The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-10-20
Decision Of United States Supreme
Court is Final Only Congress Can
Now Contina ass Sales
PLEA FOR REHEAR1NG IS DENIED
Department Of Indian Affairs May
Now Demand That Bars Suspend
Business Mandate in 80 Days.
SUGGESTS Law BE OBSERVED
0psahl, President Of Dry 0rganiza-
ton, Thinks Saloons Should Close
Without Being Forced to Do So.

VvAbAVuO OVAAS XVxVVO W xJU W.
Bemidji, Detroit, Cass Lake and
many other towns In the territory
covered by the Chippewa treaty Of
1856 will be made sdry" by order
of the Indian bureau, If the authori-
ties see fit to carry out the treaty
provisions. 1t is expected they will
do so. The supreme court at Wash
ington yesterday, as announced in
last nights Pioneer, denied the APP
plication of the liquor interests for
a rehearing of the case brought up
from Bemidji, previously decided
against the liquor men, and it Is now
up to the Indian bureau.
Covers Large Area.
The 1855 treaty covers large ares
Of northern Minnesota, from Detroit
east to the iron range and south as
far as Brainerd, and says that the
sale of intoxicating liquors shall be
forbidden in the Indian country"
Congress could set aside this provi-
sion, but it never has. In 1911
"Pussyfoot" Johnson, then with the
law enforcement division Of the In
dian bureau, closed many saloons in
this district, but Bemidji saloonkeep-
ers went into court and got an In
junction from the late United States
Judge C. A. Willard, who held that
the treaty provisions are no longer
supreme court last May and the IL
quor interests filed an application for
a rehearing, and an opportunity. to
show that there are comparatively
few Indians in most of the country.
Rehearing Rsfussd.
The supreme court yesterday de-
MED this application.
Under the practice OF the court the
mandate in this case will not be
sent to the lower court for 80 days.
This will give the liquor: dealers time
to close out their business or remove
to other localities where liquor Is per-
mitted. The Indian bureau also will
have time to formulate its plans for
the enforcement Of the law. Indian
Commissioner Cato Sells has already
declared that he will do everything
in his power to keep liquor from the
Indians, and it is expected that he
will enforce the law strictly in that
part of the treaty country where the
Indians still live.
Close in Thirty Days.
Although it was announced from
Washington several weeks ago that
the department of the interior, under
which the commissioner Of Indian
affairs acts, that no action would be
taken in connection with the enforce
ment of the treaty provisions for at
least a year, Cato Sells may now be
given authority to close out the sa-
looms of the territory involved as
planned by him.
Suggests Saloons Close.
J. J. Opsahl, president Of the 1855
Treaty Enforcement league, today
said: "The United States supreme
court has for the second time gone
on record holding that the 1855
treaty is the law of our district. It
is the sincere hope that all citizens
of Bemidji will in the most friendly
spirit adjust themselves in obeying
the law without friction"
| It is Mr.. Opsahl's idea that the sa-
looms of the district should be closed
by the owners at once, thereby max
ing it unnecessary for government
officials to demand that the law held
to be in force is obeyed.
Month Will Decide.
Just what course the government
will pursue will be made known dur
ling the next month, for at the end
of thirty days the mandate will be
sent to the lower court and then II
will be the privilege Of the interior
department to close every saloon in
operation at that time, should it de-
eide to do SO.
/
Will Raonver From wonnd