The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-09-03
BY l.. o. LEONARD Z

BY L.. o. LEONARD
1t was along in the spring of
1870 when the Indian bureau at
washington, in despair over the
yexatious questions constantly aris-
ing in handling their Indian wards,
on the western prairies, when the
following incident happened which
proved a godsend to the home
steaders and settlers of the Platte
valley and Unexpectedly supplied
them with much-needed farm
wagons.
The Indian bureau had issued the
most carefully devised set of rules
and regulations for the guidance OF
the Indian agents located upon the
several reservations and they also
made rules which the Indians them |
selves were supposed to follow. These
regulations, formulated by nice, be-
nevolent, elderly gentlemen at Wash |
ington, men who would make their
mark and shine in most any civilized
community as school teachers and in
other walks of life, but who were
totally ignorant of the peculiar char
acteristics of the Indian.
When these regulations we're
drawn up it was suggested by some
one at the bureau that the trouble
with the Indians was caused by In
dian agents who had been appointed
from the West and who were not in
sympathy with the policy OF the bu-
reau in its civilizing plans. So 1t
was decided at once that tfa only
way to make success of their plans
would be to dismiss all these western
non-sympathetic agents and In their
place appoint eastern men who would
act upon and carry out the policy
used by William Penn, the man who
had bought and paid for the land he
had acquired from the Indians. 1t
was this policy that had inspired
and would still inspire the Indians
with love and respect for the white
man.
This plan was carried out and all
the Indian agents in that part of the
west were relieved and new men APP
pointed. This summary dismissal OF
western agents was an act OF in
Justice, objectionable and resulted in
the greatest confusion. 1t is true
that the new agents selected were q
type of Quakers of the highest class.
There can be no question OF their
honesty or their high aims and pur-
poses. Their lack of practical knowl-
edge of western ways and conditions
and hedged in by the red tape of de-
partmental rules and regulations,
their conduct OF the department
brought to 1t both comedy and
tragedy.
The Pawnee Agent
The Quaker who was sent as agent
for the Pawnees, whose reserve at
that time was but a few miles from
Plattville, Neb., was very fine gem
tleman, a man of the highest type
OF character. He was treated with
respect by the Indians, but they said
little, preferring to keep their own
counsel. w B. Doddridge, who was
agent for the Union Pacific at Platt-
Vile, at that time, In speaking of the
conditions existing at that time, said /.
Zone morning upon entering my Of
flee found upon my desk the bill
ing OF a large shipment OF farm
wagons consigned to the Indian
agent The cars had been set out
during the night by a passing train
/ was very much surprised at the
size of the shipment. / could not
understand what they proposed doing
with so many wagons. During the
day the agent called, accompanied
by band of Indians with a lot Of
extra ponies. They came to receive
the wagon shipment and take then
away. The agent informed me thai
the government had adopted new
policy and were going to supply The
Indians with agricultural tools anC
put them to work in order to stoI
them from roaming the country. Tha
the Indians were to be civilized.
laughed and said. I hope you will
meet with success in the undertaking
but do not envy you your job
M. Doddridge continued: "The In
dams attempted to unload the wag
ons. They pulled and tugged ava.
talking excitedly at each other.
could not understand the language
but / have an idea they we're swear
ing in their Indian dialect. The
made no Roadway unloading the car
/ suggested TO the Indian agent tina
he better go over to the store an
secure the assistance of WACO
man, as wagons had to be unloade
the way they went in. He did 8