The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-24
ALL SAME M'K|NLEY'
Chief Aeneas' Conception of His
Power and Authority.
HE WARNS Mr.. HESS OFF
Mr.. Hess, on the Other Hand. Warns the
Big Chief to Pull in His Horns
or He vii Send the Sheriff
After Him.

Missoula, Aug. 23.-Deputy County
Treasurer Hess, who Is collecting the
disputed personal property taxes on the
reservation, came down from Roman
last night and returned this morning
after a brief conference with County
Treasurer Cave and County Attorney
Murray. He l. making good progress
with the collection of taxes and has
had no trouble with any of those who
were assessed since the visit of Under
Sheriff Curran last week. which result
ed in the prompt payment at that time
of all the taxes that had been in dis
pute up to that date. The added penal
ties for the costs of the sheriff and the
collector are rather heavy and those
who find that they are compelled To
pay, do not care to make the expense
any heavier than necessary.
Mr.. Hess says that the reservation IS
very dry this summer and that thunder
storms are frequent i'm the hills. Sew
eral fires have been started by the
lightning this month I'm the timber and
they are spreading rapidly. one house
was struck by lightning and one man
has been slightly injured. A stock of
grain was set on fire in another place
by the lightning, and il H. a common
occurrence during the evening TO see
"A bolt of lightning strike in the timber
and a blaze start Immediately after
ward. Mr.. Hess is of the opinion that
the fires at the head of Jocko have been
started in this manner
Messrs. Hess and Woodwork had a
call the other day from Chief Aeneas
Paul, who came TO Ronan with about 80
bucks and demanded an interview. At
first Mr.. Hess refused to talk with the
chief at all, as he was satisfied that the
purpose of the visit was to drive him
from the reserve. The Indians were 50
persistent, however, thai the interview
was finally granted. Bill Irvine acting
as Interpreter. Chief Aeneas Paul
would not talk till VIII Woodwork,
Mr.. Hess assistant. was sent for. When
VIII came the chief proposed to lay
down the law To the intruders. lie told
them that all that valley belonged 10
him; that the government IA given II
Ia him. that he was the chief all same
Mckinney" h a all these braves were
his children, and hat the intruders
must not round up the cattle of his chill
dren or collect taxes from them. As
he referred To Mckinley. he pointed to
an old campaign button, bearing the
of the president, which he wore
pinned to his coat.
During all this tan the bucks were
drawn up i'm a circle. in the center Of
which sa- the chief and the two in
truders. When the chief had concluded
his long discourse about his possessions.
his people. his domain and his author
ity, Mr.. Hess said TO the Interpreter
What ] want to tell that old Indian
Is that he may go to b.. You needn't
use that language, but tell him some
thing that means the same thing. Tell
him that in town all Of the little chill
dren wear those Mckinley buttons. un-
less they are silver advocates, and that
he needn't point to it SO proudly. Tel
nm mat this Is not his country. but
that II belongs to the government at
Washington. Tell him that there is an
agent on the reservation to whom he
may apply for aid and who viii zeal
with me. You tell him that the sheriff
viii be here in the morning and that if
he makes any trouble he win De ar
rested"
That night Under Sheriff Curran
came in TO attend to the sloane and
Clairmont cases, and when CHIEF
Aeneas saw him he thought that IL was
all off with him. From that day ne did
not say a word. The collection is coins
on quietly and the work will soon he
finished Considerable revenue will he
added TO the County's income by this
collection, and IL is not likely thai here
will ever be another year in whi.l the
tax l. resisted.