The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-01-14
Continued from page One)

ing used t3S Jne pdWIlS Oh certain pOi--
ticians in game to besmirch the
farmers organization. The report
was PRESENTED to Gen. Andrews at
Washington Gen. Andrews al once
instituted an investigation into the
whole affair with the result that Col.
Marsters was reprimanded and sent
back 70 Idaho.
Back from Idaho
When the rumor reached Plenty 1
wood that Col. Marsters was to be (
again moved back into Montana from
Idaho, protests were sent from Plen- !
tywood to Washington recalling the F.
former activities OF Col. Marsters (
here and pointing out that, if the law
was to be impartially enforced IN
Montana, Col. Marsters should be re-
moved from office. An editorial in
the Producers News explained the
matter and called on General An
drews to remove Marsters. Mar
sters was removed as soon as the edi-
torial and the advices from Plenty
wood reached Washington. We here
with reproduce the now famous edi-
torial which preceded Marster's sum-
mary dismissal and which is widely
discuss ed all over Montana.
Famous Producers News Editorial
rs MARSTERS COMING BACK?-
"News stories in the state press
last week would seem to indicate
that Col Marsters, the old horse
trader from Idaho, is about to re-
turn to Montana and try further ex-
Fermentation with the Volstead Act,
In this state.
eve remember how he entered in
to this state under most suspicious
circumstances about 18 months ago.
He was well received by everybody
and this paper extended to him its
loyal cooperation and unstinted sup
port.
''But the siren voice of old gang
republican politicians started to buzz
in his ear and the old Boise water
master listened.
''SOon an individual named "Three
Fingered Brown" landed in Sheridan
County and was seen meeting in cell
lars and other dark places with the
political riff raft which constitutes
the Anti-Farmer Gang in this coun-
ty.
"He was shortly afterwards
caught redhanded in an attempt to
manufacture evidence rejecting on
the official integrity of the sheriff
and county attorney. Conscious of
his guilt he fled when a warrant for
his arrest was issued and he was
caught on a westbOund train after
resisting an officer Co. Marsters
instead Of helping the officers here
to bring his underling to justice,
showed his conformation of his illegal
acts by sending a whole squad of
shoppers down here with the evident
intention of intimidating those who
were elected by the people of Sheri-
dan county to enforce the law.
"Then the Council of Action ap-
peared on the scene and started az
investigation. When Marsters' mer
were called to appear before the
Council they began to leave on the
first trains out of Plentywood like q
horde of scared rats.
"The upshot of the whole affair
was that the Council of Action is.
sued a report showing the malignant
political purpose of the attack OF
the Farmer Labor officials here. This
report was submitted to, amongst
others, General Lincoln C. Andrews
Federal Prohibition Director al
Washington, d. C.
"To the eternal credit of General
Andrews, he assured the representa-
tive of the Council of Action who
presented him with the report thai
he would demand an immediate state
ment of the whole matter from Col
Marsters. Not satisfied with thai
he sent Investigators into Montan;
who prObed the whole affair, will
the result that ''Three Fingered
Brown soon thereafter moved to tn
frigid atmosphere of Alaska and Col
Marsters and his whole gang O
shoppers, gun toters, smellers, fax
search warrant and frameup artist
were removed from the confines O
this state and sent to Idaho.
We do not know what has han
pened to reverse the we'll balance
decision of General Lincoln C. An
drews.
But we do know that prohibition
was not properly enforced when Mar
sters was here before; that Butt
and Helena, cities under his officia
nose, were as wet as Tia Juana dur
ing his reign; that bootleggers an
dlstlllers increased in every part o
the state; that he seemed incapabl
OF meeting and asSociating with tn
people of Montana on commo-
ground and that the very bushes
ne was supposed to exterminatt
flourished like a green bay tree
while he rayed like a Billingsgat
fishwife at those who criticized hi
actions.
Col. Marsters has proven himsel
unfit to hold the important office h
is appointed to administer and pro
hibition will continue to be fare
IN Montana until he is removed fror
office and someone else appointed /
his place"
Colonel Marsters Makes Statement
An Associated Press dispatch fror
Boise Monday quotes Colonel MAJ
sters as saying that Mai. Mauric
Campbell, prohibition departmer
zone supervisor, whose investigator
OF enforcement conditions resulted
the dismissal of the administrato
consulted his enemies and official
within whom he had had misunde1
standings in Montana.
Disagrees With Marsters
could not agree with Gener;
Andrews on some of the statement
that he made" Colonel Marsters
quoted as saying.
One was that the way to enforC
the prohibition law was for the 90,