The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-08
Rich In Flathead Lands.
Entire Family Suffers

ing the manner in which the
lands of the wards Of the gov.
ernment are being administered
on the Flathead reservation. In
a general way the statement has
been made that from the re-
fusal or neglect to lease and sell
certain lands, much suffering
has resulted. This fact was true
and numerous instances have be.
come known during the past two
years in which the same have
been pitiful. Heretofore the
matter has been treated gener-
ally, without going into details,
although the names and circum-
stances could have been publish
ed many times. It was thought
that, mayhap, the department
might change it's attitude with
out specific cases being cited, but
such does not appear probable, at
this time. To fully substantiate
the statement that many of the
wards of the government on the
Flathead reservation have been
allowed to suffer and without
any good reason therefor, the
following affidavit has been Sc
cured and it is published to show
the people just what is actually
happening here.
This is a case Of a widow, left
with small children, without any
means of support, being allowed
to exc out an existence by selling
a few eggs and the butter from
three COWS. She and her chill
dren have been allotted $50 acres
of land and during the present
winter have not been sufficiently
clothed and only partially fed.
Under present conditions there
seems no relief for this family
for two years yet to come.
It is a shame that people with
land rich in soil like these unfor-
tunates have, should be allowed
to freeze and starve when so
many are seeking the privilege
of working the land and would
willingly pay a good rental for
the chance. 1t would help in
two ways.
One of the children died leav-
ing an allotment, and this should
be sold and the money distributed
to the heirs, providing them with
the ordinary necessities of life
at a time when they have no
other opportunity of doing so.
What will it avail the other men,
bers of the family if the land is
more valuable after the recla-
nation project is completed, if
they starve or freeze to death
waiting it's completion?.
But read the affidavit of Mrs.
Mary Hewlett and Judge for
yourself:
State of Montana,
County of Missoula.
Mary Hewlett, being first
duly sworn, says: that she is of
lawful age and is the widow of
John Hewlett, who died upon
the Flathead reservation in No
vember, 1910; that she is a men,
ber of the tribe of Flathead In
dians and the mother of five
minor children, who are now
living, and have one deceased
child; that she and her children
have all been allotted lands upon
Cne FlaCnead reservation, as fOl-
lows, viz:
Mary Hewlett, age AZ, 120 acres
Steve Hewlett, age IA, so acres
Max Hewlett, age IL, 12O acres
Denny Hewlett, age 10, so acres
frankie Hewlett, age 6, 80 acres
Maggie Hewlett, age 4, 120 acres
Theodore Hewlett, deceased, so
Total al------ $50 acres
That the eighty (80) acres of
land allotted to Denny Hewlett
was leased to w. H. Krebs in
the spring Of 1910, for period
of five (5 years. Said Krebs,
for the use of the land, agreed
to build a small house, barn and
pranarv and IN fnnco and c,11.