The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-02-16
COOPERATION BY
WHITES, INDIANS
RANGE PROBLEMS CONSIDER
ED AT JOINT MEETING
PROGRESS is MADE

On February 10 in the Commercial
Club offices conference between
stockmen and reservation Indians was
held, with a good representation of
both in attendance. The old matter
of conflicting interests between the
stock owners and the Indian land
owners engaged the attention of the
meeting and some plan of co-opera-
ton was the objective sought.
The situation at it's best presents
difficulties, and the laws and regu-
lations applying to grazing privileges
on reservations appear to be such as
to complicate the problem.
AS brought out by the friendly
discussion, the tough spots in the sit
uation are the amount of the grazing
fee, and the fair and equitable dis
tribution of the grazing money among
land owners. The grazing fee of So
per head is held by the stock owners
industry will stand. Many. ranch
ers find it impossible to pay this fee
at the present low price of livestock
and the high price of other things.
AS a result large part of the fees
supposed to be paid remain uncol-
lected and the Indian fund suffers.
On their side of it some of the
Indians owning allotments with good
springs or streams on them claim
that they get much less than their
just portion of the grazing fee,
while the owners of allotments re-
moved from water and which are
grazed over by comparatively small
number of stock, get more than their
share of the fees.
The Main Question
The Indians present were there as
representatives of the Indian Welfare
association, while the stock owners
represented the Stockmen's associa-
tion. The issue was put squarely up
to the Indians for their opinion in
this forn:l Do you prefer and do
you think it would be to the best in
terests of the Indians to have rigid
enforcement. of the present grazing
regulations with the result that a
large part of the stock owners now
located on the reservation be forced
out of business and off the resewa-
tion. leaving the range open for the
sheep men and other big stock men7
Or do you believe that it would work
out better for the Indians interest
to have a reasonable grazing fee of
perhaps S1.00 and have that fee col
lected from all range usere, a con-
dition that would make it possible
for the present settlers to continue
in the stock business?
The Indians were unanimous in
favoring the latter course. 1t was
agreed by both sides that the one
thing greatly needed was co-opera-
tion by all interested parties to pre-
vent the grazing of large bands of
stock by outside stockmen who man
age to evade the roundups and the
payment of grazing fees.
Committee of Six
A committee of three whites and
three Indians was named to put the
matters on which cooperation was
sought in definite form, the Indians
70 present the matter before their
Welfare association at meeting that
S to be held at Chicken Hill on the
10th. The white men on this com
nittee of six are John McLachlan,
Steve Marmon and j. B. Switzer.
The names of the three Indians could
lot be learned.
The best of feeling prevailed and
/ genuine desire on the part of all
% arrive at terms of cooperation
vas evident Among those present
1t the meeting were Dan Noble,
Steve Marmon, John McLachlan, ].
3. Switzer, c. S. Stevens, Charles
Gordon, James Archdale, James
3lackdog, Ned Cantrell, VIM. White