The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-11-17
Saloon Men Here See New Hope in His
Coming, Believing Restrictions ~ ~
May Be Modified. - =
CLOSE NO SALOONS SAYS BRENTs',
Special Officer Emphatically Denies
Reports That He Ha. Orders to
Shut up All Places.

Special Agent r. E.. Brents and
squad of deputies have returned from
Park Rapids where they destroyed
the liquor of four saloons. Mr..
Brents announces that w. E..
CPussyfoot") Johnson considers
the situation in this territory so i'm
portant that he is coming for a per-
sonal investigation and that he will
arrive in Bemidji within the next
forty.eight hours. -
From other sources it is also
learned that Commissioners Of Indian
Affairs Abbott of Washington, who
desires information first hand, will
come to Bemidji this week.
Bemidji saloonkeepers see new
hope in the coming of these high
officials for they believe it possible
that by co. operating with the govern
ment, in an effort to keep liquor
from the Indians, they may be per-
mitted to renew the licenses to sell
the stores of liquor which they now
have on hand.
There is no truth in outside re-.
ports that the Bemidji brewery has
closed. 1t is running and will con-
tinue unless stopped by the govern
ment. 1t has at all times been ex-
tremely careful to observe all re-
strictions and has co-operated with
the government in every way. ~.
After stating that since Tuesday
morning his men have destroyed
more than 5000 gallons of liquor,
Special Agent Brents said: .
"There is absolutely no truth in
the report that the saloons of Be-
midi are to be closed by either
myself or my deputy special ofdc-
ers of the Indian department. l
have no orders from Washington
to close the saloons of Bemidji as
a whole now or at any other time.
cit should be understood, how
ever, that the order restricting
shipments holds good over the
entire territory prescribed. The
two saloonkeepers whose stocks
were demolished in Bemidji had
disobeyed our orders. The men
had agreed to close and ship their
stock out of the dry zone. This
they did not do.
I have no intention of closing
the saloon of any law.abiding citi-
zen who may renew his license for
the purpose of selling his stock or
hand in lawful manner"
Deputy Special Officer N. A. Way,
who recently has been working
under direction of Brents, has been
transferred to Devils Lake, North
Dakota, land be left for that place last
night. In response to the question
as to why Mr.. Way was transferred,
MI. Brents said: He talked too
much"
Reports have reached Bemidji
that liquor is being shipped into and
freely sold at Island Lake, Puposky,
Fowlds, Nebish and other towns
north of Bemidji in Beltrami county
on the Minnesota, Red Lake &
Manitoba railroad and that
the : government canco
interfere on the ground that
these places are outside of the FL
dian treaty zone. These towns are
nearer the Indians, for whose benefit
the liquor restrictions are presumed
to be enforced, than any of the Bel
trami towns in the dry belt as they
are only few miles from the Red
Lake agency.
The Duluth News Tribune runs
the following interview from N. J..
Sero. 49,
We expect that attempts will be
made to smuggle liquor into the In:
dian country, but the government
will proven: it in every instance if
possible, and punish those who un-
take it. The smugglers Of liquor
into the Indian country, if any there
are, will be likely to find it unproft-.
able business. The government