The Glacier Reporter

STATE JUDGE DEPLORES MOVE TO 'FREE' INDIANS

MISSOULA - Montana Supreme Court Justice R. V. Bottomly told this week's session of the Indian Affairs Institute at Montana State University that "the people of the United States have an obligation to American Indians higher than law."

Bottomly referred to the treaties between the U.S. government and the Indian tribes signed in the last century, which he said are still in effect, and urged the Indians not to accept any compromises of the terms of those pacts.

The justice spoke against certain bills now pending in Congress which would withdraw federal support of the Indians.

"If these bills become law," he said, "it will mean the liquidation of the Indian in Montana."

Bottomly explained that it would mean the loss of the reservation and that without them 60 to 70 per cent of Montana's Indians would become "landless nomads" and each city in the state would have an Indian slum area.

Bottomly also said these are "special interests lying in wait for the Indians to be freed from government protection, ready to take advantage of their position."

Another keynote speaker at the session, Atty. Gen. Arnold H. Olson, said extensive study must be given to law enforcement problems if equal protection of the law is to be given all Montanans.

"One of the first steps to be taken in bringing the Indian into full and complete partnership in all phases of community life is a guarantee of equal protection and equal responsibility under our legal system," he said.