Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-07-19
THE MILE Laos INDIAN
QUESTION.


Union, publishes the following in re-
!ation to the best method Of advanc-
ing the interests Of the Indians Of the
Mile Laos reservation:
If the sentimental pap-suckers at
Washington were forced to reside Oh
the reservation, so-calIed, they would
not have SO much sympathy for the
"poor Indians" The recent trouble
1T Mile Laos lake was not Investigate
ed by white men who wanted the
lands. The scare was caused by In
dams who attempted to murder an
inotiensive white settler. The Interior
Department depends for its informa-
ton on special agents who spend
nine tenths of their time loa6ng
around hotels Matching up schemes to
black-mail and harass honest settlers
who are endeavoring to comply with
the requirements of the law i'll secur-
ing homes for themselves and fami-
lies. The major portion of the pine
lands in the Mile Lacs reservation
have been gobbled up long ago by Il
syndicate of capitalists, and patents
have been issued for thousands of
acres. Any ruling that Secretary
Noble may make cannot effect these
patented lands. But there nre scores
ofpoor but honest settlers who have
located on the preservation" with the
intention Of making their homes there.
They have little clearings around
their shanties, have built school hous-
es and are cutting out roads as fast as
the limited means at their disposal
will permit Of. A township organi-
zation has also been effected in one
corner Of The reservation" It is
these people, these thrifty white set
tiers, and not the rich pine land own
ers who will be affected by an adj
verse decision Of the Interior Depart
ment. The handful Of Indians at
Mile Lacs lake make life burden
to the white settlers. The Indians
do not cultivate an ncre of land.
The majority of them are too lazy to
work. 'rhey preferat to live by,pilfer-
ing from their white neighbors in and
around the reservation" X few of
them that do work in the logging
camps and on the drives spend their
earnings for villainous whiskey. It
would be better, far better, for these
Mile Laos Indians if they we're re-
moved to White Earth, where they
would be under the immediate super
vision Of a resident agent. At White
Earth, land could be allotted them in
seyeralty, md they could be made
sclf-supporting Besides, at the lat
ter place they could not procure whis-
key iron, nnprincipled white men, ex--
cept through the conniyance Of the
agent or his deputies. No man who
understands the situation and has the
real good Of the Indians at heart will
oppose the removal Of the Mile Laos
band to White Earth. The only
parties who will be benefited BY
keeping the Indians at Mile Laos are
the men who sell them rum. and 4
horde Of hungry officials who take
good care to never arrest 4 whiskey-
vender. The writer has no pecuniary
interest IN an acre Of the so-called
reservation, but We would lie Is zee )
little common sense displayed 81 the
government officials il this business.
One Of two things should be done.
The Indians should Is removed, 81
the white settlers should - ordered
|of the reservation. e tho white set
tiers are driven Of HOW shout ihs
pine land syndicat . ans tii,s 81
8 u settleis No have slreasy secured