idea and started to like it. In the days that followed, they went from place to place whenever the Indian sheriff caught someone; they listened to the new councils say who was guilty. Sometimes they spent whole days just going from here to there to see another council. It was better than farming.
Captain Jack, the man who would kill him, had heard of it, too. Even though he was off the reservation. Some Lost River Modocs and some Snakes had watched from the edge of the clearing, seeing what the Klamaths were doing. Compotwas Doctor knew the word would go with them, spreading out across the country. Down on Lost River, those who had thrown in with Jack wouldn’t like it. They would not like it, and neither would the shamans.
#6
Ashland, Oregon
June 8, 1869
Brother Ivan: Since you were away, I thought to begin setting Klamath Agency in order, getting ready for the changeover. It got clearer and clearer that I had better shake the dust off my boots instead and head for the Superintendent’s office. I therefore rode over here all night and leave for Salem as soon as I can get my bags packed. Better to meet our new Superintendent face to face -- and make sure his first impressions of the Applegate ‘endeavors’ are the right ones. (Brother E. L. says not to worry about this Meacham. He has known and approves of him. Advises instead spending time fretting that the Indians will scatter while the new Superintendent settles in, and we will just have to begin gathering them again. I can’t credit that one. True enough, Meacham will find his predecessor left things a mess, but unruly Indians is not for the moment one of them. For the time at least, all is quiet in our corner of the world -- except for the muffled sound of Progress.)
Along those lines, we come to the reason for this letter: Lalakes is resigned, and we have our new young Turk. It is David Allen, as you thought it would be. For a while I worried that things would not turn out right. Blowe got nearly as many votes (5 less), and it seemed at first that he would go and teach David Allen how much better it is to be a big Indian. It took a while to explain to him that he should not just crack some heads with his war club or take those who had voted for him and leave. Instead, he should learn that five votes difference is more than enough to point out the man. Thank Heavens he got the idea, or we should probably have had to start again. But get it he did. In the end he went over and congratulated Chief David Allen, despite some grumbling from those who had voted for him. I think a big lesson was learned by all of the Klamaths. We can thank Providence for it.
Now on to our next task; our meeting must be soon after I return. Let me first find out what I can about the changes that are coming. -- and arrange that we not be hurt by them.
Your brother,
Oliver
P.S.: Nearly forgot the real reason for this letter! I enclose for your edification a fair copy of how one Council worked. This was adopted just yesterday, after a dispute/discussion, what-have-you about stock-grazing that lasted practically all day. I sat there and held my tongue -- most of the time -- and am very pleased with the outcome. I quote:
The Indians unanimously rule that it is all right to drive stock through their reservation without paying. It is all right to stop less than a day if the person pays a reasonable consideration. Travelers overnight who allow their stock to graze the meadows must pay. Passers through who adopt these rules will not be troubled. Will you please make out a copy and sign it as I.D. Applegate, Commissary, Klamath Agency?
Get father to sign it as US Indian Agent at Klamath Reservation, then note it in care of Ben Drew, Head Chief of Sprague River Klamaths. Progress will then be official, if not complete.
Hold good thoughts for me! -- and for us. The next few weeks in Salem are crucial.
O. C.
#7
“My dear brother,” Jesse Applegate snapped, “that incisive mind of yours will scarcely cut butter. The reforms are coming, like it or not. If Washington ever gets its so-called mind made up one way or the other, there won’t be a damned thing you or any other reservation agent can do about it, except try to get out of the way of the big, new broom. If you don’t do that, you’ll be lucky not to be ridden out of state on a rail.”
Lindsay did not like hearing it, even in the privacy of this council of the family men. People could say what they would, but a new administration in Washington had no right overturning what they had done here -- in just a few years, with such effort. Only four, really, if you counted from the agency’s establishment.
“I’ll repeat it again, Jesse, then never more,” Lindsay intoned. Ivan and Lucien groaned and traded glances as their father continued. “That’s all right, my sons, you go ahead and look at each other, but you can take a lesson from this. Without us -- your uncle Jesse and me at first, and then you two and your brother Oliver -- this whole area would still be a wasteland, overrun by drunken savages, producing nothing, left in the darkness of perdition. With no settlers, no roads, no civilization. No schools. No churches.
“And no E.L.” he added, thinking to name another son. “Don’t leave him out of this. Running for Congress and everything.”
“I don’t think you’ll raise much interest in that homily in Washington, Papa, with a new administration and a new Indian Bureau, and a battle royal going on about who’s going to run these places,” Ivan said.
“Well, that part at least seems settled, thank God!” Lucien said. “At least it won’t be turned over to the army, this agency. Neither will Siletz or Grand Ronde.”
“Not for the moment, you mean,” his uncle Jesse corrected him. “But that’s what I mean about the big broom. It missed Klamath this time….”
“… but maybe not with the next sweep,” Ivan finished for him.
“Missed whom?” Lindsay grumbled.
“Not you. I apologize, father,” Ivan said. But at least we can stay ‘civil service’ for the time. If we play our cards right.”
“If Grant can name Ely Parker -- an Indian -- to head the Bureau, it’s hard to imagine what he won’t do. An Indian who wants the army to take over! Figure that one!” Jesse said.
“To set his house in order,” Lindsay brooded. “So they replace me!”
“They’ll probably take the position that you’re no different from any of the other agents. That you’ve mainly exerted yourself to line your and your family’s pockets with money intended to lure the Indians onto the reservations. That’s what they’ll say if we don’t get down to work here,” Ivan urged.
“Then they’ll have to prove it! Where’s your brother?” Lindsay demanded. “He should have been here an hour ago.”
“He’ll be here, Papa. This meeting was his idea.” Ivan went back to the argument. “They’ll probably say, further, that you’ve allowed the deprivation of at least two tribes in your charge, the Modocs and the Snakes.”
“They’re already saying it. Don’t I know! And all those Indians had to do was conform to a few regulations, just like the Klamaths.”
“They’ll say you’re no better than the agents all up and down the western territory ‘who are withholding goods and services from subject people.’” Ivan looked at his father from under arched eyebrows, then relented. He shrugged. “They’ll probably ask to see your books.”
“Is that before or after they fire me?”
A dark silence settled over the group, each man thinking his own thoughts. Ivan roused himself from the chair at the end of the table and crossed