Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-07-31


this affair closes, at once transfer
them to Fort Keogh as an act OF JUS
tice and in accordance with the recon-
mendation of the Cheyenne commits
sion, said Miles in his dispatch.
Information received a little later
in Miles City was to the effect that
Captain Ewers of the Fifth infantry
would start within a few days with
Little Chiefs band of about 400 Chey-
enne Indians for the Tongue river
agency in Montana. This was accepted
as an earnest belief that the transfer
of the Indians to the Fort Keogh res
ervation was in progress, and that it
would be but one step to move the
whole bunch from Tongue river to the
fort.
The Indian problem mad assumed
serious proportions in the northwest.
For IS years the question of their dis
position became a subject of much dis
cuSsion. From the Little Big Horn in
1876 to Wounded Knee creek in 1891
constituted period of uncertainty and
much indeciSion. The Pioneer Press
Of st. Paul in critical comment, stated
that the Indian war cost two million
dollars and several lives, value not
stated. The thieves who were largely
instrumental in causing the outbreak
lost nothing except what sleep they
lost getting out Of harms way. The
war is still going on in the Indian de-
partment and may possibly be resumed
In the west next spring. Great and
glorious indeed is the interior depart
ment in its management Of the In
dians."
The war department, on the other
hand, was reported to be at work during
the early part of 1891 upon a scheme
for future treatment of the Indians.
An important feature was said to have
been program for the enlistment of
OF a number Of young bucks for service
In the ranks of the army. It was not
planned to form separate regiment /
composed of Indians, as first proposed |
by some army officers, for the reason /
that 1t was not regarded as perfectly I
safe to bring such a large body of I
unctvilized treacherous people togeth-
eF." Separate companies would be
formed, 1t was stated, with one attached
each to the infantry and cavalry reg
iments serving in the west. The plan
provided that the commanding officers
of these Indian companies would be
selected for their knowledge
Of Indians and their habits
General Miles, 1t was reported,
strongly recommended the plan, ex-
pressing that the future peace among
the Indians could best be secured by
this method OF employing the young
bucks who would otherwise make it
Incumbent on the army to exercise the
Seenest vigilance to keep them out Of
mischief.
IF the government has to support
he Indian" said the Miles City Stock
growers Journal, probably it is just
Is well to make them do something to {
earn their salt and keep them occupied, !
Tor when unoccupied, Indians look to {
he devil to find something for their !
hands to do. But on this theory more |
han 1000 should be taken up and put
INTO blue clothes" {
The problem was also being ap-
preached from another direction. A
bill had been introduced in congress {
TO make it felony to sell or give {
firearms or ammunition to Indians. {
It was thought, however, that such |
law was liable to meet with SO many !
that it was a question {
whether the bill would become a law /