The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-09

These letters were written to s. NJ
] Miller, Denver, Colo, and to Messrs.
/ Iyton, Mease and McAndrews. en-
ployed in various capacities on the Tin
/ tab reservation The last of these letters
was addressed to MytOn. Mease Mean
/ drews and Miller with an explanatory
/ note that a copy was going TO each.
In this letter, Harper writes:
/ Inc whole situation must rest with
| you boys. If you cannot prevent Timms
! or any other party from securing the
/ lease our plans fail. As final statement
/ OF cur understanding will say:
! First it looks as If a permit viii be
granted Timms the fore part of this week
4 and he viii be given thirty days in which
/ 10 go on the reservation to secure the
[ lease His priority of application pre-
/ cludes our heading him off. Nyton Will
! undoubtedly be instructed to call neces-
| sary council. The sooner it is done the
( sooner viii the chance come for others
! to act.
Second. 1t will devolve upon you boys
TO see that he is not successful. 1t will
be difficult task, but must be done so
as not to arouse suspicion.
Third After Timms gets through, If
he is unsuccessful, then our chance will
Fourth. We have the strongest or
ganiZatiOn here and will continue TO have
| II. We viii make no combina tons for
We can push the matter through alone
Fnally. Listen to nothing from Tho
man or Timms any of their gang or
any other interests We depend upon
you. Each and all to stand or fail to-
gether. With such concerted action we
(signeO. "E. R. HARPER"
Senator Kearns' Opinion.
Other letters were upon these lines and
lndlcated conspiracy among employees
IN the service TO secure the Uintah lease
It was officially announced by the in
terror department today that no steps
toward granting Of the lease would be
taken untI after receipt by the senate
OF the documents called for in resolu-
tons of Senator Kearns and Stewart.
As the terms of the Kearns resolution
calls Tor Information on that specific
subject, nar ers in that case will be the
first prepare by Secretary Hitchcock
Mr. Stewards resolution called for in
formation not only in Uintah matter but
for other leases which may be contem-
plated and that viii take much longer to
get together.
Affidavits which were mailed by Rep
resentative Sutherland have not vet ar
rived. but as they are expected here
hourly they viii undoubtedly be included
in the papers, etc, which the secretary
will send to the senate.
Senator Kearns in discussing the mat
ter said:
"A new phase of this case suggests it.
self to me which may be worth consid-
GRAFTON. II II is thu fact that II the con-
seT1t OF tire Indians was obtained to this
proposluOn II becomes at once apparent
| that the Indians ha e no use for the
. lands. II the Indians cannot use this land
[ think il should revert to the general
4 government.
There is grave question in my mind
as 10 the right Indians have TO barter
away either by sale or by treaty or by
lease. these lands. I maintain that they
have no title to them, being merely ten
ants by courtesy of the United States
When the lands were set aside for the
Indians the area was based upon the ne
cessity Of the Indians, as L under
stand il.
Now if this area is too great. and the
Indians wish to lease it, l think it is
time for the government to step in and
give it to homeseekers."