The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-01-05
MORE PROHIBITION
FOR OKLAHOMA
Even at That, Opinions Differ as to
The Effect of The Recent
Decision.

and prices are Delng raised 10 an al
most prohibitory limit in many of the
bootlegging joints Beer has almost
become thing of the past and in the
places where it is sold fifty cents per
pint bottle is asked
A number of the druggists have
been notified by travelling statesmen
that alcohol cannot be shipped to them
any more and it begins to look as if
the decision of he circuit court. of ap-
peals would make Muskogee very dry
before long.
There is no danger however that
the legitimate sale Of alcohol viii be
prohibited at any time either now or
in the future Notwithstanding the de-
cision of the United States circuit
court of appeals at st. Louis, which
has been interpreted in many different
ways since it has been rendered.
That court was asked to decide on
mandamus proceeding to compel an
express company to accept a liquor
consignment to the eastern part of this
state. The criminal phase of the ques-
ton was not raised.
The court however in arriving at its
conclusion did go into the various acts
statutes and treaties which have been
in force in the eastern part of Okla
homa since 1887 and impliedly held
that intoxicating liquor of any dis
cription could not be shipped into
what was at one time the old Indian
Territory because the government had
agreed to prohibit its sale on Indian
lands.
other interpretations.
Other federal judges have had the
same question before them and have
decided the same question differently
so that at present the law is a debat-
able question and has not been defin-
itely decided so fas as to make it nee
essary for the United States officers
in this dis rict going after persons sell
ing liquor.
w. w. Gregg, United States district
attorney said yesterday that when the
law had been determined he and his
office would do their best to enforce
it just as they found it.
The attorney general at Washing
tch has been advised of the decision
of the court at st. Louis and of the
conditions here and he will, in the
near future advise the local officers
of bis views on the subject.
The conditions in the old Indian
Territory are not the same now as
then. Before 1907 and statehood there
were four districts where there is now
but oneI four United States marshals
offices with large number of depu-
ties, where there is now but one mar
shal's office and only a few deputies.
To attempt to enforce absolute prohib-
ition under these circumstances would
be an impossibility.
A Guardianship Still.
A number of attorneys who were
asked about the matter yesterday re-
fused to express an opinion without
study and consideration of the laws
owing to the fact that nothing had
been definitely decided upon as yet but
there seemed to be a question in all
their minds as to whether or not the
government still is the guardian of the
Indians to such an extent as to say pos
itively that liquor can not be sold in
the eastern part of Oklahoma in cities
aud on lands over which the restric-
tons had been withdrawn. They raise
the question that when this state was
taken into the union there was pro-
vision in the enabling act which inn
pliedly rescinded the previous acts of
the United States governing this sec
ton.
The attorneys say that there is no
danger of the legitimate use of also
hol ever being cut off as it may be ship
ped into the other part of the state
fif in no other way) and then shipped
here. In this way the shipments
would be governed by the states laws
and not by the interstate laws.
There is provision in the state
laws which provides for the estab-
lishment Of warehouse by the gov
ernor of the state and the sale of al
cohol to druggists and scientific insti-
tutions such as hospitals and schools,
at practically cost where the pur.
chaser bonds themselves not to use
the liquor except for medicines, pre-
scriptions and medicinal purposes.
The United States marshal's office
has up. to the present time received
no orders revelant to the liquor ques-
ton and no new men have been added
to the present force