Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-17
Six Weeks Among the Indians.

Indian Commissioner Atkins returned
from. six weeks trip to the West and
Southwest, where he visited large
number of the agencies and spent the
greater portion of his time in person
al inquiry into the actual condition and
needs of his charges. He gave partic-
ular attention to the Indians located
in the Indian Territory, most of whom
are included in the somewhat extended
recommendation in his last annual re-
port of allotments of lands in severalty.
In conversation regarding his trip
the Commissioner said:
- come back more profoundly con-
WINGED than ever that the ground have
taken in my report relative to the al
lotment of lands is the correct one. l
did not visit the five civilized tribes,
the Cherokees and others. l visited
them last year, and know well the
opposition to this proposed allotment
that existed among them. I went,
however, among the less civilized and
less educated tribes, notably the Osages,
Otoes, Inspaw, and other remnants of
tribes whose members have gathered
some property. Among the squaw-
men, half-breeds, and weather. ones
there is an unalterable opposition to the
allotment system, although the full
bloods are showing disposition toward
lands in severalty and work and educa-
ton. The squaw-men and half-breeds.
however WELD the influence and show
a political talent that would do credit
to an Eastern ward politician. l found
that they had lately deposed the old
Chief of the Osages, who was kindly
disposed toward the allotment system,
and elected an Indian who had not
properly, who was bankrupt, and who
was dependent upon awealthy Indian
for the food he ate.
The wealthy Indian lately sold 400
head of steers, and must have owned
large herd. He completely controlled
this newly-clected Chief and dictated
his policy thoroughly. I had a talk
with the latter and found him utterly
opposed to the severaly system, al
though I showed him that by it he could
secure for himself farm, stock,
house, and comfort. He did not want
it, and shrcwcdly pointed out to me the
treaty, by which the Government had
guaranteed to them their land in COM
mon SO long as grass should grow and
water flow. He was simply the mouth
piece for the wealthy Indi n who con-
trolled him, and who had accumulated
his wealth by the common system of
holding land, by which vast ranges are
furnished free to the Indians who can
get stock and vast farms to those who
will cultivate them, and the poorer In
dians are ground into the dirt
Here were u million and half of
acres and only fifteen hundred Indians
on them. and all the land used and con-
trollcd by a few squaw-men and half
breeds. In other tribes found the i'll
clination toward education and civiliza-
ton very strong among the full bloods,
but the disposition among the half
breeds and others decidedly against a
division of the land or sale of the sur
plus. If people with sentimental no
tons, whose interest in Indian traditions
leads them toward the impracticablc,
and whose desire for preservation of
tribal customs is stronger than their in
tercst in the advancement of the Indian
would stop their talk for while we
would get on faster. But that we shall
always have to contend against, and in
any event our progress must be neces-
sarily slow. found all the Indians
peaceful and well disposed, their condi-
ton generally good, and agents, to q
man noarIy,in sympathy with the policy
of the department.