Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-05
UTES AND FIRE WATER
Some of the Evils Resulting From the
Combination.
Agent Day Sends a Very Peppery Re-
port to the Authorities in
Washington.

The Indian office Is finding 1t very diff
cult matter to prevent the sale OF liquor to
the Indians. The most difficult problem has
been presented in court decisions which de-
clare that Indians who have taken their
lands in severalty are citizens Of the United
States and that 1t is no longer contrary to
law to sell liquor to them. Two or three de-
cisions have already been made to that ef
feet, and the notice of Judge Edgerton of
South Dakota to the United States grand
jury to prevent no more indictments against
persons selling liquor to Indians on allotted
lands looks as ii the courts were going to
take the view of the case that restrictions
should be placed on Indian citizens. In Ie-
ports submitted by various Indian agents to
the commissioner of Indian affairs the fact
is pointed out that 1t is becoming very dini-
cult to prevent the sale of liquor to the In
dians. Not only en- account of the fact that
the courts have recognized Indians having
taken allotmentS as citizens, but for other
causes. The agent Of the Southern Utes IN
Colorado, expresses his opinion of the whs-
ky traffic and a noted chief in the following:
when the department realizes that 1
have a reservation with 2GO miles of border
and am subjected to the lawless deeds of
very tough class OF whites and MeXicanS
the task of regulating the evil of traffic in
villainous compounds called whisky can
easily be estimated. However, by offering
rewards which ! agree to pay out OF my
own funds, / have at least succeeded in
curbing the evil to a commendable extent
The standing reward is SIS, money to be
paid upon conviction"
Caustic Criticism by Agent Day.
This same agent, David F. Day. is rather
Independent and caustic in his remarks on
general features of the Ute agency. OF the
agricultural pursuits he says:
Realize that this has been an Indian
agency for eighteen years. and preceding
agents and farmers have never grown
bale of hay, pint Of seed or pound OF vege-
tables upon an agency farm. To be candid,
political agents and political farmers are
the crowning curse Of the Indian service.
stated that the yield would be light. 1t
will, but we have better stands and
greater yield than our white neighbors, and
this in the face of an unprecedented
drought. The Indian farmers labored dill
gently during the irrigating season, and IL
the honorable commissioner will take time
to figure upon the per capita issue Of ra-
tions at this agency, the fact Will be re-
vealed that in addition to doubt as to fu-
ture home, absence of instruction, want Of
implements and essentials. the Ute farmers
are not entirely unaccustomed to an empty
stomach during business hours.
ITO conclude farming here, with pos
sibly four exceptions, is a farce, for which
Congress alone is responsible"
Some Interesting Reading.
IT closing MS ratner peppery report,
Agent Day says:
LAS the honorable commissioner has or
dered facts and excluded rcse-colored re-
citals,' / have enieavored to- give them;
and, aside from what has been told under
appropriate headings, will say that the
agent, during his brief incumbency, has
been reported for frresularity,' and in
vestigated. He has discharged two farmers
to give them a chance TO learn something
about agriculture ana less about reporting
the agent; has violated the rules when bus
mess methods justified the breach; has an
enemy in about every white and Mexican
upon the border; has the lasting i'll will Of
all beef contractors, and has lost the esteem
of merchants who labor under the belief
that the government should pay 30 per cent
more than individuals for their commodi-
ties"
And egain:
II trust, in case / am not disturbed to
have the Indian problem solved at an
early date.
ITO the honorable commissioner and his
assistant George c. Armstrong, l am in
debted for advice, assistance and instruc-
tiers of a beneficial character. l realize
fully that congressional lethargy has ren-
dered this agency, so far as permanent ben
efits extend, the toughest proposition in the
Indian service, and feel indeed grateful for
the assistance extended under prevailing
conditions"
He closes by trusting that another season
will find conditions reversed, and the
blanket thrown aside for the plow and
branding iron.