The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-12-06

bootlegging activity during the
time the officers were cleaning
up the town. was the subject of
animated discussion. While they
were emptying pals of home brew
into the snow and confiscating
moonshine it is reported that
Reardon was plying his trade
without interference. Late Satul
day it is reported that he visited
Philip Bourassa and asked for
whiskey. Bourassa told him to
begone and intimated that he did
not like him. He again visited
Bourassa last Tuesday night and
is alleged to have used violent Ian
guage.
Collins Took Stand
Bourassa called Chief of Police
Collins on the telephone and de-
manded protection against Rear
don. Collins did not arrive until
after Reardon had left and when
Mr.. Bourassa asked him to take
the necessary steps to protect him
from possible violence at the hands
Of Mr. ReardOn, Collins declared
according to Phil: "They are try
ing to run Reardon out of town
but I'll see to it that they won't
run him out of town."
This statement by Collins only
added fuel to the suspicion hith-
erto entertained that he is the key
to the solution of the protection"
scandal in .Plentywood. He is sus-
pected of being in cahoots with
some higher-ups and that as a re-
suit of this unholy alliance a few
bootleggers are getting protection
while the rest are being discrim-
mated against.
Local business men are said to
be getting fed up with the situa-
ton. Those intermittent dry raids
are interfering with business they
claim. Some of them are inclined
to blame The Producers News for
this state of affairs. But The Pro-
ducers News only tells the news
fairly and impartially. Many who
voted for a reform" sheriff are
now squawking but they got just
what they wanted. While it is true
that Hans Madsen is not display
ing much zeal in stopping bootleg
cling and gambling, Oscar Collins
and Corp. Winters can be depend
ed on to bring unenviable notorie-
ty to Plentywood, with ostenta-
tious raids against establishments
that do not operate according to
their fancy.
Business Men Growing
1t is said that business men are
growing because farmers who
like to have a drink when they
come to town to do their buying
now go to Raymond, Outlook, An
telope and other towns where the
pigs grunt pleasantly withut fear
of molestation from Corporal Win
tiers or Waddell instead of coming
into Plentywood. 1t is evident that
prohibition is farce, that it can
not be enforced, that liquor can al
ways be secured no matter how
many raids are conducted. The sit
uation in Plentywood is no differ
ent to that which exists in every
town and city in the United States.
People are now beginning TO rea-
lie that the only way to handle
the liquor problem under prohibi-
ton is to let all the bootleggers
run or close up all the blind pigs.
One course is possible and one is
impossible.
But as long as law officers pro-
tect a few bootleggers at the ex-
pense of the rest, no newspaper
with sense of responsibility to
the public can afford to ignore
such a situation and whether it
does or not there will be raids
because the piggers will continue
to squeal on one another.
Scofflaws now feel that as a re-
suit of the last raid, there are on
ly two safe places in town to take
nip. They are satisfied that they
can Stake their thirst in Gottlieb's
and Dryers with security and
without danger of disturbance by
federal agents.