The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-16

two factions. The "opportunists' and
| the "futurists." The opportunists
point to the relatively rapid growth of
the town, to the summer resort BUSH
ness which, they contend, the elimina-
ton of the saloons will affect adverse
ly. They used the old argument Of
lets be liberal" and draw trade.
They bring out the contention that De-
troit will go dead if the saloons
close.
Predict Bigger Detroit.
The second element looks to the fu-
ture and has increased it's numbers
greatly since the two supreme court
decisions were given out. This is the
| constructive element, and it looks to
a. future Detroit, a Detroit that shall
have no saloons but that shall grow
as result Of the development Of the
| country to the north which Is now re-
lieved from the burden Of having a
farming population with farm titles
doubtful in many cases.
Mixed Blood Decision Helps.
AS Detroit feels about it, so feel
many Of the other towns where the
saloons will have to go. But nowhere
in Minnesota is there such an offset to
the loss Of business, If there is to be
a loss when the saloons are no more,
as in Detroit, which now has its su-
preme court ruling on the Clapp act,
that any Indian having white blood in
any degree is a mixed blood"
Great Development Expected.
At this time there are 1900 cases
pending involving title to land. Much
Of this land lies adjacent to Detroit
and is very fertile. 1t is in territory
where the farmers are pioneering 1t,
are mostly poor, have poor roads, few
schools and altogether are not a great
asset to the neighboring town. But
the business element here points to
this arrested development as the re-
suit of the former Interpretation of the
law, or application Of it, which in
voIved many land titles. And it is
predicted that now that probably 500
such titles are cleared by the decision,
there will be a farm development north
Of the city that will make wonderful
changes in the next few years.
"Drunks" Are Dumped.
This little city has seer the drunk
problem in it's every form for many
years. Here it was that after Phil
Converse, state legislator, had his law
passed making it illegal to drink
liquor on trains, hundreds of "drunks"
were thrown off by the Northern Pa
cific conductors, sometimes as man. as
half a dozen in a day. The fast trains
from Fargo make no stops between.
Hence When they pulled into Detroit
with "drunks" on board, conductors,
with the law on their side, dropped
them off. Phil Converse stands today
on the street corner and argues that
his law was a fine thing. as it stopped
thA Sr1nkan man from anpOvin naa-
sengers on the trains. But his fellow
townsmen-some of them-shake their
heads and sum up the expense that
Detroit has been to, taking care Of
DRINKS" who get their fill, not as the
result Of good money spent in Detroit,
but elsewhere bought and paid for.
This is a minor phase of five long
years of scandals, succeeding an
other, in which allegations were made
that saloonkeepers robbed the Indians
and that land frauds were worked with
the aid Of the saloon keepers. The sa-
loon keepers stoutly deny these things
saying: We'll, Of course there was a
little fraud" or well. you can't al
ways tell If man buying a drink is
In Indian or not"
Business Men Aggressive.
The business element in Detroit, the
most representative element, is dis
gusted with all the notoriety that the
city has received. They want to start
right low, with something construc-
tive in mind, to build the city anew,
taking away its reputation as a large
dispenser of alcohol and building on
the farm land development Of the adj
Joining country.
Ready to Close.
BILLY" COPYRIGHT, the leading
saloonkeeper of the town, says he is
expecting any day to be told to close.
We'll, when they come around and
tell me to close, I'm out of business
that's all. If they think that's a
good thing for the town, all right"
Fear No "5Iind Pigs.
Mayor Casper Wackman and County
Attorney H. ]. Jensen say hat if the
saloons are closed by government or
der there will be no secret selling or
liquor. Sentiment is against it." Mr..
Jensen said, and besides 1t is too
dangerous for the man engaged in it.
If the government stands on the treaty
Of 1856 and puts it into effect, Detroit
will be dry in fact as we'll as in
theory"
May Go to Perham.
But Perham, only a short distance
away still may be able to sell LIQUOR,
and so. argue the saloonmen, it will
mean only that there will be more