East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-14

Can George Perringer rent more
than $40 acres of reservation land
when the government forbids others
from doing so?
Has the government the right to
direct that Roy Perringer may har-
vest a wheat crop on Indian land that
has been leased to Marion Jack?
These are questions that are rails
ed in a suit that was filed here late
yesterday afternoon in which the title
is Marion Jack versus A. E. McFat-
ridge, L. S. Indian agent, and Roy V.
Perringer. In the complaint, which
was filed by Attorneys Raley, Rich
ards & Raley, the court was asked to
issue an order restraining the Per-
ringers from harvesting the crop in
yolyed and the Injunction was grant
ed. -.
On tn face Of it the suit just
brought does not seem of great i'm
portance for 1t pertains merely to a
crop o't4ie2 acres of land and 1t is
valued at but S2500. But back of
the complaint lies another story that
is one of intense interest to parties
having business on the reservation.
This interest is heightened by the fact
that some big characters, among them
the honorable secretary of the in
terror, figure in the story.
McFatridge Was Upheld.
II g, hn
government places $40 acres as the
limit of Indian land that may be
leased by one party for most people
found it out long ago. But seemingly
the governments policy is only now
being effectively made known to
George Perringer.
According to reports that have beeh
current here for many weeks, Major
McFatridge, agent on the reservation,
has striven hard to enforce the gov
ernment's ruling against all without
fear or favor. But in the past he is
said to have found his plans blocked
and not until Commissioner Leupp
and Secretary Garfield personally Wis
tied the reservation did he Twin OUT
In the case filed yesterday Marion
Jack sets forth that he had legally
leased 100 acres of land on the res
ervation, paying SO per acre therefor
last fall. But despite the fact that he
held a lease he asserts that the gov
ernment. through Agent McFatridge
but recently notified him that Roy
V Perringer might go upon the land
for the purpose of harvesting the
growing crop thereon.
President Penrose Participated.
This seeming Inconsistency on the
part of the government is explained
as follows: Major McFatridge regu-
larly approved the lease to Marion
Jack who had offered a greater price
for the land than had Perringer. But
in an effort to override the agent
Perringer is said to have enlisted the
support of President Penrose of Whit
man college, who was a classmate of
Secretary Garfield. According to re-
ports President Penrose importuned
the secretary and doubtless with the
best of motives, to direct that the
land be given to Roy V. Perringer,
who was a student at Whitman.
While full particulars are lacking,
it is apparent that the influence of
his former classmate had effect with
the popular secretary, for the order
favoring Perringer was forthcoming
Garfield Learned Something.
But the visit of Secretary Garfield
IS said to have altered that gentle
mans mind concerning affairs and
he is said to have suggested that
Perringer and Jack settle their diff |
ferences by compromise.
The "Show Down" Is Here.
Yesterday afternoon the parties in |
he case were busy with their "com- |
promise" when word was received by
Jack that Perringer combine had
entered the field involved to cut the
,rop. Apparently a coup d'etat had
been planned.
But the other side was ready for |
he emergency, Within a half hour
after the startling news was received
here N. C. Richards filed the suit and
Judge Bean granted the restraining
,rder asked for. Shortly after
,'clock a man from the sheriffs Of
lice proceeded to the seat OF war and
served the order upon the men run
hing the combine.
So the ''show down" is at hand |
md Il will be up to the courts to |