The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-03
INDIANS WERE
SURLY AT FIRST
Major Mclaughliu's Experience
in Treating With the Utes.
HAD TO WIN FRIENDSHIP
MADE THEM PROMISE NOT TO
MODEST THE SURVEYORS.

'One Of the greatest difficulties had
zvith the Indians" said Major James
Mclaughlin at the Knutsford yesteT-
day. was to win their confidence and
friendship. When they first learned
that I was sent by the government to
make a treaty for their lands on the
Uintah reservation they were inclined
TO be surly. They had cherished the
belief that the lands belonged TO them
and that they could not be taken away.
They did not take kindly to the fact,
too, that they We're not consulted be-
fore congress passed the act for the
allotment of the lands.
Contrary to. the general belief my
work closes the incident and there re-
mains nothing more now excepting to
throw the lands open to the public
The surveyors will 90 in there and di-
vide off the allotmeuts. / had some diff
fcVlty impressing the Indians with the
fact that they must not modest these
men when they come. had to make
them understand that behind these men
is the strong arm Of the government
which sends them and that If they
were interfered with il would anger the
government which 1 explained 10 them
has more soldiers than there are blades
of grass.
Had to Impress Indians.
Il had to impress this upon them sew
eTal times as they were sore and natur-
ally inclined to be surly. I come with
the eyes and the ears and the mouth of
the great. white father who wants to
be your friend I told them He has
sent me that you can pick out the best
lands. These men viii mark off the
places which will be yours and your
children'S and your children's children,
When / made them understand L
was their friend they We're very cour-
teous to me. The thing was TO win
their confidence but ! was afraid the
surveyors would have trouble with
them and I told them several times
that they must not modest them. They
bowed TO the inevitable and gave me
their friendship. They Will not be con-
fined to any particular locality as is
generally supposed but can take allOt-
ments anywhere on the reserva ton.
While they have the pick of the land
they generally prefer to stay together.
There has also been an impression that
they can pick out an allotment any
where in Utah but this can not be done
under this act.
Keep Indians Within Boundaries.
'It is better to keep them within the
boundaries Of the reservation as il is
easier to keep track of them. While
they receive certain anotments any
where they choose, the grazing grounds
are staked off and shared in common
1t gives them the pick OF the agricultur-
al land and in this respect they are well
provided for. They soon came to see
that there was nothing to be gained
by holding off and when they under
stood this they began to come in and
sign the treaty.
Major McLaUghlin's long experience
III this line of work has made him very
successful in dealing with the Indians.
The work requires patience. gentleness
and frmness and these are qualities
which he seems TO possess to a marked
degree. Major Mclaughlin is man of
about medium height with white hair
and mUstache. His manner is ex-
tremely courteous and there is about
him a personal magnetism that imme-
diately wins the confidence and friend
ship Of those ne meets.