The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-09-03

duCIlollIltS dI tle agency 10 see CneSe
refractory Indians taught a statutory
lesson: They should be arrested and
tried for the offenSeS and if convicted
should undergo the penalties prescribed
by law.
"By the way, in Section 2 of the law
Of 1891, there is also a proviSo which
excerpts from the provisions of the law
kill. The Indians in their defense may
allege that they are the original own
erS of all large game. They claimed
the buffalo, they claim the land, why
mo- claim the deer, antelope, etc., the
earth and the fullness thereof?
These Indians were guilty of similar
attractions Of the game laws last yea:
and the StOckgrOwers' journal called
attention to the fact at hat time"
The rations system, clouded by the
many complaints because of hunger and
what was alleged unsatisfied appetites
on the part of the Indians which led
Inc aam TO b EeSofE TO off ea ILL., k E%asargat ana
became a troublesome issue for the
Indian department. Consideration was
given in the fall of 1892 to change the
entire system and resort to the cash
payment plan in lieu of rations. The
date t Has e enRreSs rati eaat s at ao d WoaIS
be abandoned.
most devoutly to be desired" said the
Journal. What an amount of great
and petty thievery will be done away
with by the abolition of the ration
system, which is as corrupting to the
Indian! Let the odious ration system
be abolished. Give the Indian the
equivalent in cash and let him buy his
food from whomsoever he can get it
cheapest and best. Then there will be
and end to the contract system for pro-
rise to such h%umiliating charges: Of
swindling and corruption. Then we
shall see n more inferior articles,
lower grades of edibles made more eX-
pressly for the supply of Indian con-
tracts. Being the purchaser of his own
supplies the Indian will not be likely
to take weevily flour. sanded sugar or
chicory coffee in exchange for his good,
if not hard earned, dollars. Then the
entire, cumbrous, expensive machinery
of inspectors Of Indian supplies a
be dispensed with. We shall no longer
see the ridiculous spectacle of Indian
issue, articles which specially detailed
officers of the army have declared to
be wholly unfit for the consumption
of even uncivilized communities. The
army Of understrappers, halfbreeds and
in issuing these rations to the Indians
at the various agencies, can be dis
pensed with and God knows that alone
would be a great improvement. The
issue mar is an. individual whose en-
nifty is bad for the Indian and whose
favor it is an important thing to gain.
He can be generous or Stingy in the
delivery of the rations as his caprice
or his relations with the head of the
family drawing rationS. Or the squaw
members of it, may prompt.
Cash Ration Urged
ITO give the Indian the cash value
of the ration instead of the ration in
kind would undoubtedly be a great Iad-
vance. But why stop with the ration?
Why not let him buy his blankets, dry
goods and farming implements as well?
More than a year ago the Stockgrow-
erS' journal called for and advocated
this reform. Why not commute all these
things as well as the Indian ration?
1T is not to be expected that the
army of Indian contractors and sub
contractors will allow any cash system
to be adopted with the Indians; with
out a vigorous fight against it. An
Indian contract is a very nice and valu-
able gratuity with which to reward a.
political adhefent. The present system
gives the Interior department an i'm
mense amount of patronage to distrib-
ute. rms is as every one knows a most
SAoAS SSS4s iC" AlCl1 VIII
have ever welded power or distrib-
uted patronage relax their hold or re-
linquish either willingly. But it is as
was said in the beginning of these re-
marks a ray of light in the future that
a step in this direction has been dis
cussed in the Indian bureau.
1T will be a little advance; however,
if he is compelled to deal with one
trader, who has no competitors and
can charge what he pleases for n
quality of supplies he furnishes. Give
the Indian the cash value of his ra-
lions, his supplies and his household
market to him. Let him buy these
things from whoever gives him the
best quality at the lowest price. You
want the Indian to live like a white
man-then treat him like a white man.
The payment Of his allowance in cash,
the opening Of the market to him would
be a stage of progress for him that
years of industrial schools and theolog-
ical ~disquisitions which he cannot COM
prehend, could never achieve. Teach
the Indian to be a man and rely upon
himself, Cease making a child of him
and cut your leading strings"
While this argument was generally
fraternity, unfortunately no reckoning
was made in connection with the dis
position of Poor Lo, himself. The Chey-
enne Indians, like the members of other
tribes, were o or less nervous and
discontinued. They complained of be-
ing crowded to closely together on res
ervations. They were still Of that gen.
Grafton which had roamed the plains
without hindrance and could reconcile
themselves to individual restrictions
and the restraints forced upon them
by their white superiors. When 1t was
realized that the plans laid by white
men might undergo various applica-
tons 1t was learned at the same time