St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-25

Ready TO select Lands ana lie.
come American Citizens-His-
tory of the Case.
The chronic sensationalist is again
in the field with his annual Indian
outbreak. This time the Scens is laid
within the borders of our own state. and
the public Is treated to sensational
review of possible war between the
white settlers and the Indians on the
White Earth reservation.
As matter of fact. these Indians
are among the most peaceable and
friendly of all the red men i'll the
country, and are ever readyto listen to
the counsel Of men in whom they re-
pose confidence and TO obey the laws as
they understand them. The whole
scare about an Indian outbreA seems
TO arise from letter that was received
here relating that there had been
misunderstanding between settler and
all Indian.
The letter recites that an Indian
named John Skinaway had gone upon
the land of white settler named Ben
nett for the purpose of making sugar
Out of revenge the white settler de-
stroyed the trough of the Indian and
tore down his wigwam. The other set
tiers in the same neightorhood caused
the arrest of the Indian and fiourished
revolvers, thereby illuminating the
woman. The Indians promptly sent
letter to Deputy United States Marshal
Gus Beaulieu saSking him what they
had better do in the matter, and were
advised not to take the law into their
own hands.
The Indians have been accustomed to
make sugar in the bushes of that region
for many years, and have not had time
during the winter to entirely remove
from the disputed territory, although
quite a number of them have left the
lands ceded to settlement.
a review of the history and circum-
stances may not prove embarrassing at
this time. A GLOBE reporter inter-
viewed W. NJ. Campbell Yesterday, and
that gentleman gave a concise state
ment of the situation.
In 1889 congress passed an act known
as the Nelson act, and drafted by the
presen< governor of Minnesota, which
provided for the locating of all the Chip
Sswa Indians in this state Oh what is
Shown as the White Earth reservation,
5otting the lands in severalty under
Sic DAVIS act of 1887. The Nelson act
crowded for securing the acceptance of
Eae provisions of that act by the H.
hans before it should become operative.
Che law prescribed that commission be
snponted, consisting of three members,
20 were empowered to take the census
4 the Indians. 1t is known under the
Stle IAN act to provide for the relief
and civilization of the Chippewa In
dians in Minnesota" The origieal COM
mission was composed Of the following
gentlemen: Hon. II. NJ. Rice, of ST.
Paul: Bishop Marty, of Dakota, and
DIR. Whiting, of Wisconsin. They
secured the acceptance of the Indians
and took careful cenSns, as required
by law. While it provided for the re-
moval of all the Chippewa Indians to
the White Earth reservation, it also
provided that in case any of the Indians
upon the severa! reservations in this
tate declined to go 10 White Earth they
might be allotted land OIL the reServa-
tons upon which they then resided.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Mile
Lacs Indians had ceded their reServa-
ton in 1865, retaining only the privleg e
of occupancy during good bohavi or, the
commissioners and the secretary of the
interior treated them as own erS Of the
reservation, which, in the light of re-
cent decisions, is great mistake. 1t
should be stated, however, in this con-
nectiOn, that the decSiG.15 or rulings OF
the interior department in regard to the
Mile Laos reservation have for many
years been very conflicting, and. while
the Indians admit that they ceded the
reservation III 1865, that some OF the
conditions of the treaty have not been
complied with Oh the part OF the gov
eminent.
The Chippewa commission. Whe II
they negotiated the acceptance of the
Nelson act, treated the Miles Laos
reservation as belonging to the Indians,
and Secretary Noble did likewise, and
published a notice to that effect in 1890
The Mile Laos Indians. as a conse-
quence, believed themselves entitled to
the land and to take allotments upon
that reservation Mr.. Rice, however
secured the removal of a large number
of the Mile Laos Indians to White
Earth, about $50 in all. Secretary
Mobiles subsequent action in declaring
the reservation open for settlement,
and denying the Indians the right to
their allotmehtS thereon, served to Gre
ate dissatisfaction, and they became OBJ
Siinate, and therefore refused to remove
to White Earth.
The Washburn bill introduced in the
present congress was passed while Mr..
Campbell was on the reservation. This
bill confirmed the title Of the settlers to
the land. The Chippewas undoubtedly
felt themselves aggrleved over what
shey considered an unjust treatment,
but there was no disposition manifested
OH their part to resist the law or to i'll :
3erfere in any way with the settlers.
Capt. Campbell states positively that
.aere is no possible danger or prob
Ibility of an Indian outbreak at this
lime. The talk INDUCED in about the
Leech LakerS is pure rot. Mr.. Camp
bell has just returned from there ane
had had lengthy conference with the
Leech Lake Indians, which resulted il
making an arrangement for the remova
of a great number of them to White
Earth. These are peaceable people
and some or them accompanied the
commissioner for the purpose of select
Ing their respective lands, while other:
are only waiting for an Improvement il
The condition of the roads before max
Ing the transfer.
Capt. Beauieu has been at the ives
end OF the Mile Laos reservation ar
Hanging for the removal of a number O.
Families from there. 1t should be under
btood. once and for all, that there are
not over 250 Indians on the origina
Mile Laos reservation. The balance O.
the Mile Laos Indians are scattered
about, some being on Kettle river, a
Knife lake and on the north side of thu