New-York tribune., 1906-04-14
NEW WEAPON.
Use Lac and Police to Beat OREGON
StOckmen.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. April 1S.-It is not often that the
Indians are accused OF holding up their paleface
neighbors by the aid OF law and duly commis-
stoned police. Scalping knives, tomahawks. war
paint, feathers and whoops are their recognized
weapons, and 10 have their alleged victims COM
planning 10 the President that the red men have
adopted the white mems methods and have
beaten them TO standstiu their own ground
is novel.
Senator Fulton Of Oregon called at the White
House this morning to lay the complaint before
the President and the latter promised to see
what could be done for the unfortunate victims
Of aboriginal duplicity and power. The stock
men OF Oregon are the persons with the kick"
For many years they have been driving their
cattle and sheep from the lowlands to the noun
tains in the spring and from the mountains TO
the lowlands in the fall and no one ever objected
at least, not very strongly-to the half yearly
migration They have always driven their
herds across the Umatilla Reservation in going
from winter to summer ranges. and vice versa
and beyond the few acres Of corn or wheat that
the animals consumed or trampled over in
transit no damage was done. The reservation
Is fifteen miles wide and going across 1t saved
the herders a trip OF about one hundred miles.
This year the Indians have come forward
with demand for 81 a head for every sheep and
steer that is driven across their reservation"
explained Senator Fulton, after his talk with
the President 'It is simply a hod-up. for a
sheep out in that country is worth only about
81 80. and to talk about paying 81 for every
time IL is moved across the reservation is out
Of the question"
Why don't the cattle men simply drive across
and let the Indians kick, if they want to?" asked
some one in the anteroom.
Because they don't dare do it, replied Sen
atOr Fulton, with laugh. why, those Indians
have their regular police force, and they'd bring
gr,s,r dol
anything Of that sort tried. The President
thinks that he can adjust the matter satsfac-
toriIy and sincerely hooe he can, for II is an
item OF the greatest Importance to the stock
men. They are obliged TO move a quarter of a
million sheep alone from winter rendezvous to
summer range every spring, and back again in
the fall"
At the Office of Francis z. Leupp, Indian Com
missioner, quite different view Of the case is
taken.
THAT reservation belongs 10 the Indians" said
Mr. Leupp, "and they have a right to prevent
sheep men and cattle from driving their
stock across it, if they disposed. 1t is
lust the same though some one wanted TO
walk over the flower beds in your front door
ward You tell the applicant that II is worth 81
or So TO you 70 have your geraniums destroyed
and that ends il. The man does not have to pay
the price If he does not want to- Neither do
the stOckmen have TO pay the Indians doLar
head for every animal they want TO take across
the Umatilla Reservation"
Mr. Ieupp said that the bureau would at
tempt 10 obtain an adjustment Of the trouble as
soon as possible. 1t is quite probable that
.powwov" Will be held, and il is believed that
the result OF the big talk" will be that the IN
dians VIII agree TO accept reduction from Ihelr
first demand.