New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-29
ATKrNSs TRADERsHIPS
.,oor r.crs ABOUT THE SCANDAL
~vvrw.r OF THE I>oU'RY-pIsmIssED TRADERS
TO. TESTIFY.

TO. TESTIFY
nv rxrreRArH THE TKrBuSE.1
w.satxGToN. Nov. U.s. The oierk OF the ocn"'0
<.,te. appointed to investigate the Indian trader
h; scandal has received some interesting statements
s several of the traders who were removed in order
:. make room for needy personal and political favor
a., f com,njssionsr Atkins, Assistant Commissioner
yr.s,aw and other Democratic politicians. The state
.. re,crrcd 10 will furnish the basis for further
snvss,,0atious by the Senate Committee. One oil the
Graders who was removed W. X. Little, OF the Sac
and Fox Agency. He had been in business number
f years he kept large assortment OF snch GOODS az
al, Iod;,r. needed and his record for fair and Just
s.a,;,. with them was unbemshed. Mr. Lte's.state-
men, IN brief is as follows: In the sTrng or early
summer of last year Commissioner Atkins vislte@ ire
agency accompanied by a friend who had been
promised the license trade at that place The latter
entered into negotiations tor the purchase OF Ltes
building and stock OF goods and ut the suggestion OF
Al. triendp and Commissioner Atkins, Mr.. Little
trplensh.d his stock of goods which had been rather
low Having thus assumed heavy pecuniary obiiga-
tious IN order 10 be IN condition to make the proposed
sale he was dumbtounded by the refusal OF Commits
sioner Atknss proege abide by his offer and by the
revocation OF his license, which was followed soon
after by ppremptory order for his remDya! from the
reservation as an inirnder" The immediate execu-
s;on al tLs order meant Littles utter ruin, and the
Indian agent consented allow him time 10 coiect the
debts due him and DISPOSE OF such OF hs s.och as ns
coud Ii should be understood that large snar" Oh
goods designed for the Indian trade would nnu no sae
In a white community. The AGENT was severely repr-
manded by his ofhc al superior on eccouht OF ms
lepiepoy and was sierny sdmonished that continu-
ance OF il would result in hs own dismissal Ihis FAC,
becoming known 10 Liltles creditors they pounee,u
upon him. compelled HIM to sacrifice his stock OF goo1s
nj a fourth Of its value, and divided the proceeds
among themselves Little then placed HIS vile and
children in bis wagon and sas end 70
begin lite again. He was soon obliged 10 sen ms
team and send his family TO his wites former home
aniil he could earn money enough 10 make ono ior
Hemphl and Way, formerly traders at the Chey-
enne and Arapahoe agency. were ruined ID IKE man
Der Their residences ana store emp Dyes quarters
hide ho.se and press and other implements amounting
IN vane to some $4,000 together with their sock OF
poods and other accounts against ino'ans worm
S6O OOO or 500 900 were ruthlessly sacrificed as
result of orders of Commissioner ATKINS ane tney
were ariven fiom q counry not SAVING enough "a on
Tho wreck 10 pay their creditors. III tncH Piace
personal Fl ends of Commissioner Atkins ana
Secrctar, Lamar were licensed. Joseph IL Sherbnrne
was the trader at the Pouca Agency lie was removed
becanse be was Republican and his place was gwen
TO another Democratic tayOrite Mt SherDnrne was
compelled to sacrifice his comfortable house ana com
modious store his cribs stored with oOOU osheis OF
corn his stock OF goods and the debts due him from the
Indians Bishop and Maock, late traders az the raw
nee Agency and T. NJ. Fnney, late trader pit the Nav
Agency were subjected 10 like experience Tor the
benefit of impecunious and hungry Democratic favor
tics OF Commissioner Atkins and Other powerful Demo
Gratis In " The Arkansas City Traveller OF last
week which Is publish d not tar from the scene OF
some of Commissioner Atknss leadership exploits, ap-
pears an editorial from which the following Is an
extract: RI.
Some Democratic journalist or nephew OF the
Commiss oner or political henchman, would be
nut of with license TO trade with some tIlbe oil
Indians He han no money, no business experience.
and no intention Of purveying to the aoorignes But
armed with this instrument he would present himself
before the victim he designed to exploit and a1ier
showing him the ruin brought home to his doors would
propose to diyvy vith him, he putting up his license
agaiust the traders capital and experience; or he
might propose a stipend to he paid him quarterly out
of the business 1t the popular belief that govern
ments are instituted project the clHec III MS rlghs
but Secretary Lamar aud Commissioner Atkins nave
70 and another purpose in the administration OF AFFAIRS
The formers OF ocial power is to ind pnbhc en-
ployment tor all his needy neghbors political support
ers and family relations and the latter bitches every
Tcnpesseean that applies 10 him al the rational cro
There is no mock sentiment about II. 10 the vlctors
belong the spoils and the South is now IN tho
ascendant TO its gaunt and furnishing sons must the
spoils of Office be awarded. When the Senate Commit
tee again gets hold of Mr. Atkins and confronts him
with some Of his despoiled victims, he will he ready 10
call on the rscks to cover him And what deeply
inter sting chapter this trader business Will make III
the forthcomin Presidential canvass. -
1t sexpected that the Senate Committee VIII resume
fbe Investigation next week and that NUMBER OF
witnesses viii be summoned TO appear and TESTIFY