William Conrad (0:00)

Foreign.

Andrew Rines (0:13)

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke. Original air date is January 29, 1956 and the title is Bureaucratic. Lets get into it and thanks for listening.

William Conrad (0:39)

Gunsmoke brought to you by Chesterfield. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed. Thanks to Accuray, they satisfy the most around Dodge City and in the territory on West. There's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a U.S. marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America and the story of a man who moved with it. I'm that man. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. The first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely. What you doing? I got a telegraph for you. Oh? Who's it from, Chester? Well, I think somebody's playing a joke on you. A joke? What? Why, I never read such a thing. It's plum crazy. I mean. Well, here, maybe you better take a look at it. This is from the War Department. That's what it says. Rex Proctor coming to Dodge as full authority. Bad reports. Take orders from him. You see what I mean? It says they're sending this government man to check up on you. It's an official telegram, Justice. But it says you've got to take orders from him. I get it. He's kind of like a inspector general in the army. But what do they mean? They got bad reports about Dodge. Things is getting out of hand. Well, Chester, Dodge isn't the most orderly community in the United States. I don't like it, Mr. Dillon. I don't like no part of it. Well, we'll know more about it when he gets here tomorrow. It's insult, that's what tis. Now, Chester, maybe this Proctor is a good man. Maybe he knows what he's doing. How could somebody from Washington know anything at all about the frontier? No, sir, Mr. Dublin. You mind what I say. You're making a bad mistake if you even let him get off that train. There it comes, Mr. Dylan. The good old Santa Fe. Right on time. Yeah. I wished it was my time today. I wish they'd never get here. Yeah. Everything's gonna be all right, Chester. No, it ain't. I will soon find out. You'll soon find out. I know all I need to. You were in the Army, Chester. You know how things go. That's what I mean. You're judging a man you haven't even seen. Well, we're getting off now. Look. I'll bet that's him. Yeah, with a beaver hat. Look at him. He looks like he takes a bath every single day. Mr. Dylan. Rex Proctor? Yes. How'd you know my name? I'm Matt Dillon, Mr. Proctor. Oh, yes, of course. Glad to meet you, Marshal Dillon. This Chester Proud Foot. Proud Foot? I don't believe I was informed of him. That's all right, mister. I never heard of you neither. You'll be wanting a hotel, Mr. Proctor. I've got you a room at the Dodge House. Well, thank you, Marshall. I'll go there. First, I would like to wash up a little. Why did I tell you, Mr. Dillon? Never mind, Chester. Then I'll show you the town, Mr. Proctor. No, Marshal. No, I'll look the town over. Alone. I want to be free to form an unbiased opinion of the situation here. I see. I might as well tell you, we've had some rather damaging reports about Dodge City. And they all say that Dodge is a pretty rough town. Is that it? The government is interested in making the frontier safe, Marshall. Safe for everybody. And the impression in Washington is that Dodge hasn't entirely achieved that goal in Washington. You know, I'm going to tell you something, Mr. Potter. Yes, Marshall? You're right. You're absolutely right about Dodge packs more pleasure. Packs more pleasure. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed. The more perfectly packed your cigarette, the more taste and mildness are released for you. Chesterfield, made by exclusive accuray as an open, easy draw that unlocks all the pleasure of fine tobaccos. Now, accuray ensures an even distribution of tobacco from one end of your Chesterfield to the other. Chesterfield is firm and pleasing to the lips, Mild, yet deeply satisfying. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed to the touch, to the taste. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed by Chesterfield. Mild, yet they satisfy the most. Oh, get out the draining water. Here comes Mr. Proctor. Hello, Marshall. Come. Come in, Mr. Proctor. And Chester, isn't it? Chester Wesley Proudfoot. Well, I've looked Dodge over carefully, Marshall. Yes, it's been pretty quiet today, miss. Probably so far. You mean you're expecting trouble? Well, nothing out of the ordinary. What do you call the ordinary? I don't suppose you got out to Boot Hill, did you? No, no, but I've certainly heard about it, Alice. Got a growing population which doesn't seem to bother you much, Marshall. It has, Mr. Proctor. What do you mean, it has? Well, I've accounted for my share of those graves. I'm sure you have. That's one of the things wrong with this town. Oh, there's no need for shooting here. I've made a study of such towns as this, Marshall. And I can't understand why you run Dodge the way you do. And what way is that, Mr. Proctor? Well, there's no deadline. For one thing, your riff