The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-23
IS PREPARING THE WORK
Commissioners Will Again Treat
With the Flatheads.
OPPOSED TO THE OPENING
The Big Cattle Owners Object to Having
Their Ranges Destroyed-The In
dams Fear They viii Be
Again Deceived.

Missoula, Sept. 22.-Hon. ]. H. Nc
Nelly of Evansville, Ind, one of the
commissioners appointed to confer with
the Indians on the Flathead reserva-
ton, is now at the Jocko agency, pre-
pairing for the work. The other COM
missioners, Messrs Barge and Hoyt,
are in the Yakima country and are not
expected here for some time. These
commissioners are the ones who re-
Gently closed the treaty with the
Crows. by which a portion of their res
ervation was ceded to the United
States There is little or no change. as
far as can be learned, in the sentiment
of the Indians on the Flathead reserva-
ton regarding the cession of their lands
to the federal government. The cattle
owners who use the vast ranges of the
reservation are naturally opposed to the
opening of their splendid ranges for
settlement, and their opposition seems
to influence the Indians who have a
voice in the question. 1t is likely, how
ever, that another conference will soon
be arranged at which the matter will
again be presented to the Indians and
every effort made to induce them to
sign treaty that will open at least a
The situation on the Flathead reser-
walton is somewhat complicated on ac-
count of reasons that have already
been given in the Standard. Chief
among these is the fact that the In
dams have been deceived once by a
similar commission and are not willing
to receive the worst of it again. 1t will
be remembered that the Indians, to the
number of about 1900, assembled at st.
Ignatius mission not so very long ago to
meet by appointment with Professor
Barge, who is still a member of the
commission. They kept their appoint
ment, but the commissioners did not
show up, nor did they send any mes
sage whatever. This treatment was dis
pleasing to the Indians and it is now
difficult to talk with them on this sub
ject. They do not wish to be humit-
ated a second time. If there were only
somebody In whom they have conf
dence who could present the matter to
them in a proper light it might be
easier to treat with them. The com
missioners have never explained to the
Indians why the appointment referred
to was not kept Professor Barge told
the agent that he missed train. The
Indians, however, waited two or three
days for him and he might have reach
ed them on a later train, or at least
sent them some message.
The importance or opening the resef-
walton is great 1t is a matter in which
Missoula ought to take an active In
terest. There are few men in the city
who could do more with the Indians
than all of the commissioners that can
be sent out here from the East in a
generation. This is because they I'M
derstand the Indians better and be-
cause the Indians have some confidence
in them If delegation of these men
who are known to the Indians were
sent out to the reservation it is certain
that the reds would at least listen to
them In the limits of the reservation
is a vast area of land that would form
most important tributary country to
Missoula. 1t would add greatly to the
business here and would materially in
crease the output of the country, both
as to agriculture and stock raising. The
question is one that should be investi-
gated and in regard to which some
local action should be taken.