The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-04-06

dissolving the tribal k24zs AA-424-a
relations, that Of mon lana LOU Grill
fered opportunity
for considerable discussion on the
ground that the dissolution of tribal
relations would not reach into the heart
of the problem, which was that of es-
tablishing the Indian as an independent
economic unit.
Delegate Toole of Montana prepared
the bill. The provision that attracted
the attention of the Montana stockmen
was that of opening to settlement some
of the finest arabic and grazing lands
in the northwest. It was expected that
the Holman committee in congress
would recommend the measure as it
contained practically the same provis-
ions az the Maginnis bill.
THE Crows are not bad Indians"
says an editorial comment of that day.
"They recognize the superiority of the
whites, and are willing to be taught by
them. They are inclined to be do
nestle, and would with proper encour-
agement, become self-supporting and
abandon their old ways. A law that
would allot them ample lands and fur
nish them means of utilizing them,
and then allow the lands not needed by
the Indians to be utilized by the whites,
would certainly be a blessing to the
Crows"
Thus the way was being paved by
stockmen intensely interested in op-
ening, instead of leasing to a syndicate,
the land occupied by the Crows. The
Crows were not bad Indians" That
much could be said in all truthfulness.
On many occasions during the Indian
wars of the northwest, these Indians
had proven their fidelity and friendship
to the whites. Congress might become
impressed by the existence of the cor
dial understandings and relationships
that had sprung up between the two
races. With the opening of the Grow
reservation to settlement, operating as
a precedent, it would require only an
other step in the direction of the other
reservations extant in Montana, and the
northwest.
It was estimated that not more than
$4,000 acres of the five and half million
acres in the Grow reservation were be-
ing utilized by the Indians in any way
whatever. Perhaps not 10000 acres, it
was argued in some circles of Montana,
for there were only 5000 Grows, it was
pointed out. They owned but a few head
OF livestock. Their farms amounted to
nothing.
Common sense dictates" was the
further editorial comment, that this
vast surplus of land be utilized in ad-
vancing the civilization of its owners,
instead of allowing them to in
darkness over the vast waste. The
Crows would readily take to the ways
of the whites if thrown in contact with
them, and in a few years they would
learn to wash their faces once a week
and have two suits of clothes each.
"Philanthropic craftsmanship should
evolve a plan to elevate this race, and
no better commencement could be made
than by forcing them in contact with
the whites"
Delegate Toole'S measure met with
opposition in congress. 1t was feared
by Montana stockmen that the bill
would not meet with any greater sue
cess than did the bill sponsored by his
predecessor, Major Maginnis. There
are too many congressman who have
never seen the red men u~nsurrounded
with a halo or romance to make any
legislation easy which affects them and
ooSo IAAy boAy SAoS "AAJ 5ooos was oAAS
critical comment of hat day.
The Toole bill provided for a per-
manent reservation for the use of the
several tribes of Indians in northern
Montana as we'll as applying to the
Grow reservation. Specifically the bill
provided that the portion of the ter
ritory which lies west of a line drawn
due south from the national boundary
at the western extremity of the Sweet
Grass hills to the Marias river should
be assigned to the Piegan, Blood and
Blackfeet Indians belonging to the
Blackfeet agency. The lands within
these boundaries would, under the pro-
visions of the measure be held by the
president as a whole for the &C.
cupancy and benefit of these Indians,
or patented to them in s~everalty if con-
gress should so direct. The reservation
in question, it was pointed out, would
comprise a little more than ~one-fourth
of the Indian lands in Chouteau county.
It was presumed that it was the in
tention of congress to open the other
three-fourths to settlement.
"This is what the eastern theorists
will object TO-" the critical comment
continued, notwithstanding the fact