The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-01-10
Judge Spooner and Attorney McDon-
aid Win Important Legal Battle
Before Willard.
WHAT OTHER TOWNS WILL DO
Saloons Throughout All Northern
Minnesota Will Reopen Because
of the Decision.

OF the Decision.
Judge Spooner and E. E. Mcdonald
won sweeping victory for Bemidji
saloon keepers, before Judge Willard
in the United States District court
late yesterday afternoon after pleas
had been made by the Bemidji at
.torneys, when he granted the iujunc-
ton which means that all saloons in
Bemidji and in all towns that had
been closed can now open and re-
ceive shipments of liquor.
In other words Judge Wizards de-
cision puts the saloons back on the
same basis that they were on before
the Indian treaties were dug up, and
that many damage suits against the
government for liquor destroyed will
now begin.
OF course there still is a possibil-
ity that the government will appeal
to the United States Supreme Court
but 'Pussyfoot" who is in Minnea-
polls today decided with district at
torney Houpt that they would not
appeal until they have received Or
ders to do so from Attorney General
Wickersham, and they have not as
yet received any such order.
Judge spooner and Attorney Nc
Donald awoke to find themselves
lsssskaans IS the nans who s@sl,s the
liquor lid Friends Of the liquor
trade are profuse in praise for the
Bemidji attorneys while many not
friendly to the liquor traffic pay the
lawyers high compliment for their
brilliant victory. Neither Judge
Spooner or Mr.. Mcdonald had any
comment to make except that Will
lard's decision clears up the tangle
and establishes a right of state to
regulate its own affairs.
Judge Wizards decision re-
strains "Pussyfoot" Johnson and his
agents from interfering with the
liquor traffic under the provisions of
the Indian treaty of 1856.
The reasons given for this decision
are sweeping in character and leave
the lid on only in actual Indian
reservations.
Indian treaties having anti-liquor
clauses cover nine tenths of the state,
according to contentious of the gov
eminent in this suit and the Federal
authorities have right to prohibit
liquor absolutely from any and all
portions of this vast territory.
The suit on which the decision was
rendered was instituted by II Be-
midi saloon men against Johnson,
Brents and Coggshall.
Judge Willard holds that the adj
mission of Minnesota to statehood
gave the state power of regulating
liquor traffic and repealed anti-liquor
clauses of Indian land cession treat
les.
"Pussyfoot" Johnson said "Placed
in my position there is really moth
ing for me to say in view of the de-
cision. The attorney general and
federal representatives are all that
should be expected to issue state
ments, as for myself I am not going
to say a word.'
Detroit, Mimi, Jan. 1O.-(Daily
Pioneer Special Wire Service. y
Under Judge Wizards decision the
four saloons of this city opened for
business at o'clock this morning.
Cass Lake, Jan. 10.-(Daily Pho
neer Special Wire Service. Judge
Wizards decision, annuling the In
dian treaty caused no excitement
here. Five saloon keepers, how
ever, made preparations to reopen
and have made applications for IL
censes.
Brainerd, Jan. 10.-(Daily Pho
neer Special Wire Service THE %
saloons which were closed here by
'Pussyfoot" will reopen as soon as
they can secure their licenses.