The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-26
THE SHEEP MEN ARE MAD.

JcI 6upYDTL "luOut any SLo" VI SAsAAoA
asm.
THE SHEEP MEN ARE MAD.
Carter Fooled Them First and Neglected
Their Interests Afterward.
There are two reasons of prime import
ance which have induced the sheep men of
Yellowstone county to lose any faith which
may have existed in Congressman Carriers
promises. A word only is necessary to ex-
plain the first. Last year when Carter
made his campaign he promised magnifi-
cent results to the wool interests if the re-
publicans assumed full control of the
general government. He predicted prices
for wool never heard of. and in his very
we'll known oily way intimated that his
election with that of Harrison meant untold
wealth to the sheep men of oil sections of
Montana 1t is a matter of regret that not
only the republicans but many democrats,
among the sheep men. put good deal OF
faith in the fattering congressman's
prophecies. Then to their regret. but to
their subsequent wisdom, they voted for HIM
nd the result is perhaps the most beautiful
picture of human credulity ever known
in this end of the state.
The highest price paid for wool
in Billings this year ia seventeen cents,
while some has been sold for fourteen cents,
and the rest cannot be sold at all This
means not only this years clip but great
part of last years which was held over in
expectancy of the wonderful rise predicted
by Mr.. Carter. For some unexplained rea-
son the rise in price never came and now
the sheep men are wishing that their sales
of last years clip had been made last year.
Perhaps their views on this phase OF the
wool question may be best understood by a
remark from we'll known republican wool
grower. He said to me: IF ever do any
thing but smile at politicians promises
hereafter l want to be pinned to stake and
die there. have been fooled many times
but the last is enough for me. am good
republican but politics and business are two
different matters. We have had a year of
Mr.. Carter and the republican government
fore his election. That settles the question
of my voting for him this fall"
Now to an explanation OF the Overshad-
owing issue in Yellowstone county SO far as
the sheep men are concerned. On the south
stretching from Park to Custer counties
Yellowstone is bounded by the great Grow
reservation, stretch of country larger than
most counties of the state and containing
thousands of acres inhabited by about $500
Grow Indians who live for the most part
near the agency. over which Major M. T.
Wymau presides. The interest of the In
dams II. the reservation merely amounts to
what they can get out of the whites. In
this respect they have been rather fortunate
because of the advantages which accrue to
the wealthy cattle owners through favors to
the Crows. In years gone by the sheep men
have been allowed to run their flocks on the
reservation, but recently they have been
driven off through the intervention of the
cattle men. This has been accomplished
by influence with tho pow RS at Washing
ton and by working the chiefs of the Grow
tribe. A few. big, cattle firms have the
monopoly. The firm of Paul McCor-
mick l. Co.. of which Il. G. Power
is not only the company but the entire firm
run their cattle thirty miles on the Yellow
stone. thirty miles on the Big Horn and
thirty miles on the Custer road. The O. z.
company, of Chicago, have range of forty
miles square, and Nelson Storey, of Boze-
man and others, control large tracts. For
this privilege they pay fifty cents head.
The sheep men had been on the reservation
for several years, paying each year, and one
man had permit direct from the depart
+. Williamson, the former agent. But the
cattle men wanted everything, even when
their interests were in no danger of suffer
ing. Tom Power. in the interest of himself
and his friend Mccormick, who is the most
unpopular man in Eastern Montana, used
All MS lnuuouCe Nv VdouAAlkVOAA W AoSS
the sheep men driven off the reservation
In this work he was assisted by hirelings
sent to Washington by the other cattle
monopolists. On the other hand
Nels Storey secured the fayol
of the Indians through da terinl
their old chief plentycoues. The Indians,
at the instigation of their chief, made q
protest against the sheep men, and through
their efforts and those of Power the de.
sired result was effected. An order finally
came ordering all sheep men to leave the
reservation. The gross injustice of this
best he measured by facts and figures. To
begin with, let US compare the benefits OF
the two industries to the business men and
the people of Billings and vicinity. The
cattle owners are for the most part wealthy
men who live in outside cities and have no
interest whatever i'll the community ex-
cept to get away with all the money within
reach and spend it at other points. They
even buy their provisions in St. Paul and
Chicago. which are shipped by the carload
to their men.
They do not leave dollar in the town il
they can prevent it. Their business lasts
about four months in the year and the,
employ three men to 1000 head of cattl,
paying him 40 month. As there are only
about 1900 head of cattle on the rang
the industry is Of small importance so fa,
as the business men of Billing are con
cerned.
Now on the other hand the sheep owner
are residents of the county. interested i,
it's prosperity and alive to its interests
They spend their money in Billings wher
they purchase their provisions and thu
contribute very large part of the town
trade. The industry lasts all the year an
for 1000 sheep seven men are employed a
$40 month. As there were over 500
head of sheep on the range this year it ma
rea lilly be seen where the money come
from. Then again the wool clip bring
more money to the town 30 in all respect
the benefits to Yellowstone county from Ii
wool industry are far greater tina
those coming from the cattle men. Th
merchants of Billings are naturally first I
recognize this and they were among Ii
first to cali on Congressman Carter to rem
edy the evil. They protested in every va
against the outrage of driving the shee
men of. IA may be imagined, the anger
the sheep men knew no bounds. Why the
should be Disseminated against by the GEL
eral government in favor of cattlemen WI
beyond their understanding until the
learned that it was the work Of infuenti
Montanians and others at Washington
Not only have they been compelled to lea,
the reservation but they have been fore.
to submit to various petty outrages. WIS
sheep are driven aeross the reservation Il
owners are oompsllsd to pay nix cents
head and drive the sheep i've miles a da
IN some eases . enforcement