Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-03-13
INDIAN WARDS
CAUSED WORRY
WILLIAM PENN POLICY FAILED To
SOLVE PROBLEM OF HANDLING
INDIAN UNDER GUARD
WHEN THE QUAKERS TOOK
CHARGE WESTERN TRIBES
Immense Shipment Of Red Farm Wag-
Ons Is Responsible for Most Amusing
Incident, When Fasteners Try 70
CiviIize the Red Man.

II was in the spring Of 1870 when
the Indian bureau at Washington,
in despair over the vexatiOus ques-
tiOns constantly arising in handling
their Indian wards, on the western
prairies, when the following incl
dent happened which proved god
send to the hOmesteaders and set
tiers Of the Platte valley and un-
expectedly 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 themselves were
supposed to follow. These regulations,
formulated by nice, benevolent, elderly
gentlemen at Washington, 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 characteristics of the In
dian.
When these regulations were drawn
up it was suggested by someone at
the bureau that the trouble with the
Indians was caused by Indian agents
who had been appointed from the west
and who we're not in sympathy with
the policy of the bureau in its civiliz-
ing plans. So it was decided at once
that the only way to make a 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 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 injustice,
and resulted in the
greatest confusion. 1t is true that the
new agents selected were a type Of
Quakers of the highest class. There can
be no question Of their honesty or their
high aims and purposes. Their lack Of
practical knowledge Of western ways
and conditions and hedged in by the |
red tape Of departmental rules and
regulations, their conduct Of the de- |
partment brought to it both comedy |
and tragedy.
The Quaker who was sent as agent /
for the PaWnees, whose reserve at that |
time was but few miles from Platt-
vile, Neb., was very fine gentleman,
a man Of the highest type of character.
ae was treated with respect by the In
dams, but they said little, preferring |
10 keep their own counsel. w. B. Dodd- !
-idge, who was agent for the Union
Pacific at PlattSville, at that time, in
ipeaking Of the conditions existing at
hat time, said:
"One morning upon entering my Of
ice I found upon my desk the bill
ng Of large shipment of farm wag-
ms consigned to the Indian agent. The
.ars had been set out during the night
~ a passing train. was very much
surprised at the size of the shipment.
could not understand what they pro-
)oSed doing with so many wagons. Dur
ng the day the agent called, accom-
lanied by band of Indians with q lot
f extra ponies. They came to receive
he wagon shipment and take them
way. The agent informed me that the
government had adopted new policy ]
nd were going to supply the Indians
nth agricultural tools and put them
o work In order to stop them from !
canning the country. That the Indians \
Tere to be civilized. laughed and said. ]