Montana labor news., 1935-08-15
Why Labor Opposes
The Highway Patrol
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Moeh-ring, were guilty OF a wholly un-
warranted piece OF brutality.
These witnesses charge in their
sworn affidavits that Robert Bryson,
town marshal OF Sultan, was assaulted
by Peterson and his aide while in the
line of duty" They also assert that
Peterson engaged in %'terroristic tao
tics with pistol, guns, clubs and
bombs"
Off the court records, but declared
by eye witnesses to be the facts, about
2 a. m. Monday morning a group OF
Sultan citizens were standing on the
sidewalks Of their town. They were
looking toward the spot where mill
employees usually 60 toward their
work. There was no trouble and no
indication OF violence. Suddenly, ac-
cording to these observers, a State
Highway Patrol car drove into town.
Peterson and his aide, Moehring,
jumped out and with abusive language
ordered all citizens to clear the streets
Town Marshal Bryson and his assis-
tant, Herbert Weight, were in the
crowd. They were there to maintain
order and were doing SO. Bryson re-
piled to Peterson to the effect that all
was we'll and peaceful, and interference
by the state officers was not neces-
sary. Whereupon, the witnesses say,
Peterson struck Bryson down with his
club and, with Moehring, assaulted the
assembled citizens, clubbing right and
left Unfortunately. Several mem
bers of the town council were present
and were forced to retreat on their own
streets in face of Pederson's ferocious
attack. Peterson, say the observers,
in a loud voice branded all citizens
within earshot as being Communists
and when Bryson replied, there is no
law breaking going on here" struck
the officer down with a heavily
weighted club. Bryson did not resist
and other citizens, acting under calm
advice of the towns officials, dispersed
to their homes.
Later Peterson wa placed under ar
rest by a deputy sheriff Of Snohomish
county on charges OF third degree as
sault placed by Bryson and other town
officials. = = Among the "non-com-
batants' put to flight by the State Pa
trolls "cossack sortie" was Editor
Wolff OF the Valley News. Friends say
it was the editors first assignment as
a war correspondent. We are waiting
for our exchange copy Of the Valley
News to determine just how it feels tic
see the Huns coming over the top
Later Monday, say witnesses, a car
load OF Martins cossacks," as the
State Highway Patrolmen have been
dubbed by the timber workers, ac-
costed two members of the Timber
Workers Union on Monroe bridge
some distance from the nearest lumber
mill II timber camp, and b~rutally as
saulted the men without provocation
The men, Kenneth Murdoch and Erick
Holmbach, were badly beaten with
clubs by the "cossacks." They were
not engaged in any violent act" wher
assaulted, they make affidavit.
John R. Chuck, a prominent Seattle
attorney, and a leader in cooperative
movements, has been retained by the
timber workers OF Sultan to carry
through their plea for a restraining or.
der and injunction against the State
Patrolmen. State Representative B. J
McCarty, a member Of the union anC
personally acquainted with the men in.
volved, is assisting in pushing the case
determined to re-establish American
rights under constitutional and civi
guarantees.
SIGN THE PETITION FOR 4
VOTE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE
HIGHWAY PATROL LAW.