The Washington herald., 1908-01-22

With band OF Ute Indians refusing
ike Banquos ghost, to down the gov
eminent still faces its three centuries
old problem Of making a cOntented and
useful citizen Of every member Of the
Indian race. When the Uintah reserva-
ton was opened for settlement two years
ago by the order Of a discriminating
government the Indians there were each
given allotments Of good lands, and en-
couraged TO adopt the habits and indus
tries of their white neighbors. Many
settled down as hidden, and clumsy
HANDS used only 10 the rife and hunting
knife. took up the pick and shovel AS
modern civiliz1tiO decreed and set about
mastering their first steps in citizen
ship"
Not so with the Wind River Utes. They
watched with bitterness the cutting of
irrigation bitches and the building OF
homes for the white man, and they grew
morose and resentful. For a year they
saved their supplies and money. and
then. 800 strong, set out one day for the
Black HuIs Of South Dakota. where
hunting grounds were believed 10 lie. and
where they could spend the rest Of their
days in peace from the white man and
/ his civilizing influence. The reports came
/ flying quickly 10 Washington HygteTical
TauCheTs fOresaw the massacre Of their
families and the con1scatlon Of their cat
tie. The Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
saw further need for the display of his
admirable tact in making The Indians un-
deTstand the benevolent interest Of the
government, The faravay, romantic low
ers OF the Indian saw another instance Of
ii misused people drifting through the
narrow confines OF 4 pOverty-stricken
country until cold and hunger had has
tened them into the eternal happy hunt
ing ground. The soldiers Of the nearby
posts saw a series Of forced marches and
BIT Of tioklish police work in rigorous
winter weather in order 10 avert need
less war
The hysteria 81 the ranchers was an
peased for a while when the agents. who
had been hurried there. pointed out that
the Indians had taken nothing except
Wild game and that IN ignorance Of the
game law. The romantic ones were shown
That the lands set aside for the Indians
were among the best IN the reservation.
and the government had already planned
for them an expensive system Of irriga-
ton. Nearly everybody. except the In
dams, was satisfied over the situation
The Indians simply continued 10 move.
They did not want lands so close 10 the
white man. They did not want 70 learn
the white mans ways. They wanted
only 10 be allowed to 60 on unmoIesting
and unmolested until they had set up
their teepees in new hunting ground.
They argued that they were American
citizens-for had not the agent said 50
when he was appealing 10 them 10 lead
exemplary lives. creditable 10 their coun-
tryE Since they were Americans. they
meant 10 exercise their rights 10 come
and 60 across the country al will. The
fact that they were invading the reserva-
ton Of other Indians had no weight with
them. They believed their own lands
were taken away frauduIently The
treaty Of 1865 provides that any cession
Of land by the Indians 10 the general
government Is valid only when the agree
ment is signed by three-fourths Of the
adult members Of the tribe. They claim
that many Of their signatures were OBJ
tanned through a species Of coercion. Not
understanding things they grew ag-
grievedr collected their ponies and cattle.
and set their faces toward the Black
Hills
Soldiers sent against the Indians ar,
said 10 90 with reluctance for compan-
iOnship with the winds, the hills. and
the sky have somehow taught them e
understand these outdoor people better
than other observers. When Can't. Car.
ter =. Johnson was sent against tbi.
tribe Of migrating Utes 20 hold them al
Thunder Butte until they could be pre-
vailed upon 10 return. he cOunselcd IN.
thence and greater tact on the part of ths
white people He said. "One hundred
pounds OF flour and a little patience are
a more potent factor I'm the solution Of
this problem than 100 soldiers" The
government mandate has been Work OF
starve,' and with endless patience the
Commissioner and his co-WOrkers have
secured work on railways and irrigation
projects for the Utes; but they have dis.
dained IT, Not only do they care little
for work, but a people who have lived
for successive generations on an arid
land unframed in the industrial arts
are slow at learning how to work
The red men in the new State Of Okla
homa have proved the possibilities OF the
Indians friendly afiliation with the white
man. Their ideas have changed some
since 1878. In that year, when the gov
eminent offered to give the Cherokees a
strip Of land across the Mississippi in
exchange for their Georgia lands, an Old
chief urged the acceptance of the crer
on the ground that no Cherokee or
white man with a Cherokee family can
live among such people as the first set
tiers Of our territory" The majority of