In This Article from the Fargo Argus back in January 1890, the journalist identifies an instance of violence perpetrated by pro temperance women armed with hammers axes and various other instruments of destruction travelling to Hatton, ND and looted several saloons in the town, destroying their liquor stock and causing significant damage to the bars. The women were aided by Norwegian Reverend C. J. M. Grunly and farmers Hans Asrke and Anders Bjorge. Local businesses were scared enough by the looting that bankers and businessmen locked their valuables away in case the mob targeted them.
The journalist in this article clearly has a disdain for the women in Hatton, postulating that acts such as these by prohibition sympathizers undermine the legitimacy of the movement, and states that if leaders of the prohibition movement knew about this riot they and allowed it to happen they would be at fault as much as the demonstrators. However, the writer does acknowledge that the forces of prohibition are very influential and relents that it is likely that there may some be an alcohol ban in North Dakota in his near future.
This instance is important to us for various reasons: one, as stated on the previous page, the editors Fargo Argus was a major detractor to the temperance movement and this article perfectly illustrates their viewpoints; two the mention of a Norwegian clergymen is important for identifying who were largely in favor of Prohibition: One of the principle arguments for prohibition was that it was immoral, an argument largely championed by protestant evangelicals, most often of Scandinavian descent, while most Germans in the state saw no point in prohibition
H, C. M. "Riot at Hatton." Fargo Argus, January 15, 1890. Accessed November 25, 2016. NDSU Archives, Fargo