The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-08
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.

Democratic Assertions.
To the Voters of Montana:
1t has come to my attention that
some of the opposition speakers and
newspapers in the state have been
seeking to make political capital over
the provision in the bill passed at the
last session OF congress opening up to
settlement the Flathead reservation,
which provides tor the sale of the tim
Der to the highest bidder. They have
most %unjustly made the assertion that
these lands should have been opened
to entry under the stone and timber
act and that because this was not
done | vas to be censured. The in
situation has been also made in this
connection that the sale OF the Flat
head Indians timber to the highest
bidder was for the benefit OF ''the cor
porations." AS a matter of fairness
l submit the following statement OF
the actual facts in the case:
Instead of a mlllion acres of timber
lands IN the reservation, accord
ing to the best data obtainable from
the Indian bureau and from parties
thoroughly acquainted with conditions
there, there is not to exceed two town
ships of merchantable saw timber on
the whole reservation. Under the ex-
press terms of the treaty made with
these Indians by Governor Stevens in
1855 the faith of the United States
government was pledged that all the
lands on the reservation Was the prop
erty OF the Indians. There is and was
no law Or way by which timber be-
longing to these Indians could be
given TO white men, or by which the
provisions OF the timber and stone
act could be made applicable to In
dian timber lands. No law or act OF
congress could any more divest them
of their title to their property without
payment than you could the property
of a white nan
By the provisions OF the bill all
agricultural and grazing lands are ap-
praised as to value by a commission
and opened to settlement by qualified
homestead settlers on payment in in
stallments to ..4e Indians OF the ap-
praised value.
1A0 SIudll plOpOl llOA vi CAA1UCA
lands are estimated in 40-acre tracts
and the secretary OF the interior au-
thorized to sell the timber to the high
est bidder.
In all fairness, what else could have
been done with the timber belonging
to these Indians?
Would it have been the fair thing to
have sold the Indians timber to the
lowest bidder!
The money so received from the
sale Of both farming and timber lands
goes to the I%nuians.
Every Indian reservation recently
opened to settlement by the govern
ment, that contains timber lands, pro-
vides for the sale of the timber under
the same provisions as contained in
the Flathead bill. In keeping faith
with the Indians, how else could it
be done?
The section relating to the disposal
of the timber was written at the in
stance of the Indian bureau, who safe
guard the rights of the Indians in
every way possible.
Notwithstanding the criticism now
being made by certain gentlemen and
partisan newspapers for political eff
feet in the present campaign, l have
the personal satisfaction OF knowing
that when the Flathead bill had
passed congress, both President
Roosevelt and the commissioner OF
Indian affairs personally compliment
ed me on the fact that it was n of
the most just and equitable Indian
measures that had been enacted into
law.
/ know the old adage that all things
are counted fair in politics, but I yet
labor under the belief that it is usu-
ally the best in the end to play the
game square and honest, in politics
as in the business affairs of life, and
that although temporary success may
sometimes be attained by falsehood
and Misrepresentation, in the long
run it means disaster to the parties
responsible.
Yours very truly,
Jos M. DIXON