Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-11-02
captaln Johnson Reports That
He and Agent Downs Are
Al Cross Purposes.
MAJOR FOR SEVERE MEASURES
commissioner Lcupp Considers Report
A Reflection on Bureau and
Stands by Downs.

washington. Nov. la very serious
,rsach has arisen between the Ute Inc
1isns at Thunder Butte Station, s. d..
s,d their agent. Mai Downs, and
tbere f. danger OF hostile collision at
spv moment, according Co the report
nj capt Johnson, the army officer
rbo was sent to the scene OF the
trouble I'm tthe effort TO placate the
indians. who are said to have unlim-
tied confidence I'm him. capt Johnson
reports that the Indian agent and him
SELF are at cross purposes. and his re-
mort. dated yesterday appeals TO the
authorities here TO support him and
cause Maj. Downs to abate harsh
treatment of the Indians.
Tine report says that tho Indians OBJ
iscted to sending their children 10 a
distant boarding school; also that the
AGENT cut the ratious in half; that the
Indians wish 90 live in peace, but that
Downs refused 20 consider their prom
iec 90 comply with his orders. Capt
Johnson SAYS the Utes are hungry and
suffering, and believes they have been
uuiustly treated.
He says they asked him To- act as ar
bitrator. and they would accept the
.The agent" capt johnson says,
"put a vote TO the head men TO this
erect. Would they obey him In the
school matter and in ali the reguld-
tlons2 They replied they wished 70 see
capt. Johnson. This appears To have
incensed the agent, who required them
10 cast their votes at once. This coun-
eli all voted no. and then followed
the excitement which caused the call
for volunteers and troops 20 Doe sent 10
the Ute camp to compel them to COM
ply with the agents wishes.
Il told the Utes that / should expect
them to retract their vote this morning.
They informed me that they would
gladly obey the agent in an matters Of
regulations. presented this deci-
sion to Maj. Downs. who refused
TO consider their promise. Harsh
and severe remedies are TO be applied.
one hundred pounds OF flour and
little patience IS a more potential fac
tor in the solution OF this problem
than the 100 soldiers"
Commissioner Ieupp Of the bureau
of Indian affairs accepts Capt John
sons report as a reelection on that
bureau. Citing the fact that the dis
affected Utes have refused two offers
10 work for railroad companies, one
OF which contemplated paying them
81 per day for labor onIy TO miles from
their present home, he said.
johnson proceeds on the theory
that the way TO handle troublesome In
dlaus is 20 set them off and feed them.
That is not the Indian office theory.
This office believes In applying the
same rule TO Indians that is applied
to poor and ignorant men OF any race
We believe Ina finding work for them,
and then in permitting them TO so
hungry II they viii not accept the OPP
portunity TO make a living. These
Utes contemporary declined to work,
saying that the government would
take care OF them. am perfectly
willing to stand responsible for all the
advice ] have given I'm the matter,
which has been that we should treat
the Indians kindly, but insist that they
shall cease TO be paupers when there
IS work at which they can earn good
wages practically at their doors"