The Evening critic., 1883-03-09
DR.. BLAND,S REJOINDER
To Agents smith and Miles.

10 me Edltoy Of 7ht Eceatng CTitic:
The so called reply OF Special Agent Smith,
and the abusive postscript of Agent Miles,
which appeared In THE. CRITIC yesterday,
would receive no notice from me, II my per.
sonal interests were alone involved. But this
is public matter, and have treated 1t as
such, and shall continue TO do so, despite the
efforts of Smith and Miles TO draw me into
personal quarrel, by the use of insulting In
situations and vile epithets. l dcem It pro-
lie understand, that my sole object In any.
thing write Is the publication of the Indian
service. Agent Miles recently asked member
Dr.. Bland. was opposing his connr.
nation, and received for reply, that
pr. Bland believed him to Q be be bad agent, and
him was to convince him that he was mis-.
taken, This man, himself an ex.agent, cor
rectly represented me. 1t affords me great
majority OF our Indian agents are good
men, and 4 Is very dlsagreeable to
but as the friend Of the Indian and a cham
plon of Justice, l cannot shirk this disagree
BILE duty. In accepting 1t expect no other re-
ward than an approving conscience aud the
disfavor and abuse OF those crltlclse. Hon
orable gentlemen do not rob Indians, nor de-
fend those who do hence, am not surprised
that Agents Miles and Smith should have an
swered my statement of facts with abusive
epithets. II Will be observed that the vital
facts of my article are not denied by them, but
only such as have an incidental bearing upon
the case. Those denied stated upon what
l deem good authority the word of good men).
This authority stand ready to give, IL neces-
sary. Agent Smith makes some show OF deny
Ing that the charges against Agent Miles
were proven, but falls to deny that
his own report shows that they were.
Agent Miles makes no attempt at any logical
defense, but after indulging In a few abusive
remarks about myself and those who testified
against him, he refers to Agent Smiths
article as his sole defense. l submit that
Agent Smith has not yet made any defense of
Agent Miles worthy the name OF a defense. If
hs tsse will Which make viii feHe asisHso him IF hs the
grave. charges made against him by
his helpless wards, the Usage Indians,
1t will afford me much pleasure to publish It
In the Council Fire, with an editorial state
ment that ] have been mislnformed and there
fore mistaken. II such defense Is possible,
then many good friends OF the Osages, includ-
ing quite a number of Agent Miles Quaker
brethren, are as much mistaken as myself.
l speak whereof know, and can
name the men. one of these, a Quaker of high
standing, told me recently that he met John
Florer, the trader-referred to In my Interview
In THE Cn1TIc-in st. Louis last fall, and on
way Forer saG I n have Searod s
three years." Florer's wife, who was present,
supplemented his remark by saying: "Yes,an
we could have made great deal more IL Miles
had not been so avarlclous." This Quaker said
TO me: "You can draw your own conclusion as
to how Miles avarice could curtail Florers
profits" My logic leads to but one conclusion,
VIZ, that Miles demanded too large share of
said profits. 1 close by quoting the following
letter from prominent citizen of Kansas:
"CANEY, KAN, Feb. 26, 1888.
"Dr. Bland, Washington, u. G.
"DEAR SIR: see by the papers that you
have filed charges against L. j. Miles, of
Usage. wish you would insist on an honest
investigation. / am now preparing charges,
and expect to prefer them as soon as possible,
and by a united effort hope we can remove
him and his whole corrupt administration.
But II Will be q bitter fight, as he has
strong backing. AS am stranger to you, but
an old friend Of Colonel Meacham, and true
friend of the Indians, for further reference 1
give you the name of Isaac II. Gibson Ia
Quaker and former agent of Osages), who is
| personally acquainted with mo-"
The name Of the writer OF the above is with
held, for the present, but will be given II
necessary, as the letter is In my possession.