Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-07-23
AGENT MONTEITH AGAIN.
What Was Thought Of his Ap.
pOintment Four Years Ago.
[FRoN THE NEE Perez NEWS March
9th. 1921

EDITOR NEws:-Knowing the sch olarly
and philosophical interest you feel in
all that pertains to the advancement of
the Neg Perez Indians, I think you must
admit. that is if you know the facts
involved, that the change of Indian
agents from Mr.. Warner to Mr.. Mon
teith will not be very much to the
advantage of the Indians. You are
usually outspoken in expressing opin-
ions on subjects of local interest, as
general thing, but am afraid that the
fear of offending the Church influence"
In Lewiston, has closed your lips in
this case. In every community there
are men whose opinions carry weight
with the general public they are looked
upon as representative men through
whom the mass of the people may
safely think and act. In this country
editors are tacitly acknowledged to be
proper spokesman for the people, and
this ia very true Of Lewiston. In GER
tain sense you are experts on public
opinion, and when your readers find
out that subject of great interest to
the people, like the change of Indian
agents, which may affect matters OF
life and death in the course of time, is
not commented on by our spokesman,
we, your readers, have grievance
against you and they put it down to
some influence which you have not the
independence to stand up against, and
1t has this result, that your honest
thoughts on other subjects do not COM
mand that degree of respect from the
people to which they are entitled.
When our appointed spokesman fail us
by keeping silent, some one must step
forward from the ranks AMI give vote.
to the wishes or the thoughts of the
people if they are to be heard at all
and for one, will do my part to assert
that Mr.. Monteith is not a proper per-
son to fill such a responsible position at
that OF Indian agent.
1t is well knowp that Mr.. Warner,
the present efficient agent, is DESTROYS
of giving up his position, and that the
Presbyterian Board of Missions has
nominated to President Arthur the
name of G. L. Monteth as his successor.
Now in the first place l would like t.
ask the public what business has the
Presbyterian Board of Missions got to
do with the appointment of an Indau
agent? In the second place l would
ask what special fitness has Mr.. Monteitl
ever displayed that he should be APP
pointed to such responsible position
as that of Indian agent -? Is ii becaus.
he is Presbyterian or because he it
the son of his father or because his
brother was formerly agent at Lapwai
With all due reverence for the memory
of good man, will say in the public
interest that the late ]. b. Mon,eitl
was incompetent as an Indian agent
be was guilty Of acis OF bIgotry ant
and made aliens of his own race. Foi
further particulars of these events | viii
submit to your readers next week
come extracts from a speech delivered
before the House of Representative
May End, 1878, by Hon. S. S. Fem, o
Mt. Idaho, which will prove that from
the time the late ]. B. Monteith wa
appointed agent. the Indians under hi,
charge were dissatisfied and reckless
and the name of Monteith is unpopula
among the Indians to-day.
But it would be silly to hold Mr.
Monteth responsible for the actions o
his brother, and would not hold hin
so, but what is the use of appointing
man as Indian agent whose name il
received by the Indians with terror
AS am told the Indians held counci
short time ago on this subject an,
took vote which proved that the.
were opposed to any Change, they bein
anxious to live under the charge of Mr.
Warner who has been the guide
philosopher and friend" of the tribe.
l ask With nc, other motive than +
zee practical man appointed agent
Mr.. Warner resigns What exper
fence has Mr.. Monteith had witt
Indians, except few weeks experlenc
when he acted as his brothers. clerk
Does he understand the Indian charac
ter Has he got the qualifications AM
experience that Fl him for the delicat
duty of controlling a strange race sue
cessfully? Are the dnties of an Indial
agent of such simple routine that
gentleman of Mr.. Monteith's we
known business incapscity can sue
cessfnlly perform them? If that is tb
case Mr.. Ed,r Re- Indian agencies ha
better be dom with and leave til
Indians alone.
In conclusion, I will say this, ths
there is not business man in Lewislo