The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-11-12
INDIAN AGENTS
ORDER BEMIDJI
SALOONS CLOSED
Operators Of Liquor Establishments
Here and At Walker Have Until
Nov. 80 to Dispose of Stocks.
EXTENT OF ORDER NOT KNOWN
Authorities Have Not Announced
Whether all Treaty Territory
Will Be Placed in Dry Belt.

For the first time in it's existence,
the city of Bemidji will be recorded
as a 'dry" town on the first day of
next December, every saloon owner,
brewery agency and the brewery hav-
ing been ordered to discontinue their
business on or before November 80.
This order was served last evening
by Henry A. Larson, special agent of
the Department of Indian Affairs,
who with Deputy Agents Brandt and
Carson, has spent the past few days
in the city.
Had Been Expected.
The order comes as the result of
the United States supreme court hav-
ing sustained the provisions of the
Indian treaty CT 1855, making it un-
lawful to ship into or possess intoxi-
eating liquors within the limits of
the large area covered by the treaty.
AS the Indian agents have been in
Bemidji several days, it had been
generally expected that some action
would be taken in connection with
the treaty enforcement.
~ First Closed Walker.
Two of the agents, one of them the
special agent, visited Walker yes
terday and closed the saloons of that
place during the day. The druggists
of that city were also informed that
they will be prevented from handling
alcohol and were served with orders
Identical with those of the saloon
men. Walker is located on the Dor
der of the Leech Lake Indian reser-,
vation ..... .....
News soon reached Bemidji telling
of the Walker closing and but little
surprise was caused when the local
order was made public. Frank s.
1LySeaA,@-sWllOs .UPCl dLt5o q Uo1 iiisSoAAo
nection with the Markham hotel, was
the first man upon whom the closing
order was served
Visits All Saloons.
Larson then made his way from
saloon to saloon, politely introducing
himself as Henry A. Larson, special
Indian agent, and left a copy Of the
closing order. He made no comment.
Is Serious Matter.
Bemidji druggists have not been
notified Of the treaty order, but are
likely to have notice served on them
at any time. Should they be compell-
ed to suspend the use of alcohol it
will create serious situation as it
is necessity in making tinctures.
Whisky and brandy are also used in
prescriptions. Alcohol is
also used in many cases of fever and
hospitals will be greatly handicapped
without it. Every effort will be
made to bring about it's lawful use
in the treaty territory for medic
inal purposes, said E. A. Barker,
of the Barker drug store today.
r. This is the Order.
I'You are hereby notified to dis
continue your business in violation
of Article 7 of the treaty between
the United States of America and the
Chippewa Indians concluded On Feb
ruary %, 1855, and your attention
is called to Sections 2139 and 2140
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States and amendments thereto; and
this you will in no wise fail to do
on or before the goth day of Novenn-
Der, 1914, under the pains and pen
alties of the law"
All to Observe Order.
Every saloon keeper has announced
his intention to observe the order,
as has the management of the brew
cry The brewery agents here will
dispose of their stocks previous to
the day named and already saloon
owners have begun advertising the
sale of their stock at reductions in
price, taking this course to dispose
of what liquors they have on hand.
Extent of Order Not Known.
The agents still refuse to announce
what future action will be taken by
them and it is not known what other
cities and towns will be caused to
join the ranks of the "drys." It is
probable that every saloon in the ter
ritory covered, including 264, will
be closed, for not to do SO would be
elimination on the part Of the gov
egnmant. an act of which it has
never been rightful1y accused. The
agents are at Cass Lake this after
noon.
It was just four years ago this
mGntI that Judge Marshall A. Spoon
er, w-1o was later Joined by e. e.
Mcdonald attorneys Of this city, be-
gan the Injunction cases which have
kept the provisions of the treaty in
litigation since that time.
Information concerning the clos
ing order in Bemidji will be found
in another column on this page.