North Dakota had four governors in one year and Memphis, Tenn., had four mayors in 24 hours. These are both national records, and one man was a major catalyst for both events. P.W. Lanier was an attorney who temporarily brought down the Crump Machine in Memphis and derailed Gov. William Langer in North Dakota. Lanier was also heavily involved in N.D. politics. He was the candidate of the Democratic Party for Attorney General in 1928, Congress in 1930 and 1954, and the U.S. Senate in 1932.

Powless William Lanier was born March 7, 1885 in Fulton, Tenn. His father was a former Confederate naval officer who died when P.W. was 5 years old. His mother then married W.L. McBride of Covington, Tenn., and the family moved to that location. P.W. was a good student and a gifted athlete. He graduated from the public school in Covington and attended Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., graduating in 1905. He then entered law school at Cumberland receiving his LL.B in 1908.

Lanier practiced law in Covington from 1908 to 1911 and was elected to serve his district in the Tennessee state Legislature from 1911 to 1913. While there, he served as chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1913, Lanier went into private practice in Memphis, a city run by Mayor Edward H. Crump and his cronies. The Crump Machine not only ran city hall, but wielded much political power in Eastern Tennessee.

Although both Lanier and Crump were Democrats, Lanier was appalled at the corruption that existed in Memphis. In 1915, he circulated a petition charging Crump and his associates with "misfeasance" (unlawful execution of duties). This forced a trial when other responsible individuals and organization joined Lanier's actions. The Tennessee Attorney General appointed Lanier as special prosecutor to help on the case.

To avoid a trial, Crump and the city commissioners resigned in order one day, accounting for four mayors of Memphis in a 24-hour period. The legislature then called a special session, and the state's attorney and one judge were impeached and another judge resigned under fire. Harper Leech, editor of the Memphis Press wrote, "As a result of Lanier's activities the gang was out for the first time in history." Later in 1915, Lanier was appointed judge of the Memphis City court and in 1918 resigned to go back into private practice.

In 1923, Lanier moved to North Dakota, setting up a law practice in Carrington with W.E. Hoopes. In Carrington, one of his biggest rivals was Foster County States Attorney James Morris. In 1925, Lanier moved to Jamestown and, three years later received the Democratic Party's endorsement for North Dakota Attorney General. His Republican opponent was his old rival James Morris. In the 1928 election, Morris won 129,871 to 71,190 with Lanier carrying only Eddy, McLean and Rolette counties.

In the 1930 election, Lanier was his party's candidate for U.S. Congress against incumbent Thomas Hall in the second district. Lanier also convinced his good friend, Fargo attorney Harry Lashkowitz, to run against Morris for A.G. of N.D. Although the Republicans made a clean sweep in the election, Lanier put up the best showing, losing to Hall 34,063 to 25,780. Of the 19 counties involved, Lanier carried Eddy, Griggs, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, and Stutsman. In 1932, he was convinced to run against popular incumbent, Gerald P. Nye. Lanier was trounced, garnering only 27.5 percent of the votes.

Lanier had been a delegate to the 1932 Democratic convention where he seconded the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt. After the election, President Roosevelt returned the favor by appointing Lanier U.S. district attorney on July 23, 1933. He was soon involved in a case, "United States v. Langer," that pitted him against one of the most popular political figures in North Dakota history.

William Langer was elected governor in 1932, the only Republican elected among the 43 races that year. Langer believed strongly in the Nonpartisan League (NPL) and looked for ways to strengthen it. Soon after he was elected, Langer cleaned out the executive departments and appointed people who would be loyal. He purchased a weekly newspaper, the Progressive, and renamed it the Leader. He solicited his appointees to buy subscriptions equal to 5 percent of their annual salaries. Most employees did not object, but some of those involved in projects where federal funds were involved questioned this practice.

On March 1, 1933, Senator Nye demanded a full investigation. On March 13, the U.S. Attorney General's office sent a letter to Lanier requesting that an investigation be done in regards to conspiracy by Langer. To assist in the investigation, Lanier hired Harry Lashkowitz, his close friend. A week later Lanier responded stating, "We are of the opinion that there is an offense against the U.S. Government that is indictable." He believed that money collected from state and federal employees in the state for the Leader was used by Langer for personal purposes. The message back from the U.S. Attorney General was to proceed and they were told they were on their own.

In the spring, a federal grand jury indicted Langer and eight others on charges of soliciting and collecting money for political purposes from federal employees and of conspiring to obstruct the orderly operation of an act of Congress. The trial began in Bismarck on May 22 and, when the verdict was reached on June 17, Langer and four of his defendants were found guilty. Langer was fined $10,000 and given a sentence of 18 months in prison. Langer immediately appealed his conviction but was forced to give up his position as governor. After three more trials, with Lanier as the prosecuting attorney on each, Langer was eventually cleared of all charges.

Langer was replaced by Lt. Gov. Ole Olson. Thomas Moodie was elected in November but Langer discovered that he had voted in Minnesota during the previous election and was disqualified. Moodie was replaced by his Lt. Gov. Walter Welford in February 1935. In less than one year, N.D. had four governors.

Lanier remained U.S. district attorney until his retirement on Jan. 31, 1954, when he decided to again run for U.S. Congress. Two congressmen were elected at large and, Lanier finished third behind Usher Burdick and Otto Krueger. Lanier then went into private practice with his son P.W. Lanier Jr. and Frank Knox in Fargo. He died on Oct. 12, 1958. In his obituary it stated, "Nothing pleased Lanier more than to engage a roomful of Republicans in political debate. He made few, if any converts, but many friends."

(Written by Curt Eriksmoen and edited by Jan Eriksmoen. Reach the Eriksmoens at cjeriksmoen@;cableone.net)