The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-11-02
oyERsHooTING THE MARK

OVERSHOOTING THE MARK
sour attention has been called to circular
which is being broadcast the county by
the Democratic candidate for sheriff taking
Ben Olson to task for not cooperating with
the federal authorities in enforcing the Vol
stead Act and for his lack of prosecution of
viOlatOrs of this act.
obviously the circuatOr of the pamphlet is
doing Sheriff Olson "a grave injustice Every
voter in the county is cOgnizant of the fact
that the state prohibition law repealed
by popular vote in 1926 and local peace Off
GERS have no state law under which to operate
in the prosecution of offenders of the liquor
laws.
GIN direct refutatiOn to the statements con-
tanned in the circular accusing the present
sheriff and his deputies of lacking in cooper
alton with the federal authorities in the en-
fOrcement of the prohibition law. is the state
ment of Federal Officer Jack MarmOn,-n
charge of this district for the prohibition de-
partmemt. Mr.. MarmOn said to The Courier
editor on Wednesday of this week. 1--WE have
always received the fullest cooperation of
Sheriff Olson and his force in the prosecution
of our duties in his district and several times
they have volunteered to assist us in cases
where call made upon them"
can attack upon Sheriff Olson for not en-
forcing the federal prohibition act is obviously
unfair, inasmuch as the voters of the state at
the last general election, repealed the laws
which would have given him authority to act.
Lets play fair in the campaign which is
now rapidly drawing to close 1t is obvious
ly unfair to attack officer for nOnenfOrce-
ment of a state law which does not exist"
The facts about the law over in Valley county al
the same in Sheridan county The people in the stat
of Montana at referendum voted on in the genera
election, by majority of ten thousand votes repeae
every dry and prohibition law the statute books
this state 1t is not now against the state laws
make, transport or sell intoxicating liquors. II
sheriff or county attorney could not arrest pros
cute any one For doing these things nor could Judl
Paul hold one so arrested to trial.
The only dry laws are the national dry laws-ti
Volstead act The enforcement of these laws is Il
duty of the United States Marshall and the FEEDER
courts.
To charge Sheriff Salisbury or county Attorney Z
ickson with failure to do their duty in regard to ma
ufacture and sale of booze is to charge them wi
something that is untrue and to find fault about
ter over which they have no authority one way or
other
This is only being done for political purposes
persons who know better.
In reference to the cooperation of these gentlem
with the Federal officers quote from letter sigr
by R. c. Eberstein and Officer M. J. McEnony, spec
agents, Department of Justice to Sheriff Salisbury
''We wish to especially thank A. C. Erick-
son, County Attorney, and Rodney Salisbury,
Sheriff of Sheridan county, for their splendid
cooperation IN assisting us in our investiga-
tiOns. We can truthfuIIy say that we have
never received better cooperation than during
our stay here and highly commend the splen-
did officers who have assisted us and shown
us every consideration"
This much for those bitter enders who for reas
of their own, put in all of their spare time Islander
Erickson and Salisbury.