raff should be restricted to one part of town where they won't endanger respectable people. You know, there was a deadline when I came here. I got rid of it. Why, may I ask? Well, Mr. Propter, the riffraff that you're talking about, they're not all bad men. Most of them are just honest cowboys or buffalo hunters or sod busters on a little spree. There isn't one of them that likes to be reminded he isn't quite respectable. And they don't need a deadline. They know where it is. I don't agree, Marshall. We'll put the sign back up. We'll put up some other signs, too. Like what? Planter, Delphine or straight? Take it easy. Just. This is a serious matter. Go ahead, Mr. Bravo. How is it I haven't seen a man in Dodge who isn't wearing a gun? Now, you think they should check their guns? Certainly. If men want to fight, they'll fight, Mr. Proctor. But if they haven't got guns, they'll use something else. Besides, if there's a rule that they have to check their guns, they'll think I'm afraid of them. That'll be the end of any law at all. You're wrong, Marshall. This is going to be the beginning of a strong law. Here. I want those signs up before sundown. Well, surely you ain't going to do it, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, I'm going to do it. Just. Well, why? Because it's the only way I can teach Proctor his lesson. You're not the most popular man in Dodge tonight, Matt. I don't recall I ever was. Kitty. People are saying you turned into an old maid. Yeah, I know. All because of that idiot prophet. Look at him over there, staring at everybody like there was bugs. Allie's trying to do his job, Kitty. The only trouble is he doesn't know how. You really have to do what he tells you, Matt. Well, I'll admit I never ran a town before except on my own terms. Then why do it now? Get out and let Proctor handle it. He thinks he knows everything. I never ran from a fight, Kitty. And it's Proctor I'm fighting now in the only way I can. Oh, well, maybe you're right, master. You quit now. Things that only get a lot worse than they are, Matt. Yeah. I knew this had happened. He's got a gun. All right. I'll take that gun, mister. No. Give it to him, Charlie. I got it. The boy's drunk. He just killed a man, mister. I know that. And what, are you standing up for him for? You a friend of his? My name's Stroud, Marshall. I'm trail boss of the TR outfit. And he rides for you. Shride. He murdered an unarmed man, Stroud. He's under arrest. You want me to lock him up, Mr. Dillon? Yeah. Tech in Chester. All right, come on with me, fella. Taint fire. I don't like to see that, Marshal. Neither do I. Struggle. Well, the other man started it. Charlie didn't know he wasn't armed. He just got into town. He hadn't heard about your new rule against carrying guns. That's a good defense, Stroud. But Charlie wasn't wearing a gun belt. He had that six shooter hidden in you. All right, I tried. But I'm telling you, Marshall, that's what comes of trying to disarm the men. I've seen it in other towns. I know, I know. Then you better do something about it fast. So you've got another man for boot Hill. Marshal. Mr. Proctor, did you hear what Straw just said? I heard him. Good. And we'll count this man as yours. You think about that, Mr. Prompter. Matt. Oh, Matt. Well, hello, Matt. You look like you've been to a hanging. I guess I'm not too cheerful today. Doc Proctor. Last night's killing didn't seem to bother him much. He doesn't learn very fast, does he? No. Well, I admire you for trying that. But from what I hear, people saying you're buckling under to this man is making you look mighty foolish in their eyes. They don't work for the government, Doc, and I do. I told them that. I've said with a job like yours, you have to take the good with the bad. Up to a point, I do, Doc. What do you mean? Things might get so bad here, I'll have to quit for everybody. Marshall Dillon. It's proper. Now, what's he got on his line, Marshall? Right next door here, right in that saloon, there's a man wearing a gun. I told him about the rule and he laughed at me. He said to send you in? He said you know him. Maybe I do. His name is Fane. Nick Fane? Yes. Well, what's the matter? Is he a special friend of yours? Nick Fane's a gunman, Mr. Proctor. Does that mean you're afraid of him? I'll talk to him. See you later, Doc. Yes? It's your man, Huntsman. I'm coming with you, Marshall. You shouldn't be trying to enforce the law around here, Mr. Proctor. I have that authority on paper. Maybe I'm just telling you for your own good. You might get hurt. Hello, Saint. Howdy, Marshall. Is he back? Marshall? What's going on here, anyway? Got a new rule about carrying guns. Faint. I know. I saw them sign. Then why are you still wearing. Mr. Propter? Why don't you shut up and stay out of this? Marshall, did I ever cause any trouble in Dodge? No, Fan, you never did. And I never will as long as you run this town the way you have. I respect you, Marshal. For a man like me, I got a lot of enemies. I'm not like most men. I take my gun off, my life wouldn't be worth a nickel. No, I don't think it would. I'm not taking