Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-10
A BIG CATTLE RING.
Prominent Public Men Interested in
the Indian Land Leases.
SOME QUEER WORK IN WALL STREET.
The Deal Of Secretary Teller and the
Big Capitalists in the Cattle
Monopoly.
The PRESIDENT AND THE CATTLEMEN

erlng that only elght men are puOhciy
known as the lessees of the 3,823,00O acres
of Indian lands, it is amazing that there
have been several numerous and influential
delegations here of late trying to induce the
President and Secretary Lamar not to en-
force the laws against these lessees.
It would be amazing, that isto say, il only
these men were in fact interested in this big
cattle ring. But these eight lessees repre-
sent a number of capitalists, not few of
whom are men we'll known to the public,
but who do not apparently care to be known
in connection with these unlawful Indian
lessees.
It is curious fact that the determine
ton of tie President to enforce the laws,
as 1t is his sworn duty to do, and to CON-
pei the cattlemen to remove their beasts
from the Indian Territory was first tele-
graphed from here, not to the Indian Ter
ritory, not to Kansas, not even to St. Louis,
but to Wall street, New York. 1t is in the
vicinity Of Wall street that the chief inter
est in this cattle business is held. Mr..
Blanchard, formerly Yice-President of the
Erie Railroad; Mr. Edward Coopar, Mr..
Abram S. Hewitt and other Eastern men Of
wealth are reported here to be among the
chief real persons of interest. They be-
came, so the story is told by those who have
investigated it, members OF big syndicate
which took stock in the cattle companies
formed on the basis OF the eight different
leases Of Indian lands.
An Illegal Enterprise.
The Indians have no right or power un-
der existing laws to lease their lands. Cen
Sheridan reports that the Indian agents on
the spot influenced the Indians to consent
to the leases; and this again was unlawful,
tor they had no right to use their influence
over the Indians in this way.
The men who undertook this big land
scheme knew that they were in the wrong,
for they applied to Mr. Teller, then Secre-
tary OF the Interior, to authorize their pro-
ceedings. Secretary Teller was forced to
tell them that he could not protect
them in their leases, because they were con-
trary to law. But Mr.. Teller, it seems told
them that while the law did not allow him
10 help them, he would not hinder them;
and il is said that he promised to see TO 1t
that no other cattlemen or settlers should
interfere with them. 1t this is a correct
statement of Mr.. Teller position it appears
that, while he, who was the appointed guar
dian OF the Indians, would not assist at an
,BrF,,l ID fhar, ha raody
enough to stand By and let others do it, and
even to prevent any other eattlemen or poor
settlers from interfering with this big, un-
lawful land monopoly.
A public officer who has investigated this
whole business said to capitalist interested
in the cattle ring: Il suppose that men OF
capital were shrewd and cautious. never
supposed that men who possessed millions
would be so rash as to go into an adventure
known to them to have 10 possible lawful
existence, but which could exist only by the
weak tolerance of public officer, who might
at any moment be displaced and might be
succeeded by another who would thirk it
his duty to enforce the laws You gamblcd
on the continuance of Secretary Teller in
office and on the belief that great combina-
tions OF money would continue in this coun-
Try to be allowed 10 act in violation Of law
without interference by the constituted au
thorities.
threats of an Indian War the Consequence.
That is not an oyerstatement Of the
case. General Sheridsn's report 70 the
President shows that the country was threat
ened with an Indian war as direct conse
quence of this huge cattle and land mon
Opoly. The complaints Of the dissfected
Indians to the General show the condition
of things brought about bS these leases
ing Of the lands of their reservation, though
they had many loud complaints against the
agent and persons connected with the
agency in an official capacity. They stated
that when the leases we're made their
opposition was manifested whenever
consulted or opportunity offered
in the strongest terms. They had refused
10 sign them, and baC never accepted any
Of the lease money Pressure had been
brought TO bear upon them to gain their
consent from various directions, out they
had resisted in the belief that their interests
would suffer and serious iIjlry would be
the ultimate result From this began what
is termed their disahection, and since then
there has been in the tribe q conflict of opin
ion, one party grum5ling and complaining
about the leases. another sustaining the
agency policy. and still another ready to
sign away anything when the influences Of
the agency were exerted n that direction
for the merely temporary benefit they would |
receive from the small SUNS of money paid |
them semi-snnually by the eattlemen. Many |
of the Indians had located At various points |
on the reservation with the intention, doubt |
less, OF finally settling down permanently, !
and the Stone Calf element had mostly |
made their homes in the 2eighborhood of |
the old military csntonment snd on the |
north fork of the Canadian aud the Washi- |
ia; and this country was covered by the |
leases. With the leases there came q new |
population and vast herds of cattle that |
grazed from one end 30 the other Of their |
lands, only barred by the fences which d. |
vide the different leases They complained |
that their ponies were ssolen in large nam |
bers, their small bands of cattle absorbed, |
their small patches o. cultivated ground |
oyerrun and destroyed and their efo<ts to
establish homesteads frustrated i
General sheridzn,s Able Rsposk.
General Sheridsn's report Is very able
document and an honor to his sense of jus,
tice and night. 1t shows the wisdom of the
President in taking the rather unusual
couIse of asking the General of the Army
to go to the Far Wes, to personally lock
into and report apon what was then matter
of great anxiety to the authorities bere-she
threatened Indian war.
Fortunately the President and Secretary
Lamar mean to obey and execute the laws.
When the question arose how long time
was necessary to remove the cattle from the
Indian lands, that was left to General Shsr-
idan's Judgment, who was on the grour.d.
he said forty days were sufficient ard no
better authority than the General couIdbe got
on such question. So the Preside 1t stands
By Ais orders, and the cattle VIus. be re.
moved. The capitalists who took their