 While the honest citizens of the Wyoming Territory are working to gain statehood, their efforts are hampered by marauding outlaws. Undercover government agents John Tipton (John Wayne) and Bridger (Lane Chandler) are sent to Crockett City to help ensure an honest statehood election. John and Bridger split up and John befriends a trio of settlers harassed by outlaws. They are Major Carter (George Hayes), his daughter Janet (Ann Rutherford) and their servant Moses (Fred Toones.) Carter is coming as the new editor and publisher of the Crockett City Blade, and when he announces plans to use the power of the press to fight lawlessness and aid the statehood cause, he is warned by Charles Plummer (Harry Woods), chairman of the Law and Order Committee, that his is not a healthy stance. Bridger is murdered when a wiretapper (Lloyd Ingraham) in Plummer s employ intercepts a telegram revealing Bridger s identity as a government agent, and Major Carter dies when he is "accidently" shot from a pre-staged fight between two of the gang members. A trap set by John captures most of the gang members but he still doesn t know who the leader of the gang is; he soon learns when taken prisoner by Plummer and his remaining henchmen.