The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-17
VERNAL FOLKS
ARE ALL ALIVE
Are Making Great Fight Against
That Mineral Lease.
WIRES ARE KEPT VERY WARM
INDIAN CHIEF SAYS HIS PEOPLE
DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
snecIal 10 The HeraIdl

fHlitEia- 10 ne ElefdlQt
Vernal. Utah. Dec. 16.-In answer to
a telegram received from Congressman
/ Sutherland stating that. in view of
the friendly attitude Of the Indian COM
! missioner. who is now there. and Sec
rotary Hitchcock of the interior depart
ment toward the mineral lease Of the
Uintah reservation, il would be ad-
visable to get afidavits from the IN
dians themselves. State Senator
Bennion and others yesterday
wired reply setting forth the
difficulties in the way of obtaining
these papers, which was in effect that
Agent Myt0n has it in his power to
effeetually block any move of this kind,
as his authority over the reservation
and the Indians is supreme. In order
10 get these afid-vits, it would be
necessary to either go on the reserva-
ton or have the Indians come out The
latter the agent effectually prevents,
while with the former the results would
be uncertain owing TO the tact that
the Indians have beef told so many
stories that they DO not know what 10
believe and would be very chary OF
signing any kind of ID paper. no matter
what its purport, for fear Of being
trieked.
Have Wired Governor Wells.
The congressional delegation has been
wired. as has also Governor Wells. ask
ing that they use their efforts to have
the matter postponed until after the
holidays and 10 the end that an in
vestgation may be ordered by the de-
partment, to be conducted at Fort
Duchesne, instead of White Rocks.
Governor Wells was also cOmmuni-
Gated with by letter this morning. in
which the matter was fully set forth.
and suggesting that in case the depart
ment did not favOrably consider the
appointment Of an independent com
mission, that he use his efforts to have
the matter delayed until one at least
OF the congressional delegation could
personally visit the reservation and in
vestigate the case. which could be done
during the holidays
A telegram was received here thfa
morning by a party working in the in
teTeSts Of the lease asking for infOrma-
ton regarding the movement to OBJ
tain afiidavits and requesting that he
communicate with White Rocks. which
tends TO confirm the impression which
already eXistS here that Agent Myton
is personally interested in the success
OF the lease; also Charley Chaveneux.
chief of the Uncom2ahgres. who claims
the same right by treaty for his tripe
as the Uintahs on the reservation and
stated emphatically that he knows that
the great majority of both tribes knew
absolutely nothing of the council until
days after it was over. This same In
dian, however, had an inkling that
something Of the kind was on foot,
ana had requested John McAndrews.
formerly an employee of the reservation. /
and one in whom the Indians reoose
great confidence, 10 attend the council
with him in the interests of the In
dians, should one be held McAndrews
consented. but the council was held in
such a manner that it was over before
ChaveneuN was aware Of it, and the
principals were on their way to Wash
ington
Indians Were Lied To.
Cha eneux asserts that the Indians
who were at the council were told that
the lessees were government officials |
working in the interests of the Indians |
themse YES esid that they We're working
10 prevent the MOrmOus from stealing
their lands, which they were making |
desperate efforis to do, having men in /
Washington for that purpose, and
which could only be prevented by doing /
as they wished them to regarding the |
lease.
The denial OF Agent Myton that the /
stories printed in the salt Lake papers !
to the effect that he secured the ap-
pOintme1t of one Frost as agency I
trader. which was later revoked in IA I
voy Of ". P. Coltharp, is considered |
rather crude, in view of the fact that /
MI Frost expected letters in Vernal I
to the effect that he would receive the I
appointment through the Endorsement /
Of Agent MytOp. The action OF Sen /
atOr Kedrns after his return from Eu, /
rope. is history. After learning how /
matters stood. he at once wired Col |
tharp that he would get the appoint \
ment no matter what has been done. /
Immediately after this came a tele- 1
gram from Myton to C0ltharp stating 4
that he had secured his appointment |
and TO forward his papers at once. {
Frost has received the same communi- /
cation before from Myton and was /
resting under the impression that he
was safe. II is the consensus of Opin-
ion here that Agent Myton is opposed /
10 any moves looking to the opening OF
the reservation and is secretly working
10 perpetuate the federal jobs that de-
pend upon the present conditions, and
Tor this reason strong effort is soing
10 be Tade by a commission of men
Who will deal fairly with the indians,
Dut will work honestly for the opening
IF the reservation