The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-02-15
A DEMAND FOR JUSTICE.

Elsewhere in this issue Of the Her.
aid is given the text OF a memorial
to congress passed recently by the
state senate Of Montana, introduced
in that body by Senator Thomas BY
arett Of this county. This memorial
should it's office be successful, is one
OF the most important acts OF the
state legislature in years and the plea
for Justice, for a square deal to white
settler and the Indian wards Of the
government alike, is plea basel up
ON the very soundest reasoning. Inc
memorial, in a nutshell, makes the
declaration which no thinking man
will gainsay, that in the matter oA
PROTECTING the Indians Of the Fort
Relknar reservation in what was con-
sidered their rights to the exclusive
nsa of The waters OF the Milk river IN
the amount Of 5000 inches, the gov
eminent stood upon wrong premises
It is a strong plea for the passage OF
the bill INTRODUCED in the United states
senate by Senator Clark of Montana
for the opening up of the Blackfoot
Indian reservation which bill has
consort Of similar nature in the house
fathered by Congressman Dixon. 1t
refers to the faulty position of the
Oft t,,1n in RI
to the Fort Belknap reservation de-
cision, by which the right Of the In
dams to 5000 inches of the waters of
the Milk river were made absolute, in
the hope that in the opening up Of
the Blackfeet reservation no such err
ror may be made.
1t is OF the most vital interest to
every settler in Montana, this correct
ion Of the error before made, when
the reservation is opened. With all
respect to the obligations of the gov
eminent in protecting the rights of
the Indians, every sane man with an
atom of fairness will admit that the
exclusive control Of waters Of q stream
which, L utilized would irrigate thous-
ands Of acres Of lands, is an Unjust
ice and lasting damage to Mint
ana. The flow OF the Milk river at
low water is less than the 5000 inch
IS declared to be their right in the
Fort Belknap water right decl sion
based upon the implied reservation Of
such waters in treaty made with
the Indians in May, 1888.
It is admitted By those who are in
4 nosition to know and to speak with
confidence, that the Indians are net
using the waters of the Milk river TO
any great extent for irrigation purp-
0ses Wherein then, is the justice
of allowing thousands Of acres OF
land 10 remain arid, settlers to pass
On bv = glorious state to others Whe!e
The conscience Of the government IS
less acu,e in its custody and guard
ianship OF the rights Of poor 10!
Montana asks only for justice and the
memorial, emphasizing the man
noints in the bill, is but fair plea
for Justice to settlers Of this staIs
NOW here and to come, and 1t will un
aouhtadlv receive the Endorsement O
,aeis,atora who consider the import
ance it has to Montana and that /
will in no way act as an injustice Il
the Indians. Let them be allowed
fair amount Of tho waters nece5saf.
for irrigation and let them ut1Az
those waters for that purpose. bu
in all Justice to white settlers' 1t
them not be given an exclusive rlg-
to monopolize natural benefactor
which all men should be equally en-
titled to share of its blessings. I
the exclusion o. the rights Of viii;
men. The memorial is a credit to tn
legislature which enacted it and
Senator Everett who proposed 1t an
it Is to be hoped that it may carr
weight with the powers that be
Washington when the bill is Consi
cred
R~