Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-11-15
L|QU0RMUsT MOI
Be BROUGHT IN
RAILROAD AND EXPRESS CON-
PANlEs MUST CONSIDER THE
PROHIBITED REGION,
OF MINNESOTA INDIAN COUNTRY
practic Policy Adopted by 6a'Iinger.--
Ambiguity Of Certain Old Treaties
Blamed for the Un-
certainty.

WASHINGTON, Nov. ~. - Complaints
about alleged discrimination in the
matter Of enforcing the government
policy regarding the introduction OF
liquor into the Indian country OF north
ern Minnesota are the direct cause OF
the more drastic plans being adopted
by Secretary Ballinger in directing
that even the railroad and express
companies be proceeded against for
conveying liquor into the prohibited
region.
Major Mclaughlin, veteran inspector
in the Indian service, recently return
ed here from Minnesota. He brought
reports of discrimination in the en-
forcement of the dry" orders of the
government
Discrimination Is Alleged.
Major McLaughlin's report to the
department are that the local authori-
ties in the towns within the northern
Minnesota Indian country are cooper
ating to prevent the sale of liquor to
the Indians, and it is claimed by the
department officials that liquor IS
being sold to the Indians. 1t is solely
q question of alleged discrimination.
To bring this issue to an end Chief
Special officer Johnson wired asking
n he would be supported in vigorous
efforts to prevent liquor being sent
Into the Indian country. The depart
ment replied by telegraph as follows:
"The answer is yes. Secretary d.
reefs vigorous enforcement OF the fed
eral law against Introduction. Pro-
cure evidence against principals and
agents. railroads, express companies or
others without discrimination for in
PRODUCTION of liquor and file informa-
ton with the United States attorney
for prosecution. This telegram was
signed by Commissioner Valentine of
the Indian Office.
Much of the present doubt and un-
certainty grows out of the ambiguity
and Indifference in expression of the
old treaties with the Indians under
which the lands in Minnesota were
coded to the United States by the In
dams, afterward becoming part OF
the State of Minnesota. There are
er portion of the state.
A cession Of lard between the river
at ST. Paul aud the state line to the
east was ceded without any reference
to liquor. This treaty was made in
1887. Another made in 1851 covers
the land west of the river, including
Minneapolis, and the greater part of
the state to the Dakota line. This
treaty excludes liquor ever being intro
duced, unless otherwise directed by
congress or by the president of the
United States
Another treaty. made in 1854, relates
to the Duluth section of the state and
that prohibits the introduction of liq-
uor until otherwise ordered by the
president"
Another treaty relates TO what is
generally termed the present Indian
country of Northern Minnesota. 1t
was made in 1865, and it excludes liq.
uor until otherwise provided by con.
gress" This is the section surround
ing the present diminished Indian res
ervations Within its borders, and
subject to the old treaty stipulations,
are Cass Lake, Bemidii. Deer River
Park Rapids. Detroit. Lake Park. Win
nipeg Junction. and other towns. Out
side this territory and indicating its
boundary lines are such towns as ST.
Cloud Sank Rapids. Moorhead, Du-
luth, Fergus Falls, etc.
When the order was issued BY Sec
rotary Ballinger on October Z. asking
the aid of the towns within the bor-
ders of this Indian country to enforce
the law against the Introduction of
liquor among the Indians. the point
was made that this was to prevent dis
elimination between the towns within
the territory.
Aim at Total Exclusion.
Now. it appears that the effort of
the government to enforce the law has
resulted in discrimination, which in.
tiuces the government to aim at the
total exclusion of liquor by prevent
ing its transportation.
The 1853 treaty prohibits the intro.
Gucton of ardent spirits, wines or
ether liquors" but does not specifical.
~ mention. malt beverages.
This has raised an issue as to wheth
er the term other liquors." when
mentioned in connection with ardent
shirts and wines" includes malt bev-
ofa5es. The government claims it IS
rnD0ssible to prevent the introduction
of liquor into the territory covered by
the treaty of 1873. which excludes
liquor until congress" shall otherwis,
provide, without proceeding against
the carriers which convey liquor into
the TERRITORY That Is the meaning of
the latest instructions to Chief SDe-
cial OICct Johnson.
Fergus Falls, Nov. l2.-T. f. Brents,
special agent OF the interior depart
ment, is in this city attending United
State court. and states that
wide extent IF territory in this part
of the state is going dry" in the near
future. The order prohibiting The
shipment of liquor by express was or.
~ !orerunner and Mr.. Brents states
thet he has just had a conference
with the railway Representative auG