he lived there.
Side Note on Governor Langer: In 1934, Gov. Langer and eight associates were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to solicit and collect money for political purposes from federal employees. Gov. Langer was tried, convicted and sentenced to 18 months in a federal penitentiary. Langer was removed from office by the ND Supreme Court and replaced by Lt. Gov. Ole Olson. Lydia Cady Langer ran during the next election against Thomas Moodie, but was unsuccessful. However, Moodie was removed from office in 1935, the same year he was inaugurated. Walter Welford was inaugurated and completed Moodie’s term. Bill (William) Langer was reelected for his second term in 1937. This all occurred after the 1921 removal of Gov. Lynn Frazier from office through a recall vote. North Dakota has an interesting political history!
-Julie Neidlinger
Hampden, North Dakota 
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