The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-10-07

The Indians Say They Are Fighting
for Principle Not Land. .--s

Washington, Oct. At is expected
that Indian Commissioner Jones will
have considerable to say about Mime
sofa matters in his annual report,
which. is now in the hands of. Secretary |
Bliss. The White Earth Indian school,
for which Senator Nelson and Con-
gresham Eddy are asking an addi-
tional appropriation, will be taken up,
as we'll, as the new buildings: now in
process of construction at Rapid City,
Morris and Chamberlain, and at the
Pine River and Rosebud reservations.
Some time ago Commissioner Jones
sent an official communication to the
general land Office for the entire pro
ceedings that have thus far been taken
on the Mile Laos reservation in Min
nesota. Assistant Secretary Ryan has
the Mile Laos matter in charge, and
he favors giving unallotted lands on
the reservatio n to the heads OF families
who will secure the government that
they will cultivate the land, be first
rate citizens and live at peace with the
whites.
Special Commissioner D. S. Hall has
made a report on the situation as he
found it. The policy of this admins
tration, as seen by what is being done,
and what is contemplated, is to wind
up all treaty obligations with the Min
lesota Indians or Red Lake lands
within the next two or three years.
Secretary Bliss and Commissioner
Hermann are more liberal toward the
reds than any officers in the interior
department have been for many years.
They believe that the best solution of
the Indian question is for the govern
ment to live up to its treaty promises.
Since the recent visit of Commits
sioner Hall to Mile Laos lake there
has been considerable published in the
city papers favorable to the cause of the
Indians and the above dispatch from
the St. Paul Dispatcz's Washington
bureau shows that the friendliness is
spreading. The attorneys for the In
dams are pulling wires in a very
shrewd manner. During the recent
visit to the lake the party was accom-
panied by two Twin City reporters wht
came on the invitation of Gus Bolear
and of course they would naturally
give the reds the best of any article
they wrote. This policy Of the attor
news is being carried out as widely a.
possible in the hope that a sentimen
favorable to the allotment will result
The newspaper mon who visited tn
lake were somewhat disappointed
however, when they saw the undesir
able land the Indians claim to be fight
; ING for and at the council some on
asked the Indians if they would live o
it if they secured the allotment. Whe
they replied that they would not, tina
it was a principle and not the land the
were fighting for, the policy of the al
torneys became evident. They desir
to secure these undesirable lands i
: order to commit the department. an
; then contest the titles of the home
:, steaders on the remainder Of the resel
! walton, claiming that if they were er
! titled to the allotment that the govern
! mentl had no authority to issue patent
! to the homesteaders, the title Of tn
: lands having passed to the Indians b
a prior treaty. The settlers would L Tx
4 to see the reds removed to Whit
:: , Earth, pack and parcel, for any othe
! action on the part Of the governlmer
: means continuation Of the fight f
J titles.
= "A Runaway.
& While Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Fishe
r and grandd daughter were riding in th