The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-09-13
MINI. GANG TARS
AND FEATHERS


WITH FEATHERS AND SHOWS
HIMSELF TO THE FEEDER Al
OFFICIALS.
st. Paul, September 1.-THE final
fiare-up of the mob violence which
has characterized the administration
of Governor Burnquist in Minnesota
came just three weeks after the pro-
clamation of President Wilson con-
demning ruthlessness at home and
urging governors to enforce law and
order. Another Minnesotan was tar
red and feathered Monday, August
10.
John Meints, well-to-do retired
farmer Of Luverne, was the victim.
Just after the state primaries, when
a gang in Rock county announced
that it would run every man who vot-
ed for the League out of the state
unless he repented, Mr.. Meints was
forcibly deported over the Iowa line.
For more than month he remained
in Iowa, visiting relatives. Then, to-
ward the end of July, feeling that the
authorities had had plenty of time to
crush the outcropping of lynch law
in Rock county, he returned to his
home. There he first called on Rev.
Bedford, one of the leaders of the
gang which deported several Amerf-
cans from their homes, to see If he
could stay. He told this minister
politician that if he had violated any
law he wanted the sheriff to arrest
him, that he might have a trial.
Shortly after, one of the county Of
ticeholders came to his home and
warned him that mob spirit was ris-
ing again, and that they would in
jure him this time.
Back to Save Food Supply
Mr.. Meints took the next train for
| St. Paul, determined to see Govern
| or Burnquist. This he was unable to
do. Attorney General Hilton also
was too busy to see him. Mr.. Meints
was referred to woman stenograph-
| er at the capitol. She took down his
statement and got in telephone COM
munication with the mob leaders. The
next day she informed the exile that
if he would go down on his knees
and pray TO be allowed to go back
it could be arranged.
This the farmer refused to do. He
visited lawyer and prepared to fight
his case in the courts. At this time
the grain on the farm that he had
| decided to his two sons was threaten
ing to spoil for lack of harvest labor.
Knowing the danger he was in, Mr..
Meints went directly back to Rock
county. There on his farm, 13 miles
out of Luverne, near Hardwick, he
toiled early and late in the field.
| But it was impossible to keep his
presence secret. Just as he was
about to sit down to supper August
10, Mr.. Meints saw a mob of more
than SO men enter the front gate.
He went upstairs and got his revol-
yer. One of his sons went to the
door. He refused to let the mob in
and they knocked him down. Then
the leaders told Mr.. Meint's younge,
| boy to tell his father that they were
not going to hurt him, but would
taSe him to Luverne for trial. Al
this Mr.. Meints came down and got
in one of the cars with them.
Make 1t a Federal Issue
The gangsters first took him to d
| basement room in the hotel. There
they quizzed him until almost mid
night. They were mistaken in their
belief that Mr.. Meints was a mem.
Der of the Nonpartisan league. This
is not the case, although his two
sons are members. From this hotel
Lu6Y LUX uIu1- OQC COWd IIAC Oouti
Dakota line. On the way they point.
ed out great tree. "There's where
you'll hang if you ever come back te
Minnesota" they told him.
! Suddenly the car stopped and six
masked men ran from a cornfeld
brandishing revolvers.
"Get out Of the car" they ordered
Then they tied his arms behind
and said to the others, who clearly
were their accomplies: "You fellows
go on, we'll. tend to this"
After going on a short way, they
came to pot of tar. They stripped
this Minnesota farmer-a man who
| has bought bonds and war stamps in
excess of his quota-and beat him
with the end of a rope. Then they
smeared him from his hair down with
| tar and covered him with feathers.
At dawn the next morning Mr..
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