Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-06
TOO SMART ny HALF.

Governor West did the proper thing
in forwarding to Washington the Inn
pudont dispatch received from Indian
Agent David Day. The reading Of
Day's message will show, better than
the Governor can state Z, IN serious
and dignifed language, Just what kihd
OF an official the present Indian ageut
IA. aud the character OF his methods.
Judged out by his own mouth, the
Washington authorities must realize
that he IL utterly incompetent for tho
official position he has been allowed TO
OH.
We have no knowledge Of MI
Day personally. He may be very
genial gentleman; In fact might DO q
very funny man under some circum-
stances. But we submit that II his
telegram TO the Governor Of U'hh
were intended to DO humorous he IL
too much Of clown TO be
entrusled with Interests Of such
grave Importance ~ those con
n,o,ed with the lawloss occupancy Of
San Juan county by the Ules. Jok'
ing Of that kind In the presence OF
danger which threatens the lives OF
man. women and children is not only
unbscomlng the dignity Of an Official
representative Of the government, Out
ia brutal In its cruelty. II MI Days
message is TO be- regarded aa other 'hah
n speclea Of bulioonery, then II IL In
,olence 10 an extreme degree, sueh nv
should not be tolerated In Official cir
Giles. Gin either view OF the case, he
Ia notpn individual on whom reliance
Ia TO DC placed In such crisis.
Agent Day says he viii be at Mon
tieello on MONDAY, to meet a represon'
tAtive Of the Governor. What good
could DO accomplished by such n meet
ing does not appear at present. The
agent may regard himself AZ sort OF
royal peace commissioner, designated to
settle the terms Of San Juan'a oceu.
uauoy by Ute warriors; for he does not
seem 10 realize yet that the Southern
IJtes must retire from this Territory,
Evidently his idea Ia 10 have lh'
Indians remain; and while, out o
connlderanon tor the settlers, th'
Governor may have representative
nj Monticello on the day named,
would appear 10 be breach OF oiicia
proprisly 10 hold any such con
ference m the agent proposes. MI. DA
has no official right TO engage In sue
meeting. He knows the lndians AZ
unlAwiuliy OIL their reservation, aud
IL his duty TO have them returned
once, and to request tho aid OF troop
II necessary, to effect the return. II
IL not author to hold conference
here and there, and by the delay th'
occasloned encourage the Indians
their imposition on this settlers, an
render the situation more critical.
We cannot speak for the Governor
as to what methods he will pursue
this controversy. We believe, how
ever that n he continues In the couf'
already followed by him, and iurth'
indicated by his reference Of Mr. Day
message TO the secretary OF the lntefio
Of conducting all negotiations throug
the proper official channel ami sIanJ
ing upon the law AMI the rights Of q
people 10 the case, without consentir
to blcker or parley with persons wi
arc themselves outside OF their legil
mate sphere, he will have the unl
vlded support OF ell iair'minded peopI
Certainly the people Of san Juan W
not desire to submit the aiJudioaIll
OF their affairs to the person who 10
the impairment letter received by q
Governor and signed by David d.
az Indian agent He Is too smart
half 10 be trusted In such matters.