Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-07-04
THE ALLOTMENT.

d6 A11O - IA GC \.
Last week the TELLER published
some comments on the interview re.
ported to have been had between Indian
Reuben and Secretary Noble at
Washington. The report Of the inter-
view appeared in the Reuiew, OF date
June %, which we had just read. We
had no consultation with anyone, and
wrote the article as denying the correct
ness of Reuben's reported statement
We made no particular reference to any
parties, and knew not what had induced
Reuben to visit Washington, at this late
date, after the law had been passed max.
ing provisions for the allotment of the
land Of the reservation to the Indians,
more than two years ago, and different
reports had come from Washington to
the effect that special commissioner or
agent would be sent from Washington
to the Nex Perez reservation land to
make the allotment to the Nez Perez
Indians. This statement had been made
at different times for more than year
and the expectation, not only OF tho
Indians, but Of the whites on the
reservation and in the vicinity, that this
allotment would be made aud nobody
had made, go far as We knew, any OBJ
lection thereto, either Indians or whites,
save Reuben and q very few Of his
strikers, hence We were prepared to
believe that these representations OF
Reuben to Secretary Noble we're not
true, and it seemed strange to US ttat
Reuben should be found at Washington,
for that purpose at this time, and our
inference was that he had been induced
to 60 there at the instance, not Of the
Indians, but from his own promptings
and the promptiugs Of some whites, who
had always been inimical to the settle.
ment Of the Indians in severalty, and
whose hostility had been revived at the
advent Of an agent sent hero few weeks
ago, With the os.ensible purpose Of hav.
Ing proper surveys made, and to have the
allotment completed during tho ensuing
year. To Us it seemed that the obiec,
Of these parties with Reuben was t.
defeat the allotment, and that they
learned that agent Monteith had an
bounced himself, on different occasions
during the several years past, AZ favor
ing this allotment. Their hostility ws
not against Monteith a. an agent only 9,
tar % that be would be likely to carr,
out, it agent, the instructions of tn
government in making this allotment q
soon as practicable, hence, when
became known that Monteith would b.
or had been appointed in that capacit,
they sought to make war upon hin
under preteuse that he was not suitabl
person to make this allotment. The
did not dare to make their objections I
the government against the allotmen
but knowing that Reuben dislike
Monteith and at the same time Was OF
posed to any allotment, madc him the
agent, thinking that BY having Reube
make these representations to Washin,
Ton, At this late day, under preteuse {
hostility to Moutei.b, they could accom-
plish the delay and ultimate defeat {
this allotment, which had been provide
for fully BY the government. Since on
publication Of last week we have receive
con6rmatory evidence that our suspicios
were correct, that evidence, il it becom
necessary, We shall give quite fully
the public, meantime We shall be open
any and oil evidence 10 the contrary th
is presented to US. The public know
that We are and have been for yea
favorable to this allotment, both for Il
good Of the Indians and for the good
the whites 10 this section.