, 1921-06-30

aeld. looms as a grave possibility
today. a.
Believing, apparently that II was
granting leases on wildcat Territory
across tho Big Horn river from the
Soap Greek field, The Grow tribal
council on Thurrday. mid more or
lpss paHdenioHtun, adeFted o rcsolu-
Ton intended by its authors to re-
pudizte leases on. tribal land in the
Soar Creek fieid ~therrtofoTe granted
b. the inqiaHs and eppBoved' by the
\ sorretary of the Interior. Among the
holders OF these leases is the West
sen States Oil and Land company.
which mas spent Sis. 900 thus far in
Developing Soap Creek from a long.
shot wildcat, iewed with favor BY
comparatively few ssologisls, into
proved territory boasting of the
states biggest single producing well.
The attempted reputation appzr-
emily was the climax OF a weiIar-
ranged program 10 involve title to
these leases in which Il Is apparent
even to tho most casual observer that
= group of white men a played a
prominent part in the framing.
Hand OF the troublemaker N con.
Hec6on with these tribal inas3s first
showed itself at the meeting Of the
tribal council held on May IS, when
an efo- was msds By the same In
dams and Group Of whites. who APP
pArently fafheFed Thursdays attempt
to force through the council a repu-
tiation OF all leases Heretofore
granted and TO revoke Authority
granted to Supt. G. II. Asbury by
he council on April IS, 1919. nearly
two years before thu soar creek dis.
eoyery. TO sign such leases in behalf
ef h tribe.
This authority. by virtue of which
leases to the Western STATS com
vested in. the superintendent by rcso-
luton adopted by the tribal council
and signed by Plenty Coos as chief
OF the tribe, George w, Hogan as
chairman and Russell White Bear as
secretary. After recitins desire OF.
the Crows to o~ncourase prospecting
and leasing of lands on the reserya-
ton for oil and gas, Il says:
BE IL resolved by the Crow .tribc.
In council assembled, that the super
intendent of the Crow Agency. Mon
tHra. be and is hereby requested to
make leases on tribal. land for oil and
EBs mining purposes, in accordance
with the rules and regulations OF the
secretary of the interior, and to uign
such eases in his official capacity for
and in behalf OF the tribe The rev.
enue received from said leasing is to
be. paid to members of h Grow
tribe
Leases of tribal lands. that
Indians or whites were contemplating
any move against their lenses. were
not represented at the council meet.
ing Of May IS, and, It is said. it was
only the plea for fair play OF former
State Senator r, S. Hogan. who hap
pcned while visiting in Hardin to
hear of the meeting and its probable
trend. that a pre-arrnnged program
for Reputation Inc releasing was
thwarted. However. despite the tos-
tinony Of whites, who attended the
tribal council, that a resolution of
population laid on the table through.
ont the entire discussion and was not
at any time put to a vote. minutes
rurporting to report this meeting
read at last Thursdays meeting. set
torth that the resolution OF repudia
upn had zen adopted.
At adjournment of the tribal coun-
ell on May 20. it was agreed that the
whole question OF leases. including ap.
rlications filed since the discovery OF
GVdp eiGgks NQ1l1 bC tdhtn ~ at III
next meeting, date for which WIS
fixed at June &c. This date. however.
was moved forward TO June 20 be,
cause of arrangements for commend
ration OF h Custer massacre, which
carries over until juno 81.
AT the meeting OF May 90. IL means
there was an Unusually large atten-
dance of Indians from the Pryor dis
trict and it was charged Thursday by
the Indians during the determinations
and charges Of grating oft repeated
at the tribal council meeting. that
the fares and expenses of many of
these were paid by funds OF mystic.
rious origin.
tHThere's. been money spent here"
declared Robert Yellowtail. at one
ttago of h proceedings. II know
or one Indian who got an automobile
ind it's all paid for out OF this deal"
The business or executive commit.
tee of the tribe met last Tuesday att
Crow Agency ~ostensibly to arrange
the program for the council and TO
name presiding officers and the like. |
but after some discussion of lease
liquidation and releasing it decided
to- put the whole matter up TO the
council as a whole.
This was done on Thursday after
noon when the Indians. gathered here
Ii large numbers from every district
for the tribal meeting.
One of the first questions raised
xlfen the council convened was with
reference to cancellation Of leases.
fhe older Indians objected to such a
course n advised that Q who
discovered the held be permitted &c
20 ahead with development.
SThe council finally voted to post
0 consideration of existing leases
Until ali applications for leases had
Been acted upon. deciding that too
much time would be consumed in dis
eussicn OF the original leases
Some 60 applications for leases on
air in the office cf the superin.cnl-
cnt. representing accumulation since |
ihst February. were then placed on
The table and when the council dc
c1ded 10 give precedencs 10 isise APP
fIications affecting lands west 81 the
Big Horn. across the liver from Soap
rtrcSE n M JF71fv- cf Wr-a4ni~r tf1ade 4