The sun., 1908-12-19
M. LEVPP's POLICY.
An Attack Upoa It by the Secretary OI
the Indian Nights Association.


To THE BDIToR or TEE sUN-Sir:
little more than year ago the attention
OF the Indian Rights Association through
Its executive committee was called q
alleged abuses existing at the Grow Indian
Reservation, Montana, In connection Will
grazing privileges enjoyed by certain
wealthy and powerful white men. sheep
and cattle raisers In that region. This
reservation comprises much desirablo
grazing land. When In the past such CON-
plants have come to our assoc iatlon from
reliable sources II has been our habit 10
investigate the complaints by sending
out our Washington agent. During twenty.
five years OF public work wo have usually
had the hearty cooperation OF the Indian
department and the movements Of our
agents on Indian reservations have ordi-
narlly been facilitated by Government
officials. Under Commissioner Jones. who
Immediately preceded the present incumbent
OF the Office, cooperation with our associa-
tion was cordial and complete. The ad-
vantage to the Government. tho Indians
and the public interest from this friendly
union of forces 10 manifest. II means
that corrupt practices or abuses OF any Kind
are the more readily exposed and abated.
In the present Grow reserve case 1t soon
became apparent that an unfortunate and
complete reversal Of the former order Of
things had taken place. The merest out
line OF the facts is here possible Our
agent. Mr. 8. II. Brosius. while on his sum-
mer inspection tour stopped at the Grow
reservation summer before last at the time
that Inspector Dalby. who had been pre-
viously the private secretary OF secre-
tary Of the Interior Garfield. was on the
reservation induiring into charges OF ex-
listing abuses made by Mrs. Helen Pierce
Grey. She had been chosen by the Indians
as their representative and had made trip
to Washington TO state their grievances to
the President. Mr.. Daily gave Mr.. Bro
slus to understand that he would not be
permitted to pursue any INQUIRY upon the
reservation on his own behalf and was
practically told to leave. Subsequently
at the hearing before the Secretary Of the
Interior Mr.. Daily stated that while he
denied putting Mr.. Broslus o6s the reserva-
tion he would certainly not have permitted
him TO make any inquiry on behalf OF the
Indian Rights Association while he was
himself making an inquiry on behalf OF the
Government. and In this position he was
sustained by Mr.. Garfield. the Secretary
Of the Interior.
Mrs Grey. who had been elected from the
reservation. was soon afterward arrested
by order OF the Government and in the alb
sence OF o session Of the Federal Grand Jury
she was thrown into Jail, There she re-
maincd In close confinement for some four
teen weeks and was held under bail for
nearly four months until the Grand Jury
disposed of her case last February. The
charge against her was that she had gone
on an Indian reservation when she had been
ordered OF and had accepted money from
the Indiana "ttnAar falaA a
to defray the cost Of her trip to Washington
on their behalf after Agent Reynolds had
prevented the delegation from going.
Every effort was made by Mr.. Dalby on
behalf Of the Government 10 have Mrs.
Grey convicted and sent to jail on a long
term of imprisonment for what was at most
purely technical offence. Whether this
woman was wise or unwise In her course
her conduct In my judgment was I'M
doubtedly prompted by desire to see JUS
tice done the Indians. Her treatment seems
to me TO have been that Of cruel persecution
and quite unworthy Of the American Gov
ernnfent. The policy adopted by the De-
partment In this case seems to have had It's
origin in the sheep and cattle raising inter
ests. but why should the Government be
In carrying out the wishes Of the
cattle and sheep raisers?
~ tCSutuo tuO luSptCtOT
Dalby showed complete incompetency for
the work which Secretary Garfield had en-
trusted to him. Daily was selected for
the delicate and dificult duties OF lnvesti-
CATION without previous experience in such
work. never before having been on an Indian
Experienced inspectors were
passed over. He cursed an Indian witness
who was giving respectful and proper
to his INQUIRIES. and In consequence
all the other Indian witnesses refused to
testify. His report was an adrot but quite
neon yincinG plea for the sheep and cattle
raisers. The association urged upon the
Department the importance OF making
mother investigation. conducted by COM
oetent and experienced inspectors. This
request was refused. The secretary Of
he association, Mr.. NJ. X. Sniffen, sent out
o inquire into conditions on the reserva-
ion during the course OF the winter, and at |
he time the Federal Grand Jury was acting |
IN the case OF Mrs. Grey, for the purpose
u assisting the Grand Jury In its dsliber-
Itions. was actually arrested by order OF |
agent Reynolds and put oti. II should |
70 noted that this incident was formally |
brought to the attention OF Secretary Gar |
leld on March IS, 1908. He had previously |
aid "Brin(1 me facts. but the letter from |
he committee OF the Indian Rights Asso- |
ation reminding him that the attempt |
o get these very facts was thwarted by his |
was not acknowledged until |
December 4. after eight months delay,
'hen the Secretary. who explained that |
10 had not understood that the committees |
sitter called for reply. stated that Mr.. |
'niffen's arrest was "a mistake" Enough |
violence showing Mr.. Dalby's unfitness |
o be an inspector was presented by Mrs.
Trey and the Indian Rights Association
o the United States Senate to cause that
ody to withhold confirmation OF his nomi-
alton by the President. Notwithstanding
his refusal the President has q second time
ent In his name for appointment. The
lRnihcapoe Of this fact would seem to be
. sinister as II is plain.
We need not 60 alone 10 past cases, such
a that which has been cited, TO show the
xistence In the Indian department Of an
rbitrary spirit contrary to that fair Ameri-
an way OF doing things TO which We have
zen accustomed. There are eight Navajo
indians now In Jail at Fort Huachuca,
rizons. where they have been held under
iilitary force At hard labor for more than
year past by the orders Of the Indian Com.
ilssionsr on an undeterininste sentence.
hese men have never had any trial what
YER before q court. No state OF war eS-
tied at the time Of their arrest No mat
Or what their crime, 10 any, may have been,
would seem that the right to O trial I'm
,gally constituted court In time of peace
a right which II they do not possess they
ltght TO possess. and n they do possess Il
ought not 10 be infringed. The legality
the action OF the Commissioner IL likely
BON to be determined and we shall know