The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-05

like su%pernuous fat. He spoke very
guardedly Of the conditions at the
agency he had just left. stating posi-
lively, however, that there was no fear
of an outbreak, and added that just be-
fore he had left the agency he had had
a talk with the agent. who e~nJolned
him to so report to all who might
ask.
In the course of conversation he ad-
mitted that everything was not going
as well as II might at the reservation.
The Indians were making a great many
complaints and this, in spite OF the fact
that the present agent treated them
better thar any other agent ever there.
This statement he later qualified or ex-
planned by the remark that the present
agent was not conversant with the In
dian character: one of them might
come to n agency Office and demand
a long list of articles, and he was pref
ty sure to get them: half al hou later
his daughter might appear with a de-
mand for identically the same articles
and h would get them also. by which
deal the one family would get "a double
issue while another familv might be
entirely deprived of things needed. He
said this was not the fault, but the mis-
fortune, Of the agent.
Richard San~derville. the half-breed.
an Interview with whom appeared in
lflttt utrItNiDtb ~ lev ia hkps n
present n asked IL the stories re-
garding the beef contract and its in
Justice to the Indians were not true.
and Mr.. Hazlett admitted that IL was
entirely so, but thought that the agent
was not at fault, as he did not under
stand such matters. Both Sanderv.ile
and Hazlett agreed tina there was a
shortage on the beef rations issued and
the latter stated that he believed the
root OF the whole trouble was hat the
Indians thought they were not getting
enough food. He could not say from
personal knowledge what they got. but
many Of them had said they were get
ting but three pounds Of beef per week,
where they should have seven by the
government regulations. Both agreed
that IL was an impossibility to keep
cattle out Of the reservation. The stock
of outsiders had always strayed into
the reservation or had been driven into
II. and while the territory was so great
outside. cattle always would be grazing
there. Some one had suggested that
the reservation be fenced. but these
two residents laughed at the idea and
said a fence would be about as useful
to keep cowboys gu as scarecrows
would.
SO in spite Of the repeated assertions
of interested parties hat everything IL
all right on the reservation, (. is evi.
| utUl lIOIh ~ VI PtOIit wiz
live there and who have interests there
and who, II not themselves wards OF
Uncle Sam. are closely related 20 such
wards. that everything is not all right
that some things are radically wrong
and unless something Is lone TO righI
them. the present dissatisfaction I,
likely 10 grow into something worse by
springtime. That such wrongs exis
and such bitter feelings prevail is fur
ther attested by the recent presence ~
George Bird Grinneil at the agency
He is a self-constituted champion o
these people and a very jealous one
perhaps. but II Is hardly probable ths
he would nah a special trip from New
York 10 investigate their grievance
unless there was some foundation for
belief that they existed. The fact re
mains hat there is trouble at tn
Biackfeet agency n hat an Indiai
with a grievance towards the whites !
not the safest Of neighbors.