it off, Marshall. Not even if it means fighting you? Is he gonna come to that, Mr. Proctor? I'm gonna have to make an exception in Fane's case. Here you're afraid of. Don't be a fool, mister. He no more afraid of me than I am a him. He can't make an exception. You break the rule for one man, you have to break it for everybody. It's a bad rule, Mr. Proctor. Can't you see that? Are you going to take this man's gun? No. All right. I'm sending a telegram to Washington. We need a new marshal in Dodge packs more pleasure, Packs more pleasure Chesterfield packs more pleasure Because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed the more perfectly packed your cigarette the more taste and mildness are released for you. Chesterfield, made by exclusive Accuray, has an open, easy draw that unlocks all the pleasure of fine tobaccos. Now, Accuray ensures an even distribution of tobacco from one end of your Chesterfield to the other. Chesterfield is firm and pleasing to the lips. Mild, yet deeply satisfying. Chesterfield packs more pleasure Because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed to the touch, to the taste Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed by Chesterfield Mild, yet they satisfy the most Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dylan. Yeah, what is it, Chester? You better come around and they've got Proctor. What? Who's got Proctor? Down the street. There. They're going to tar and feather him. Tar and feather? That trail boss, Drought. Him and some other fellows, they're going to tar and feather. And they caught him just. He was going into telegraph operator. Now, that was to get me fired. Now he'll probably think I had something to do with this. Well, he's taking it real good, Mr. Dillon. He ain't saying. Look. See, they got a fire going under that pot and everything. Yeah. All right, let me throw it. Here, man. Let me throw. Hello, Strum. I hate to spoil your fun. You ain't gonna spoil it, Marshall. Yes, I am. We know the whole story. We get rid of this meddler here, and things will be all right again. Little hot tar ain't gonna hurt us. I can't let you do it, Stroud. You can't stop us, Marshall. All right, you men, clear out of here. All of you. See? They ain't about to move. You heard me. What are you gonna do, Marshal, shoot us? If I have to. Ain't you forgetting them little signs you put up about not carrying guns? And Dodge, Marshall, there ain't a man here that's got a gun on him. You ain't gonna shoot no unarmed man. You can't take us no other way. There's too many of us. By golly, he's right. Of course I am. All right, let's get on with the party, boys. Start stripping our friend from Washington. There. Car's about Cook. All right, hold it. Hold it. Wait a minute. Well, you're pretty smart, Stroud. You win. You know something? I'm glad of it. What? Chester. Yes, sir? Go tear down every sign we put up and be sure you find all of them. Yes, sir. I'll do it, Mr. Dillon. I'll do it. Go ahead. All right, men, you can go pick up your guns. The game's over. Marshall. Yeah? What's wrong? No hard feelings? You'll get to know me better. I think I'd like to. Well, you haven't said much, Mr. Proctor. There's no use in my talking. Marshall, you were taking this tar and feather business pretty well. Man tries to face things as they come. You were facing it like a man. Thank you, Marshall. Coming from you, I consider that a compliment. Coming from me. I've learned my lesson, Marshall. Now I'm going back to Washington and make my report. Well, that's fine. And you'll know how well I've learned it. Marshall, you get your copy. Thank you, Mr. Pro. Thank you. In a moment, our star, William Conrad Chesterfield packs more. Pleasure because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed Chesterfield made by exclusive accuray Packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed Unlocks all the pleasure of fine tobacco Chesterfield packs more pleasure Because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed Firm and pleasing to the lips Chesterfield mild yet they satisfy the most. You know, to build a home on the prairie, men often dug up squares of turf and made sod huts. Well, next week our story centers around such a place and the two men who died there thought that was the West. Good night. Gunsmoke, produced and directed by Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Our story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey, sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Vic Perrin, John Dana and Harry Bartel. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Smokers. This is it. L and M filters so good to your taste so quick on the draw make today your big red letter day your L and M red letter day Superior taste and filter it's the miracle tip make today your big red letter day Change to L and M today L and M so good to your taste so quick on the draw Get L and M today Relax with L and M so good to your taste so quick on the draw Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal, fights to bring law and order out the wild violence of the west in gun smoke.