The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-07-24
JUSTICE FOR
THE FLATHEAD

seem determined to cruelty both the
the white settler and the Indian allot-
tee On the Flathead lands. We do not
believe their action is inspired through
malice, but rather through blind igno-
rance of conditions. But whether the
situation be psychological" or mater
ial, the resultant effect on the struggl-
ing white settlers and the helpless
Indians is one and the same. Somt
weeks ago, when the Indian appropria-
ton bill was introduced in the house,
the commissioner of Indian affairs act
ual1y recommended an appropriation for
Flathead irrigation, based on an esti-
mate made for merely keeping jim re-
pair the bitches and reservoirs al
ready constructed. In other words
the proposed action would have
amounted to practically hiring watch
man to guard the unfinished monu
ment.
Afterwards Congressman Evans
and Stout succeeded in getting $10O,
900 item in the Indian appropriation
bill to continue the work. Heretofore
the annual appropriation for complet-
ing the great work had run from
S250,OOO to $4OO,000. But this $1OO,
OOOitem was better than abandonment.
When the bill reahed the Senate, Sen.
Meyers, as chairman of the Indian
affairs committee, succeeded in raising
the appropriation to $250,000. Every
one in Western Montana, rejoiced at
the prospect of resumption of work on
the great irrigation project. But to
the amendment was attached rider"
providing that None of the money could
be spent until after the whole matter
had been passed upon by the attorney
generals office, to ascertain whether
the government could spend money
for irrigating "white mems home
steads on Indian lands" On every
other Indian reservation the policy of
constructing joint systems Of irriga-
tion for white settlers and Indian allot-
tees has been the settled policy for
years. But nevertheless, the senate
adopted the rider as to the Flathead
lands.
On Monday, when the Indian bill
was sent to conference and the three
senate conferees were about to be
named for the joint conference COM
nnittee, according to the news dispatch
from Washington, the following unfor-
tunate thing occurred:
Washington, July Ex-senator
Townsend of Michigan today pro-
tested in the Senate against the
appointment of Senator Meyers as
member of the conference COM
noittee on the Indian appropriation
bill, although he is entitled to the
appointment by virtu of his rank
on the committee on Indian affairs
Senator Townsend charged that
Senator Meyers had urged house
members to secure the defeat in
the house of the senate amend
raent to the Indian bill, requiring
an opinion from the attorney gen.
sral conditional to the expending
of the funds for the Flathead ir
rigation project and that through
his efforts it was defeated in the
house.
Senator Townsend contended
that Senator Meyers could not
Droperly represent the senate
on the conference committee, hav-
ing thus shown his position to the
senate amendment. Senator
Movers insisted that he was with
in his rights in asking Represen-
!atives Evans and Stout to oppose
The Flathead amendment, but he
declined to accept place upon the
conference committee if it was be-
lisved by one senator that his ap-
pointment was unfair and he ask
ed that his name be withdrawn
as a conferee.
Senator Lane of Oregon was named
in his place. Lane is in favor of the
senate amendment. Senator Meyers
evidently allowed his feelings to be
hurt" too easily. With Senator Meyers
chairman of the senate committee,
eliminated from the conference COM
mittee, the Flathead project has no
friend at court, in the joint confer
4ence. The bill is now in the hands of
che enemies of the measure. What
the result will be is hard to fortell.
In the meantime, the Indian allot-