The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-17
AWAITS CALL FOR AID.
Government Cannot Act in
Trouble Until Requested.
NO ANSWER TO HITCHCOCK
Secretary of Interior After Receiv-
ing GOV. Brooks Message, Telling
of the Outbreak. Wires Back Ia
Learn if United States Troops Are
Needed-Refuse to Obey Inspector.

Whether United States troops arc TO
be sent into the State of Wyoming TO
subdue 300 rebellious Ute Indians, who are
defying local and State authorities, de-
pends upon Cen Brooks. of that State.
These Indians are American citizens
and are answerabIe TO the laws of Wy
oming- If the State Of Wyoming has not
the means at hand to arrest the Indians
and enforce obedience to its law. the
governor Of Wyoming can notify the
President that the State cannot cope with
the situation and ask that Federal troops
be sent into the State TO preserve order
and remove the Indians.
Gov. Brooks has not yet made formal
demand for Federal help. His message on
the subject SHOULD one come. viii go d.
rect to President Roosevelt for action
As told I'm Yesterdays Herald. Gov
Brooks. Of Wyoming. wired the Secretary
of the Interior asking that prompt ac-
ton be taken 10 compel the Indians 10 re-
turn to their reservation. Secretary
Hitchcock wired back, asking the Cover
nor il he wished United States troops TO
be sent into the State TO preserve order
Matter Referred 10 President.
Late yesterday afternoon no reply had
( been received frs 4 The governor Of Wy
oming. II was stated at the Office of the
Secretary Of tho Interior that further
communications on the subject from Gov
} Brooks would be referred 90 the Presi-
dent direct
/ Assistant Secretary Of the Interior
Ryan made the following interesting
statement concerning the status OF Affairs
/ in wyoming: we had Il letter from
/ Gov. Brooks yesterday in regard To these
/ Indians. who have been sulking for lons
time. They are from tie Uintah reserya-
! ton. and among them are many who
were mixed up in the Meeker massacre OF
I twenty years ago
/ They are well armed with the best and
most modern equipments. Three hun
bred of them left the reservation several
weeks ago At that time the governor
I Of Wyoming addressed communication
/ TO the Department of the Interior, stating
/ that the braves had assembled AZ place
not very far from Douglas; that they
/ were encamped there, and We're commit
+ ting depredajions of all sorts.
They had with them 80 ponies, which
I they were subs!sting on fodder f0rciOly
I taken from the settlers OF that region
/ They were also killing tho stock of the
settlers for their own subsistence. The
/ governor suggested that troops be en-
ployej 10 compel their return 20 Uintah.
Refuse to Obey Inspector.
Action was Immediately taken by this
department 10y directing the Indian agent
at Uintah t. follow them up and induce
them TO return, If possible The agen;
! endeavored 90 DO So but without success
/ they refused 10 return. and defied his
authority. Then We received another
communication from the governor. urging
that action be taken 90 compel the return
of the braves.
AT that we sent 40 the scene Inspector
McI.aughlin. who CHANGED 10 be ia Wash
ington al the time. and who is highly ac-
complished IN that sort of service. Mai
Mclaughlin. upon arrival found the
Indians encsmped about eighty miles
west OF New Castle. He prevailed upon
about forty of them 10 return 10 the res
cryation. but the rest refused.
Yesterday w received word that the,
were near Gillette, Wye, fully armed
hostile and threatening. drinking steal
ing. and killing stock. The governo
asked that appropriate action be takel
A.. by the Department without delay-or
rather. that prompt action be taken.
.Thc secretary wired the governor I
reply. asking whether Il was his reques
that United States troops should be sem
.
Indians and return them 10 Uintah. II
that no reply has yet been received.
May Use the Troops.
''Thc department is disinclined to re
, sort 20 military force. preferriug first Il
. exhaust all other means OF persuasion
and desiring to avoid any armed conhic
with the warriors Besides. as they arr
citizens Of the United States, a nice cues
ton is involved - 10 the power OF th'
Secretary o. the Interior. or rather, &c th
legal authority of the Federal govern
, ment would warrant it in entering
state. capturing the Indians, and com
pellinC their return 20 the reservation
II necessary, and there is lawful author
ity To-. Il, troops Will b. employed.
AS citizens, If they kill game out q
s season. or in any other manner violate TIA
7 laws of the State. they are undCubtedl,
q subject TO the jurisdiction of the Stat
2 courts Just what the outcome of tn
, matter viii be. I cannot venture to pre-
= dict; but trust that it will be settlet
I lyr-THF hon g. !