Show ROBBING BOBBING THE INDIANS the navajo indian trouble la is the old story of rascally white men who have crowded the indians indian to the verge of desperation the navajo reservation Is if located la in new mexico and arizona and lieutenant R H plum mor mer has baa been filling the position of an agent A few days day ago he made th the statement that the indians were on the th verge of starvation because of the drouth the low price of wool and the way they bad been humbugged humbugger hum bugged by a government govero ment irrigation it to now announced that lieutenant plummer has bai asked general to relieve him of nil his duties BB as indian agent the lieutenant makes a report reora that alleges official offic laJ corruption which it if the facts be a as stated should hould land every one of the guilty parties in fall all for along a long term the government made an appropriation of for irrigating ditches on the reservation and a corn com was appointed to direct the work the lieutenant report says bay that the members of this commission oom nallon have got away with and all there to to show now for it la is yards of a irrigating ditch he further states that the irrigation commie lonen have transformed themselves into post traders on the reservation and have been n robbing the indians indiana in that manner he recommends that these men be discharged and that an investigation be made mad in thin cases of couise comae it will be a proper thing not to reach a conclusion that the irrigation commissioners are the consummate rascals which lieutenant plummer describes them to be until they have had a chance to make a sho winst in their own behalf but there has baa been so BO much of the kind of business of which they have been aa accused that a prompt and vigorous in quicy aulry into the be should be made reolder Beal Re det tt la Is a fair that hat the lieutenant aa military man a la Is merely reporting to big hi sup up erler officer fact which come to his knowledge and therefore his hi allegations allegation ars ara entitled to greater weight than it if they could be charged to political or elnan ana n cial motive there was a time when accusations cusat ions against government employee on indian reservations attracted little attention for by many the fleecing fleeming flee cing of the red man was regarded almost as legitimate financier ing there has baa been a change in this respect however and with the recognition of the principle that the indian has bas rights which should be respected there has bas grown up a sympathy for the savage aborigine which is demanding protection for him and the just punishment of those who victimize vict imizO his race the sentiment that the only good indian is a dead indian does not now prevail among enlightened people who are informed on indian history h and character but is relegated to its place among the barbarous instincts of those ahu have not comprehended the true status of affairs it I 1 is is to be hoped that this change has been sufficiently maritea to cause a full in vesti gation of the navajo scandal and to bring the guilty parties to justice the navajos cavajos Nava jos in their contact with the pioneers of civilization in this part ot oi the country the early settlers of utah were among the first of the indian tribes to learn that there were white men who would treat them with justice and humanity now is we the opportunity eunity to convince them by practical illustration that such is the policy of our great republic |