, 1890-12-04
WILL JOIN TAMMANY
Chief Tonaskat Gets Caught for
$l2o Duties. and Is Down
on the Tariff.
He Bought Band of Sheep Across
the Line, in ignorance of
the Law.

'Ho Lane, III lBuoTdHCe Oh
the Law.
Old Chief Tonaskat, of the Col
vile Indians, who has been in the
city for some time undergoing treat
nlent for his eyes, is denounciug the
tariff in manner that would give
credit to the average democratic
politician.
The chief is full Of wrath because
this oppressive government, in
defiance of its constitutional powers,
as pointed out by our distinguished
citizen, Hon, j, j. Browne, has
levied import duties upon his purse
to the extent of Sl20, which money
he had to borrow from IA Spokane
Falls money changer at cost of $50.
"Henceforth you may consider
me democrat of the deepest dye, "
was the substance of the chiefs re-
marks Friday If Mckinley
should ever show his face upon the
Colville reservation "a scalping bee
Nfi IpuphbiS pc tic consequence.
Here is the story:
Tonaskat is very wealthy and
Influential Indian. He has 500
lead of cattle, 800 sheep and his
horses are lnnumerable. He has a
magnificent ranch in Okanogan
county, that has an area of sixteen
square miles. A short time ago he
bought band of sheep from stock
man across the International bound
ary, for which he paid 800, but
when his mlnions attempted to
drive the sheep into the United
States they ran up again st the tariff.
Word was immediately despatched
to the chief, who il in Spokane re-
ceiving treatment for his remaining
eye. The Indian runner reached
the city Thanksgiving night and
laying the matter before his chief
This took Tonaskat by surprise.
The old warrior had never heard of
the tariff, or the Mckinley bill, or
the gallant efforts of Grover Cleve-
land to introduce free trade into
this country. He at once laid his
grievance before Special Indian
Agent Litchfield, who is now here
in the interest of the Indians. Mr..
Lltchii field, through an Interpreter,
explained the workings of the law,
and told the Old warrior that Can
ada was a foreign country, and here
after If he wished to avoid the pay
ment of duty he would better buy
his sheep in the United States.
Tonaskat turned away with dis
appointment written upon his
countenance, which was not soft
ened when he learned that it would
cost him $50 to borrow the Sl20 pres
ent he was expected to make to the
great father at Washington.
1t Is now thought that the chief
will save his eye, and the old fell
lows delight at the assuring words
of the oculist serves to soften his
disappointment over the sheep
transaction.
special Agent "' T. Ihtchiieid Is
here In the interest of non-reserva-
ton Indians who are engaged in n
contest with n number of whites
,,ho ,ro onde,voriny to yet nossos.
wno a.e .,a,a e'a ,s,aa U.,s ,rbas W. So s,. .
sion oi 'hcir ianus' mes. ooh'es.s
nave greatly PuH".eo lhe hno
officers OF Spokane rails, ana Mr..
Litchfield is here in answer to their
calls. Some of the reservation
humans nav ."NIn ~ =" .no
regular way through the iaho oilice,
but others mercy holu oy rignt o,
occupancy lnis right Is recoShiAeu
by the innu onlGe, ana whltes WIN
hot DC Perilltteu 10 en'er 'anus oc-
cuPlcu ~ ; lns ,,, ,
NoiiP''oa.ao,na naro nom
ever III i1s ,t w"9o, i.s ,ta, n
nn'P'v, "n hpp9 hp9''t Sa,,uh, an IrSi"n,,
unS VIZ SI0n uouSms 'tr, tin, ssE and
rism1i 80, " ~ Ua xyas 10TH
=, ,av the ro,nainder until he
le,rpned Io pd for n suretv that he would
',a. .I,o iand ond IN the moanwhils
Ssho Tndinn kecns dunnipv him,
0ther indians are holding back