The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-12-01
"PuSSYFOOT" JOHNSON CLOSES
cAss LAKE SALOONS AND
SPILLS LIQUOR.
800 MORE ON HIS BLACK LIST
Indian Agent Puts Responsibility on
Brewers Attorney Who He
Says Didn't Play
Fair.

Minneapolis, Nov. 25..-W. E, opus
syfoot") Johnson, special agent of the
Indian bureau, department of the in
terror, is in Minneapolis to personally
supervise the greatest wholesale ex.
termination of saloons in the history
of Minnesota.
Mr.. johnson announced that, pursu
ant to his orders, all saloons had been
closed in Cass Lake last week.
He also declared that within month
he and his men would put out of
business every saloon in Hibbing, Be.
midi, Brainerd, Detroit, Perham,
Grand Rapids, Big Fork, Walker and
every town included within the In
dian treaty of 1850.
Closes 800 Saloons.
1t is estimated close to 300 saloons
will be knocked out. If necessary.
Mr.. Johnson will have at his com.
mand so men to complete the job.
Much of the liquor at Cass Lake
was poured into the cutters. Some
of it was shipped to Minneapolis
Town authorities and the dealers
"CIC CdhCA NOAPlCICly NY
surprise. There was no resistance.
Making an official statement at the
offset, Mr. Johnson said that F. w.
Zollman, attorney for the Minnesota
Brewers Association and the Hamm
Brewing Co., is responsible for the
present turn Of affairs.
Charges Double Cross.
He charges Mr.. Zollman with dou-
decreasing the association, declaring
that the attorney worked solely for
the Hamm interests and by his atti-
tude brought about the wholesale clos
ing order.
History of Trouble.
"The trouble started year ago.
Zollman began to get busy. When
the Indians were paid off they went to
Walker to buy liquor. But the au-
thorites there co-operated with my
deputies and there was nothing doing.
The Indians then went to Park Rap.
ids, where Hamm beer is sold. De-
spite our warnings and pleadngs, the
authorities there permitted to red men
to buy the booze. Of course, l closed
up Park Rapids Immediately there
after.
"Zollman, ostensibly acting for the
Brewers association, set up howl of
discrimination. He said that if the
saloons were closed in one town they
should be closed in another. His work
apparently was for Hamms all the
time, doing the injury to the associa-
ton.
"Zollman tried to force me to dis
criminate in favor of the towns where
Hamm beer is sold. If he had kept
quiet, only a few towns would be
closed today. He probably figured
that if Hamm was to suffer the other
brewers should keep him company.
The issue was forced when the To-
cal authorities a few months ago fail
ed to keep their word relative to c.
operation with my men. After the
visit to Ballinger they did not go
quietly about their business and keep
booze from the Indians, but ran wider
open than eyer before. New saloons
sprang vepure :, (kf1 ?t. B hr shrhrs
sprang up everywhere. More Indians
were found intoxicated than during
any time in the past. They cut their
own throats."
Mr.. Johnson laughs at the threats
of j. w. Witherow, Moorhead city at
torney, to close up the saloons in Min
neapolis. He says that Minneapolis
has shipped little liquor to the Indian
country. Moorhead and ST. Paul are
the worst offenders, according to the
Indian bureau agent "Mr. Witherow
is trying to cover up Moorheads guilt
with a bluff" said Mr.. johnson.