The Wilmingtonian., 1885-08-08
Cleveland and the Cattle Men.

Juan any bhibs oioo.
Cleveland and the Cattle Men.
The question Of driving off the cattlemen
from further occupation Of the Indian res
ervations and the Presidents ideas upon the
matter form subject worthy of atten-
tlon.
A large delegation of individuals repre-
senting the cattemen's Interests, including
Congressman and others Of public proni-
nonoe, called upon the sosident Tuesday
last, asking for au eztout IN Of time over
the allotted forty days, III order that they
might get their property collected and trans
felred to their new grazing grounds.
The main arguments OF the delegation
were that leases of land gained from the
Indians were obtained with the full kuowl-
edge of the then Secretary of the Interior.
That there are 200, 900 head of cattle loca-
ted on those lands, which it would be al
most impossible TO move in tho allotted
time. That the ACREAGE nearly 4 600, 600 of
grass lands would be impossible to procure
in that time. That the men and horses
could not be obtained at this moment to
undertake those duties.
The difficulties of the drive of such large
hor 20 r 81, 4
other difficulties, such as lie obstruction,
caused by quarantine laws, Of the cattle be-
ing removed TO some nf the contiguous
states, adds still more to the trouble.
The above embodies the main points in
the cattlemen's appeal. 1t may be stated,
| in addition tina last year the Indians are
said, by the cattlemen, TO have received a
total of 5000, 600 as rent for tic grazing
grounds,
| After carefully listening to their appea
President Cleveland said: This application
| as l understand it, is that cattle be allow &C
to remain on the reservation until mex
spring." After receiving IN affirmative, til,
| President continued
| There is one point that seems to escap
your attention, gentlemen. That point i
before my eye, and it is the public interest
We have lately seen whaEfear can be crea
ted y thirty oeffcstyy-Isa sA. EIit1ls =
hours letter has come to my desk from til
Governor of Kansas, urging that the troop
on the border of that state should not b
Withdrawn. The highest officer in th,
army, one experienced ia Indian affairs, re
ports the situation in the Territory, ant
says the cause of the irritation is the pres
ence of the cattlemen. A section of th
country containing 1850, 900 acres was sc
apart for the Indians. Only one-tentl
100000 acres) is left. They are crowded
down to the agencies. Some of this ma,
have been secured with the consent of tn
Indians 1t is apparent to me, as it is t.
you, that this state of affairs cannot con
tinue. Two interests are in conflict. Whicl
shall give way =? On the one side we hav
public peace, public security aud the safet
Of lives. On the other side are your inter
ests Tue former, gentlemen, must be con
sidered though private interests suffer.
The question of putting off this remova
until nexG spling is inadmissible. Tn
order cannot be modified. | want to Sc
some diligence in complying with the order
Twelve days have passed. Precious time i
lost. An effort was made after the orde
was issued to secure an extension of time
A despatch was sent saying in the mos
positive terms that the order could not
modified. Here you are after twelve day
have passed. If any indulgence is show
it must be an application in specific cases
with evidence that an effort has been mad
to comply with the order Ifyour interest
led you out Of the Territory Instead OF in
| cannot help but think you would find som
wav out in the specified time, l wish yo
would cooperate and take hold and try L
get the cattle off. No argument will induc
me to change what has been done. Som
loss and Inconvenience will no doubt follow
but there is au interest greater than your
which must receive attention.
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