The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau pg.60-61

President Grover Cleveland chose neither of the two political party candidates for the new Blackfeet Agent. Agent George Steell’s political support dissolved in the face of his cattle trespass and alleged failure of his administration to progress the Indians, although he had impressed Eastern “Indian Rights” Organizations with his wisdom in advocating that more implements be sent to the Indians; “Wagons are a great factor in the civilization of the Indians” which wagons were prized booty of agency crooks. The “mad hatter” Indian agent then scattered the Indians cattle toward his ranch on Birch Creek.

                        Captain Cooke, leader of the “agency ring”

Agent George Steell, the “Morphine eater” was replaced on July 22, 1893 by President Grover Cleveland’s choice, Captain Lorenzo Cooke. Inspector Province McCormick warned Captain Cooke that the Indians were still in the clutches of the “agency ring” which had been active for many years on the reservation. Cattle kings grazed their cattle on the reservation by the thousands without fee for many years. Chief Clerk Garrett had been conspiring with James J. Hill since 1892 to open up the western portion of the reservation to grab the mineral ores local squaw men like James Willard Schultz  had discovered; the gold and copper ores in the mountainous reservation lands.

Captain Cooke criticized the delivery methods of the Indian Service, and reported he was pursuing whiskey traders on the Reservation border, but failed to report the vast cattle herds of the white stockmen trespassing on the reservation.

 Inspector McCormick in September, 1893 reported: “This reserve, being fairly watered, is well adapted to stock raising. The cattle kings, appreciating the desirability and advantages of it for grazing purposes, have thrown their cattle on it for years, and have eaten and trampled the grass and hay meadows. Up to the time Agent Steell took charge of this agency, I am informed, the Indians received some remuneration from them; but since his incumbency, I fail to find that one cent was even paid them. At this writing fully twelve thousand head of cattle owned by these men are roaming at will over this reservation. During the round up seasons of spring and fall, when these cattle are driven off to be branded by their owners, they drive off cattle belonging to the Indians.”
-The Sacred Buffalo Vision by Robert J. Juneau and Robert C. Juneau
pg.60-61