The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-06-10
Show Little Disposition. to Propose
Amendment to 'Lid"-Primaries
Play Large Part in Program.
FIFTEEN COUNTIES EFFECTED
Attorneys in Case Confer With Con-
stituents-Bemidji First to be Hit
When Closing Begins is Opinion.


to close the saloons included in the
territory covered by the treaty OF
1855, only action by congress can
prevent it from so doing. With the
primary of next week and the gen
eral elections coming in November,
it is probable that the Minnesota
congressman will he slow in taking
such action and as yet have shown lit
tie disposition to propose an amend
ment of the Indian Lid"
Attorney E. E. Mcdonald, who has
been prominently identified with the
lid" cases since the time of the in
junction in 1909, was in consulta-
ton with Bemidji saloon men yes
terday, but. no definite plan of ac-
tion was decided upon, and an
nouncements of the Indian depart
ment will be awaited with anxiety.
Judge Marshall A. Spooner, who also
has played a large part in the mat
ter, is defending a man charged with
murder in Koochiching county, and
no word has been received from him.
Would Hit Bemidji First.
The fact that it was Bemidji that
caused the issuance of the injunction
restraining the agents Of "Pussyfoot'
Johnson from closing the saloons,
causes opinion here that should the
Indian department decide to close
the thirst parlors, this city would be
the first hit. Saloon men were much
relieved this morning when word ar
rived from Washington that no ac-
ton would be taken for several
weeks, or until the department had
fully decided upon it's course, and
decision studied.
Injunction of 1912.
The court decision is the out
growth of an injunction secured by
twelve saloons here in November,
1912, against T. E. Brent, special
agent of the Indian department., who
came to Bemidji and with full power
to act for the government, upon the
instructions of w. E. Johnson, pro-
ceeded to close many of the saloons.
He had been successful in this work
in many towns of Northern Mime
sofa, which is territory coded by In
dians to the state of Minnesota and
the government of the United STATES
jointly, under the agreement that
intoxicating liquors never be sold
within the bounds of the grant.
Bemidji was the last town in
WHICH the government sought to
wipe out the saloons. Brent visited
every saloon here and ordered that
the doors be locked. He began his
rounds at 10 a. m. and at noon the
doors of every saloon in Bemidjf
were closed.
Twelve of the twenty-seven saloon
keepers met and retained E. E. Nc
Donald, a 'Bemidji attorney. Nc
Donald served papers on Brent, as
a representative of the government,
and on this authority the saloons
re-opened.
Was Made Permanent.
Following an argument by Judge
M. A. Spooner before the late Judge
Willard at Minneapolis, the injunc-
ton was made permanent and the
saloonkeepers, under this protection
have been doing business ever since
Saloonkeepers of Bemidji, who had
not been instrumental in the orig
inal injunction and others affected
in other towns, soon sought protec'
ton under the injunction cloak, ant
these, too, have stayed open and say
they will continue to do business un'
til they are shown by the govern
ment agent that they must close.
Vast Territory Affected.
Four entire counties in Northern
Minnesota, Mahnomen Cass, Beck
err, and Hubbard, with parts Of St
Louis, Beltrami, Otter Tail, Wadena
Itasca, Norman, Clearwater, Aitkin
Crow Wing. Koochiching and Clay
are included in the Indian territory
where liquor is prohibited as Sc
down in the treaty of Feb. %, 1855
This agreement with the Chippew;
Indians, nearly sixty years ago, wa
upheld Monday by decision of tn
United States supreme court.
This decision places 5000, squar
miles of territory in Minnesota in
dry zone and also closes up, it j
estimated, 200 saloons, which ar
now operating in this territory
The. action of the United State
supreme court bars the sale of Ii
quer in Bemidji AND Brainerd. tn