The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-06-30
SUPERINTENDENT OF REsERVA.
7 TON OPENING DELIVERS IN.
TEREsTiNG ADDRESS.
SPECULATION IS BARRED
mo Reservation Lands Are for the
Benefit of this Man Who Wants to
Make Homo for Himself and Hi.
Family and the Man Who Seeks to
Speculate Periures Himself.

AZ the rooms of the chamber of
commerce last night. Judge Wittcn
addressed an audience of business
ana professional men that taxed the
capacity of the quarters and held
them interested as he discussed the
plan and purpose of reservation an
enings in general and the tIathead
reservation opening In particular. The
auufess was at times eloquent, al
ways instructive and throughout in
terestins
The purpose of the opening of these
reservation lands is not to make pos
slble any speculation in lands. The
men whom the government wants to
reach are the men who are looking
1of homes. who want land that they
can till, who will put their own hands
70 the poW and who will develop tho
country and will make of waste places
productive farms.
lii l mad my say" said Judge Wit
ten, Il would make it impossible for
man to register for these lands
unless he is actually of the mind to
uWeil upon the land and to make
,here home for himself and his
lamlly He Is the man we want to
reach; he is the man whom we want
70 provide with a home. Unfortunate
~ IT is not possible to exclude en-
tlreiy the speculator, but we have
made the conditions such that he
must commit perjury twice if he en-
ters upon these lands with a view to
sell them or to speculate in them"
hese are harsh words continued
tne speaker, but | am frank In this
matter. 1t Is my duty as an officer
OF the government to look out for The
interests OF the honest homeseeker.
Tor the man who wants to make
nome for himself and who is honest
IN his declaration when he registers
Tor choice. AS I have said, I would
ike to exclude from the reservation
every other person."
Judge Witten discussed briefly the
relation of the government to the IN
dian and added that these reserva-
tlon openings are, in part, for the
purpose Of making an Industrious man
OF the Indian. If possible, by placing
around MIN the example of the indus- |
trlous white worker, If 1T can be done
at all, it must be done this way. The |
reservation opening is really for the
benefit of the Indian.
Judge Witten outlined briefly tbe |
plan which will be followed in the
reservation opening. He said that the
flathead reservation opening has at
tracted more attention than any 9TH
er that has ever been held He has
mad Inquiries from many foreign
countries and from all states of this
country, Concerning no other reser-
Vatlon has he had as many inquiries
as regarding the Flathead.
1t Is not possible to give YOU any
estimate of the number of people who
Will come here to register, but
can say that the number will
be larger than you believe.
think there will be days when there
VIII be as many as 5000 people in
your city who come to register. Not
many OF these will stay more than
feW hours; they will register and go
On their way as quickly as possible
There will be others who will want to
visit the reservation and look over
your surrounding country, but think
that 80 per cent of those who come
20 register will get away as soon as
possible"
Judge Witten urged that special
preparations be made to provide for
he feeding of the visitors and that
here be places enough for them to
sleep comfortably. IF man has
'ard bed, said he, che IS apt to think
hat all the beds In town are hard.
On the other hand. if he has a good
neal and cordial greeting with
somebody to slap him on the back and
say Hello. brother he will go away
rom your town a better advertise
nent than any amount of printing
'ou can do
Judge Witten made some valuable
as to the police work that ;
VIII be necessary during the registra-
ION and answered good many prac-
ical questions that were propounded
W those present. The meeting was ,
cry satisfactory and was thoroughly
enjoyed. Tonight at $3.50 Judge Wit
en- will meet the notaries of the city I
Ind county and arrange with them {
IS to their duties and the manner in
which they shall be performed {